For some time now, I've been on a number of online dating sites. Four of them to be exact. (Yes, I was on Lavalife until recently, and no I won't tell you which of the other 3 I'm still on.) Hey, I need options.
Lately, I'm starting to really despise online dating. It seems that online dating sites like Lavalife are an e-meat market for people looking to get laid, have no-strings-attached fun, or just generally conduct themselves in hedonistic ways. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but that scene just ain't for me.
You see at my old age of 29, you begin to move away from the typical behaviour of younger people (you know, getting crowded into a dark, smelly room called a nightclub with 500 other oversexed individuals looking to get their freak on), and start to look for something of substance. For instance, take my friend (name has been stripped out). Great guy, has a great career, has everything going for him. Yet he insists on fucking everything that walks. Is he physically satisfied? From the phone calls/IM conversations we have, it certainly sounds like it. How about emotionally? I don't know. We don't talk about that sort of thing. I'd be willing to bet he isn't.
There was a time when I was like this, but I quickly got tired of that whole scene.
So why do I despise online dating so much? Well, as convenient as it is, sometimes it's aggravating. I mean honestly, whatever happened to etiquette? I think it's gone the way of the dodo bird.
So, here's some advice for those of you that are thinking of jumping into the world of online dating:
1. If someone sends you an email, and you aren't interested, don't just delete their email and not respond. A quick line to say "thanks, but not thanks" goes a long way. Likewise, if someone emails you, and you ARE interested, don't wait 2 weeks to email someone back. But don't email back right away. Too slow and it will seem as though you are not interested, too fast, and it will seem that you are desperate.
2. Post a photo. This should be fairly obvious. I know, mystery is good, but people like to know what the person they are talking to looks like. While we are talking about posting photos, POST YOUR OWN! Don't post a photo of someone else and pass that off as yourself. I had a woman do that to me. Needless to say, that date didn't last too long.
3. First impressions are everything. Spelling, grammar and punctuation (or lack thereof as I've seen in some ads) are important. If you aren't good at any of these, have your ad checked by someone who understands these very important parts of your language. Like being polite, it goes a long way, and people are more likely to communicate with you if they think you can actually carry a conversation in their language.
This has been a Public Service Announcement from someone who is tired of the world of online dating and those that inhabit it.