How to get the most out of online dating sites? My view. What is yours? ( Archived) (3)

I have been here a month [I know its not a long time but I have frequented other dating sites and I feel that the only way to get the most out of an online dating site is to attend the event meetups albeit using safe practise. I have never attended a meet up but I've heard good reports from those that have.

In my time here I have mailed many and many have mailed back but after the usual 'who are you, what do you do. what do you like' it usually tends to dry up on sides. I have also mailed some who did not reply back but yet their profile cries out..'mail me mail me, I will reply'...but they don't. I do realize this is not always the case and can work out for others.

I'm not even looking for love. I'm just looking/was looking for a female friend. I think a lot of people on here are looking for some person to drag them out of their current situation. Lets be honest, I bet there are many people [not all] who just view the profile to see what job they have and how much money they are earning.

I do feel there is a lot of insecure people on here just looking for 'pick me ups' and 'make me feel good about myself'.
I think for online dating to work, the events/meetups may be the only way forward. I know that this may not be the case in all circumstanes.

I think CS is good for forums and for talking to people that you may never meet or even want to meet. Friendships can be built [no doubts about that] but for the ultimate prize of love....I think that there is no difference between an online dating site and in Real Life. In both cases you must get off the computer and be willing to meet others in Real Life, be it by your own agreeance with others or through a meet up/event.

I am gonna opt for Real Life. I think sitting on computer waiting/hoping to meet someone is just basically a way of not trying hard enough. I have now edited my profile to suit my new found feelings. I'm not looking for sympathy or pity, I tried the online dating game, it just doesn't work out for me but I'm sure that is not true in many other cases. There are many success stories...well I hope so anyway.

I think the events/ meetups are a good thing. I think for people who are genuinely looking for love that this may be the only way forward. This may bring people together.
I don't think I will ever attend one but i feel it may be a good way for others.

But on a positive note, the forums are really good here, and so are the people [not all] but I feel that no matter who mails us or flowers us, we won't settle for them, we will always cling to the hope that maybe some better is out there. JMO.




What are your honest opinions and experiences when it comes to online dating?

As for me, I don't have any expectations whatsoever. I'm a very realistic woman and I am fairly certain that I won't ever find a match here. Let's face it...I am far away from most everyone here, I am not a young woman, and I am not willing to give up my job to be with someone. I can't risk the security that my job provides. Along with that, my lifestyle doesn't exactly invite a man to give up HIS job and come travel the globe with me, either.
I HAVE met Greek men from this site and have dated some, though, and my experiences have mostly been positive. No love match, but that's ok....the dates have generally been nice and a few remain good friends.
I do agree that people need to put themselves out there, so to speak, and online dating is one form of doing just that. But too often people drag out the email and phone communication and they form a certain image in their minds about the other person which often becomes a projection of qualities and characteristics that don't really exist. In other words, we see the picture, we talk, and we email, but we build it all up in our heads. Then, when the meeting finally takes place, it can be a let-down. We do this to ourselves, in our minds. So I think that people should make every effort to meet each other very early on, assuming distance isn't a limiting factor.

I try to mix it up, basically. I enjoy my social evenings out with friends or on an occasional date so that I am not on my computer every night. But, when I am at home alone, I will pop in here and see what's going on in the Forums. Too much time on the computer without stepping out is not for me.