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Love on the internet. So what's the big deal anyway?
Isn't in funny how romance, dating and marriage have evolved throughout the years? Let's face it, we are social creatures that just weren't meant to be alone. Imagine the confusion our grandparents would have if they saw us finding a girlfriend (or a boyfriend) on the internet! The world wide web obviously is a wonderful tool but it definitely has some pros and cons for the dating and matchmaking scene. So what are the pitfalls and conveniences?
PROS
You can make new friends online easily.
According to the U.S. Census, over 40 million Americans (16% of the population) move every year. We all know how hard it is to get to know people and start all over at a new location. The internet is a fantastic tool for people that may not be particularly out going. They just can't "sell themselves" well in person and lose out otherwise.
You can find a date free without the bar scene.
Many singles are very comfortable with the games and maneuvering at the local pub. They have a great time. The vast majority of people probably prefer to meet other singles in a more civilized fashion (no offense to the bar crowd). You can find a date at the touch of your fingertips if you have access to a computer.
It's simple to make new girlfriends (or boyfriends) quickly.
Most of us have very busy lifestyles. Between the full time jobs, commuting to our jobs, household chores and personal commitments we have very little time left for anything else. The internet gives us the luxury of spending a few minutes here and there throughout the day chatting and getting to know new people.
Online chat rooms and dating sites give you the opportunity to make new friends and learn about different cultures all over the world.
One of the great innovations of the internet is the ability to acquire information on just about any topic you can think of. We can learn so much about ourselves and other people as well with this wonderful tool. Don't be afraid to tell everyone a little bit about your own personal experiences and share helpful information. The circumstances and situations that you have had in your life can help someone else that is struggling with the same thing!
CONS
Safety is always a concern on anonymous chat rooms.
Many people use them as a means to conduct all kinds of fraudulent activities. Always be on guard if the individual that you are talking to seems to be asking questions about financial matters or where you live right off the bat. Don't be rushed into giving out any personal information. Remember, you really don't know anything about your new found friend. They can put up phony pictures of themselves or lie about themselves on an internet site.
Looking for love online can extremely impersonal.
Sometimes we just need to meet people face to face to find out what they are REALLY like. We can "put the mask on" when people can't see us. They don't see all of our bumps and warts! None of us are perfect. Obviously, we want people to see the best side of us and that is what we portray online.
You can find a variety of FUN chat rooms and dating sites out there. They really are a GREAT way to make new friends and build relationships at your own pace. Be open to the opportunities and fun that you can have with them!
Singles dating websites-Are they scams?
You'll get all kinds of responses if you go out on Google and type in the words "online matchmaker" or "dating sites". So how do you separate the fact from fiction about them? What are some of the things you need to be on guard about before you even join one?
While many of the pictures and information that you see on the match making sites may be fictitious and untrue most people are basically honest. They may stretch the truth a little bit (don't we all?) but I'm still a firm believer that most people have good intentions and just want to have some fun. If you have ever looked at the pictures, you can tell that most of them aren't "air brushed" or altered. What you see is probably what you are going to get (for better or worse). But hey.... we all have our own bad hair days and look like a car ran over us at times!
The luxury of a chat room or dating site is that you can play around with it when you have some spare time. There aren't any commitments or hidden agendas. It's just fun loving people sharing information and getting to know each other. Isn't that how most of us develop and build relationships? We've just gone from the "barn dances" and "sock hops" in the old days to a different way of mingling. We do it online in the 21st century!
So many people enjoy just playing on the internet and "surfing the web". Quite frankly, it's probably a much better way to spend our free time than sitting in front of a television. The opportunities to acquire knowledge or learn all kinds of new things is unfathomable.
You can find a friend online that shares the same interests that you have. There is no need to waste your time with folks that you have nothing in common with or you find boring. We all have so much to offer other people by sharing our experiences, hopes, dreams and disappointments. As we get older or acquire new skills or hobbies we need to connect with new people to help us grow more. Online dating sites give us the ability to make acquaintances that we can't find any other way.
Having said all of the above, what are some of the things you should be concerned about if you are considering these online sites? First and foremost, always assume that the hoodlums and con artists use them too for their own self interests. After all, you are participating in a public forum that is open to anyone. Unfortunately, there will always be people that will take advantage of others. Chat rooms and dating sites aren't any different.
If you have ANY concerns or suspicions about someone online cut it off! If you decide to meet someone in person that you have been chatting with always take a friend along the first time and meet in a public place. Never give out your address or phone number to a stranger (which is what your new online friend is) until you are completely comfortable with them.
Take some of the information that you are receiving on the sites with a "grain of salt". If you do that, you can make some great new friends, find a gal or guy that really interests you and have some fun. After all, isn't that what it is all about?
- The author has sites at: http://nufriendsonline.blogspot.com, http://effectiveweightloss4u.blogspot.com, http://dietingsecretscelebrities.blogspot.com & http://smallwoodenboatplans.blogspot.com
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