Is Online Dating Worth It?

Are people really doing this?

When it comes to the internet, there’s not much people aren’t doing. The question is whether the people doing it are the ones you’d want to date. And you’d be surprised.

Online dating is kind of like farting in public. Most people won’t admit it, but plenty of them do it. Unlike farting in public, though, online dating’s stigma is quickly going away. If you ask around, you’ll be surprised how many people you know are doing it. It’s not just internet-addicted geeks (myself notwithstanding).

Isn’t online dating unsafe?

Sure, meeting strangers can be unsafe. But consider this: meeting someone online, especially after you have a chance to vet them, is no less safe than meeting someone at a bar or a club. In fact, unless you have a buddy system with Batman, it’s probably safer.

That said, it’s only safer if you take the necessary precautions: don’t post personally identifiable information (like your phone number or address) on your profile, and only give it out after you’ve messaged with someone enough to feel comfortable giving it out. Schedule your date for a public place, let someone know where you are and so on. 

Doesn’t everybody just lie online?

Slow down, Dr House. Sure, this person adds a few inches to his height, that person hides a few inches from their waistline, and you get a big surprise when you meet in person. But that guy you met at the bar lied about being married too. People don’t lie because it’s the internet. People lie because sometimes people are dumb.

Fortunately, not everyone does it. Plenty of people realise that it’s better to be honest, lest they lose points as soon as they walk in the room. You’ll have to deal with a few liars, but you’ll quickly learn to read between the lines. (By the way, it should go without saying, but this goes both ways: don’t lie on your profile either.)

At what point should we meet in real life?

Meeting in person varies from site to site, and from person to person — but err on the side of early. This isn’t an online forum for endless chatting. It’s a dating site, so once you’ve established that you’re both interested, ask them out on a date! If you wait too long, they may think you aren’t interested in and move on.

Tell it to me straight: Does online dating actually work?

Honestly? I don’t know if it will work for you. That’s a crap answer, but it’s the only answer I have. Sorry.

Like I said, I know other people who are success stories, and other people who gave up (or have been on for years with no success). Online dating’s usefulness is dependent upon a lot of factors — your location, your age, your personality type, what you’re looking for, and so on. It’s easier in densely populated areas than in rural areas, for example.

I said this earlier, but choosing the right site can go a long way. If you’re a bit older and looking for people your age, you aren’t going to have luck on younghawtthangs.com. Check out the demographics of different sites to see which one is ideal for you.

I can’t tell you whether online dating will work for you — but I can say, with certainty, that you won’t know until you give it a shot. Just relax and enjoy it — you may not meet your future spouse, but you’ll almost definitely meet cool people and have fun.

Taken and edited from http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2014/09/is-online-dating-worth-it/

-- Xuankun Qiu