JUst as an FYI (sorry, no cite)…one of our clients is one of these known, internet dating sites and as part of the information I’ve seen accumulated around here is the stat that a large percentage (not a majority but a sizeable minority) of marriages taking place today they met through the Internet.
Meeting through the Internet has become mainstream…today’s equivalent of the bar in the past.
Good luck! I first communicated with my boyfriend of nearly two years through plentyoffish.com; we’re planning to move in together this summer & wed at some subsequent point. Also, his sister’s best friend met her husband through…eharmony, I think. That, or match.com.
Dating is dating, whether via computer or barstool; you generally have to kiss a few frogs. That said, I hope things work out with Mr. Handsome - keep us informed.
The ‘problem’ with Internet dating is that you have one more step to go through…
If you are at a bar (or wherever) and you see someone you like you already have that info! On Internet dating sites, you have to actually meet first…and you might find out 10 sec after meeting that you are not attracted to him/her. We are still mostly animal and so you cannot find out that attraction until you meet. In addition, if someone is acting like an ass or behaving in a way you dislike…you don’t have to go up to her in the first place.
I suspect this is what squicks most people out about Internet dating…the fact that you have to meet someone you are instantly unattracted to (or vice versa).
Not much to update on this afternoon. I get about 7 new matches a day, only to be interested in 1 or 2. Actually, 1 new guy today seems like someone to keep my eye on.
In real life news… I went out for dinner last night with an old friend from high school. Wicked nice guy, but his voice sounds exactly like my ex-husband. EXACTLY. shudder
I met my girlfriend through plentyoffish.com and we’re still together over a year later. It took me awhile to figure out what all the fish references were for though. Then I figured it out, it’s not ‘plenty-offish’ it’s ‘plenty-of-fish’.
Well i am from scotland, and my wife if from texas… i now live in texas, adopted her kids, and we have a daughter of our own.
We met in a chat room in late 2001, met in real life about a year later, went back home for 3 months before coming back(visa’s) within the year we had decided to get married and it is working out perfectly for us.
Best advise i could give is just trust your judgement, but make sure your have a back up plan if it doesnt work out.
First time i came over here i had a couple hundred dollars in cash in my back pocket and the number of the local taxi service incase it was not what i expected…but as it turned out it paided for breakfast in the morning! lol
I heard from my #1 intrest this morning. I am keeping my fingers crossed on him. He is very handsome, smart, and interesting. I’m trying not to get my hopes up, as either one of us can close the match at any time.
hope hope hope!
Still getting alot of matches everyday, just not alot of people stiking my fancy.
Don’t forget about striking up conversations here. That’s how my husband and I met just over 4 years ago. We’ve been married 2 1/2 years. There are some fun people here.
Most of the women I’ve dated have been off dating sites (though in my defense, I’ve also gone out with women/been in relationships where I met them through other means).
Met one ex from okcupid (lasted a year)
Another from true (lasted 2 years)
Current one from eharmony. (hoping for a new record 
)
A few reasons I like internet dating is that it gives you the potential to meet far more people than outside the internet. You could be a fairly social person with lots of friends and whatnot, but if you’re not interested in anyone in your ‘circle’ or they’re already spoken for/not into you, its a nice way to meet people in your area you might never actually meet otherwise.
I also think its good for shy, awkward people (stop laughing!) BECAUSE they get the chance to meet enough people to start to figure out what they can improve about themselves. Also, meeting people and getting rejected can actually help build confidence in my opinion. For an insecure person, they get a chance to kind of get used to getting passed up/dumped/ditched. While this sounds more depressing, I actually think the fear of rejection is more destructive for a person than actual rejection. Once the person learns its not the end of the world, particularly when they can just shrug and say, “Well maybe person 3,4 or 5 will be more interested in me”, they become more relaxed and confident. This confidence leads toward attracting people they might not normally interest.
At least that’s how it worked for me. I enjoy it. I’m not doing it with the expectation I’m going to meet the love of my life, because that’s over-thinking it in my opinion. But just going out, meeting people, having fun moments is worth it.
Also, whats so creepy about using the internet to hook up?
i have totally gotten a grand total of zero dates from dating sites in the last 2 1/2 years. Plentyof fish, okcupid or even yahoo personals. i WAS rejected from eharmony because my divorce wasnt finalized even though we hadnt even seen each other for almost a year… but they would help us with marriage counseling. bah!
So here is the update:
The #1 guy has been dethroned by a man I will call Mr. G. Oh my goodness, how I am enthralled with this man! We have made it through all the preliminary stages and are now communicating through “emails” on EHarmony. This guy is incredible, and for as much chemistry as you can sense over a computer, I sense alot. He has an amazing sense of humor, and shares alot of my views and values.
Oh, and when he describes a perfect date, one of his answers were “putting together a jigsaw puzzle in front of the fireplace” swoon I think I am in love!
Hm. Are you quite sure he’s not a Doper?
Based on what information should I assume he is a Doper? I know there are alot of members here, but I guess I’m not seeing as how I should come to that conclusion?
I’m pretty sure it was just a joke, implying Doper men are super fantastic.
Also probably because of the jigsaw puzzle and fireplace thing.
Wow! Sounds like fun!
A friend of mine just met a really great guy on plentyoffish. This is not the kind of guy you’d expect to need recourse to a dating site (26, successful professional, attractive, fit, intelligent, though we still can’t rule out psycho I suppose). I’m really happy that it’s becoming more socially acceptable, as I studied a woman-dominated discipline and will probably always work in a woman-dominated profession. I have traditionally female interests. I feel like such a failure that I can’t attract guys, but then I think about all the men who have “rejected” me recently (by not being interested) - there are about three. I just don’t meet many guys.
My best friend and his wife met on eHarmony. They have a wonderful marriage. So it can work.
I know its been awhile since I have updated, but I will update nontheless…
Mr. G. (my number 1 intrest) and I emailed eachother for a bit, and then decided to meet. The first date was very casual. We meet at a pizza shop and got some dinner, and walked to a park. It was very pretty, small park, by a lake. We munched on food and talked for a long time. I tend to be a very talkative person, but usually I clam up the first time I meet a person. Not so with Mr. G. And we LAUGHED! I had a genuinely great time, with minimal jitters.
The next day we went to a Red Sox game. I live in NH, So I drove to where he works in MA, and then we drove to Boston together. When we arrived at Fenway, there were ALOT of people. As we neared the crowd, Mr. G. casually reached back to take my hand in his. swoon. We chatted and laughed through most of the game, untill it got rained out. We were both soaked, but I was having a blast! Held hands all the way to the subway, on the subway, and back to the car. Since the game ended early we decided to go watch a movie at his place. We watched Narnia, while snuggling with his two cats, and of course eachother. And we had our first kiss 
I am very very excited about this guy, but also trying not to get my hopes up. He wants to see me again, and we will be getting together later in the week. I have never felt such an instant connection with someone before. The conversation just flows. I think about him through-out the day and I smile. Maybe Eharmony is on to something after all!
It seems like once I tell someone that I met my husband through plentyoffish.com, a surprising number of people will sheepishly tell me that they met THEIR spouse online as well, but usually don’t tell anyone how they met. I honestly don’t know how meeting a spouse online is embarrassing. I met my first husband in a bar. And this is good? No. Much, much happier with my online success story.
My best friend met her husband through Match.com. Six happy years, the best relationship I’ve ever seen her in, and a very cute daughter as well.
(I also tried eHarmony and did not have a good experience, but YMMV)