By the way, forgot to mention: I have met lots of men and women who have used internet/newspaper personals to meet people. Those who don’t do this often have the perception that anyone who needs to resort to personal ads is a total loser.
Admittedly, I have met a few losers, but most were simply too busy to go out and meet new people. One was an overworked architect, several worked in engineering firms with 10,000 guys and 5 women (all in hot demand), some were new in town and didn’t know where to start. If anyone tells you that everyone who uses the personals is a loser, don’t worry–it ain’t so.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread so far (please keep the responses coming). I appreciate everyone telling about his or her experiences as well as giving me advice and encouragement. I’ve also been reading the posts in the “How does a geek find love?” thread (sorry, don’t have the link handy), so between these two threads I feel I can gain something from them.
I will be on vacation this coming week, but when I get back I will likely place an ad with one of the local dating services. If all goes well I may report back to you in MPSIMS.
I met my SO five years ago in a chat room, and I was in 3 weddings in the past two years of friends who met their husbands through online dating services. I’ve met a lot of people offline when I first started surfing the net, and most of them were nightmares (except my SO of course). I’ll admit, the 'net has changed dramatically over the past few years in terms of the quality of people surfing, but that just means you have to look a little harder.
I never dated in Highschool and rarely in college- after college I tried a couple dating sites and had some terrible experiences. I tell you- I learned QUICK not to rely soley on a person’s description of themself. One of the women I met was, to put it mildly, repulsive.
On a positve note, I did meet my wife through an ICQ chat room. Much better than a dating service:D
I never dated in Highschool and rarely in college- after college I tried a couple dating sites and had some terrible experiences. I tell you- I learned QUICK not to rely soley on a person’s description of themself. One of the women I met was, to put it mildly, repulsive.
On a positve note, I did meet my wife through an ICQ chat room. Much better than a dating service:D
I joined a dating service on two different occasions with mixed results. No LTR resulted, but I did meet a guy I dated for several months, and a couple where there was a second or third date, but nothing more. I joined mainly because I never had much success meeting people through friends, through work, or through any extra-curricular activities (except for Dopefests ;)).
I’ve never used an internet service or placed a personal in a paper, though I considered it.
I joined an internet dating service and found the guys to be likeable, intelligent, and interesting. I had tons more dates than I’d ever had before, but I simply wasn’t clicking with any of the fellas. I was just about to give up and remove my ad when I received the e-mail from the man who is now the Love of my Life.
We are perfectly matched and perfectly happy and I am very, very grateful for the internet.
My father joined a singles activity group after my mom and he divorced. The club was set up specifically as a “non-dating” service. I think these clubs are way better than the other, they had activities every night, from bowling to horsebackriding and numerous dances and socials.
Most of the members found it very positive as tehy were able to meet other people, both same sex and opposite to be friends with too.
My father has since then moved to another city and started a club there in the same style/fashion.
