Pros and Cons of Internet Dating
Today, almost everything can be done online, including meeting that special someone. In my chick lit novel 5 Stages of Grief, I explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of the world of online dating.
Whether people you know are willing to admit it or not, the odds are that a large majority of your friends and family members have dabbled in the online dating pool and may have even met their significant other online.
So is Internet dating the right choice for you? Before you take the plunge into the virtual dating realm, it helps to explore the advantages and disadvantages:
Pros of Online Dating
1. Convenient. You can’t beat the fact that you can set up an online profile on a dating website from the comfort of your own home and then have potential matches sent to you. You don’t have to comb your hair, listen to bad pickup lines, or spend the entire evening at a bar looking for a date.What’s not to love?
2. Advanced search results. Is it possible to meet someone out and about and screen them in advance to see if they’re the right candidate for a date? Not really. But on a dating website, you can set up your search criteria to screen out people that you would never dream of dating, like much older men, guys without a job, or people who don’t share your interests.
3. Make a quick connection. After you’ve determined that a person is a potential match, you can chat with them or exchange a few e-mails to see if your personalities click. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily indicate physical chemistry, but it will give you a quick look into how well you interact with a potential date… before you take the risk of meeting them in public.
Cons of Online Dating
1. Potential safety issue. If you’re interested in online dating, make sure that you are using a reputable website that requires a membership and screening process. And if you decide to go on a date, always, always tell a friend or family member where and when you are going so that they have your back.
2. Less traditional. There are still some of us that are hooked on the romantic movie scenario. Boy sees girl, their eyes meet across a crowded room, and it’s love at first sight. While that is romantic and magical, it’s also very rare. And when you explore the world of online dating, you won’t be attracted to a person based on their physical appeal first of all. That will come later.
3. It’s not free. While there are free dating sites, those that require a membership may have a better screening process with better candidates. So you do have to be willing to pay a monthly membership fee if you want to check out the “cream of the crop”.
Cool. :) That's good to know if I ever run out of random boys who hit on me at clubs or what not. I'm actually terrified of internet dating. I would feel so embarrassed if I found someone I know! Or what if I meet the next Craigslist killer? *shudders* Oh well... I guess I will try extra hard to meet the man of my dreams while I'm still in school. I work at Starbucks so I'll just write my number on all the hot guy's cups...tehehe
