Ever joined an online dating network? I think I joined the first one in 2000, hoping to find myself a nice girlfriend to bring an end to my lonely evenings. But you know what? –2005 (!) and I have never dated anyone I met through an online dating network. Ok, I have to admit that I have been in a few relationships in-between where I wasn’t looking. But I did look around once again for a while until very recently.
So if my title has lured you into reading this article, you might better be of somewhere else because I’m no success story when it comes to online dating. I had two relationships with girls I met online (thanks to yahoo ;)), but both where failures, so no off-line happy end (so far)for me when it comes to the world wide web. But I did notice a few things about online dating over the years that I want to share, and that might be worth your valuable time!
First of all: 90 % Men are flat out stupid when it comes to online dating! Being male, that’s a tough thing to say, but I’m not sure this estimation is not even too optimistic. How do I know? Well, join a dating network that offers guestbook service for members and take a closer look at a guestbook for a cute looking girl.
Most of the entries consist of the following: “Hi there, I think your profile is interresting! Please write back!”
Ok, that’s a nice offer, and she might consider writing you back, but only if you are among the first three or four entries. Those guestbook’s are CRAMPED with the exact same lines, written over and over again. How difficult can it be so write something a little bit more original? You get at least a dozen lines you should not consider, as someone else has used them before. Why not write a little bit about yourself, something others don’t write about and that might be interesting?
I complained in guestbook’s about the lack of creativity of the fellow contenders– and the girls wrote back to me! Female users told me that, when joining a network, they usually get around 30 to 50 and up to 100 (!) emails a day. Most of these emails are deleted instantly as they sound just like every other one or are flat out rude or offensive.
Another thing that is very important: “Don’t go like a bull at a gate!“ Asking for intimate details or sex is not a very good way to start a conversation with someone you barely know. Even if you are very very (very) desperate!
Do offer plenty of information about yourself in your profile. Leave out fancy sexual preferences and complaining about your loneliness. You want to sound interesting and don’t want to be pitied.
Take it easy, don’t aim to high and enjoy the fun. Sometimes you end up having one or two nice conversations, sometimes you get a date or two and sometimes, who knows, you might even find someone special.
To sum it up: Be unique, be interesting, but most important of all, be yourself!