Internet Dating

[Bryan]

It's coming to the stage where i'm considering internet dating! Argh!

The thought of it terrifies me lol!

Has anyone else tried it? Good/bad experiences? Tips? Or do you know anyone has tried it!?

I keep seeing the ads for Match.com on the tv and think - why not? lol!

[Siobhan]

I would be very careful with internet dating.. god knows who is on the other end of the computer

[Abi]

I know some older people who have found it pretty good. I've yet to meet anyone who finds someone for the long-term, but it depends on what you want really.

[Trinity]

I have never used internet dating, and i don't know anyone who has.

I can understand why very busy people 'of a certain age' might find it attractive, likewise single parents who cannot get out to meet people very much.

Neither of theses two stereotypes sounds much like you Bry!

Why not invite people you find attractive for a casual date, ice skating, pictures whatever and just take things from there.

When you are young at Uni, going out a lot you should have loads of opportunity to meet people as friends. There is loads of time to meet someone special - have a bit of fun first.

[Abbie]

You need to be careful

My friend last week, I helped her 'sort out her life' and then she had some sort of panic breakdown and she was like 'im gonna be 40 still living with my parents and on match.com'
I had to laugh at the time :lol: the WAY she said it omg I was in stitches

I dunno whether I could trust the sites

[DaVeyWaVey]

I've tried it. I didn't intend too, but I felt lonely at one point and I couldn't find anyone else to talk to about my feelings.. so thought why not? .. in my personal experience, it didn't work though but atleast I learnt something from it.

It only works if you firstly find the right person and I think the chances are pretty high that you'll match with someone who has the same interests as you etc and usually people are more confident when speaking online, opposed to a 'first date' in reality. However, once you do start speaking, it is too easy for a person to tell a few white lies because of the confidence they have online and sometimes, chatting to them online may bring out a personality in them that you are very unlikely to see if you meet them in the street.

Despite this, I do believe the media hype up the dangers of meeting people online.. all you'd have to do is use your common sense e.g. don't give out too many personal details, speak to them over the phone, request to see them on webcam so you know they are being genuine, choose to meet them in a busy public place and have a date with them in a public place. Take precautions, tell someone where your going and what time you'll be back, so someone knows what your doing. It's the equivalent of meeting someone in a nightclub for the first time, in my view.

Overall, I think internet dating can work for some people, but both people need to put in the effort for it to work. It won't work if it's all one sided and it's not really worth it if there is no trust between the two people and if there is no possible way of you both meeting up in the near future.

[Abbie]

Can I ask davey? was it one of those where you had to pay?

[DaVeyWaVey]

No it was just a forum like this one, offering advice and it also had a chat room. You didn't need to pay to join.

[di marco]

ive never tried internet dating and dont know anyone who has. atm its not something im gonna try either, i just think im too young for that sort of thing lol and would much prefer meeting people in real life first rather than over the internet. im not gonna say id never try it though, it might happen in a few years time lol!

[Katy]

Thats what i feel like sometimes the fact am i ever going to meet anyone, or have i met them and lost them but then i realised i need to get a grip, i'm only 19 and theres a big wide world out there. The time is going to come im sure.

Its not something that i would never consider but at the moment no

[Chloe O'brien]

My sister has tried internet dating her last two boyfriends she met on Loopy Love.com but they were a bit dodgy. The last one was an alcholic from Manchester who had about 8 kids to all different females and the one she is seeing now she has been with him for over two years but he is a twit (putting it nicely) he comes through from Glasgow every weekend and does nothing but moan, he hates any of the family round as he wants peace and quiet on his days off.

I'm on my own but I wouldn't try internet dating I would much rather meet someone in a pub.

[Perdita]

Not my thing, but a friend of mine started chatting to someone in Canada a couple of years ago, went over to meet him, even stayed in his house (I was so worried about this but she was fine). They got married last July and she is waiting for Canadian immigration to allow her to stay there permanently. Looks good so far but then they have not really lived together for any length of time and I hope that it works out for them both. At your age though, Bry, I would not go down that road just yet, you should be able to meet loads of nice people in your environment, perhaps you are looking just a little too hard instead of letting Cupid do the work for you :)

[Jojo]

Bry - your still young mate! Once you've finished Uni, then there is work, and between Uni and work and partying and moving to where ever you do, there are so many people you will meet!

Personally, I wouldn't go down the internet dating route. I think they match people for like for like interests, and tbh, hubby and I couldn't be more different, but thats what makes us work (most of the time) Yes we have a few common interests, but by having different ones also, gives us things to talk about, to discuss, and to learn about with each other.

If we were totally into the same things, our lives would be a bit boring imo.

[Hannelene]

Open minded to the idea can't rule it out but I still like to date and meet people in the normal way!