Although we normally write about wedding related subjects everyone needs to meet their Prince or Princess to get married right?
Being a single parent, running a business and a home I find that “finding me a man” is the topic of discussion that is often broached at dinner parties that I attend with my friends, the latest suggestion being online dating! Which was soon followed by a myriad of stories, good and bad relating to the subject.
Although I dismissed the idea, the stories did spike my curiosity as to what the online dating experience was truly like
Although online dating is by no means a new phenomenon, the sophistication and reach of this industry in a life that seems more hectic, stressful and complicated along with the growing acceptance of online dating means that 15 million people are registered with online dating sites and 80% claim to have found love online.*
I sat with my macbook and signed up for one of the largest free dating sites in the UK. I answered the questionnaire, completed my profile with all my true information and added photographs that were less than 2 months old all as advised in the tips and sat back to see where this would take me.
The next morning I woke up to 40 emails in my inbox and it must have been a quiet Sunday as they just kept coming in! But not one of those contacts really did anything for me and was quite disturbed by the 20 year olds stating age was just a number. Although flattering, Hi fitty, sexy etc… did not endear me to anyone and the offers of a paid taxi to their house just made me guffaw out loud!
I spoke to a couple of people who stated they “could tell me some stories” and also that they had come on looking for a relationship but found people only wanted sex! My final disheartening moment was when I came across a married man who in his profile had been married for a year, was bored and wanted some fun – discretion required!! I managed to keep my soapbox firmly tucked away and moved on in my search thinking that the meat market rumours were all true!
This experiment has disproven my initial thoughts on online dating in so many ways. Yes there are awful people, the nice but not for you people, but then there are the people who are truly looking to make that connection and this is the way that they find they can do it. From the safety of your own home you can delete or reply as you see fit, and yes these people could not be who they claim they are but to be honest I have been told a few lies in the pub by men too so there is not much difference there either:))
Although I only lasted four days on the site, as that was enough for me, I do believe that used correctly and remembering to keep yourself safe this could be a valuable platform to meet people on in these hectic times! Just be wary of who you are talking to, as it is disappointing and slightly scary, but not all are as they seem.
As Keith Britton, who met his wife online, said to me on the subject :
“My advice to people online dating is, if you think you have found a good one, meet them now, otherwise your wasting time whether you are right or wrong”
Here are some top tips for online dating from the Daily Telegraph:
*statistics from Blazing Minds
