Online Dating
Most afternoons during lunch I read the San Francisco Chronicle. Most likely because today is Valentine’s Day, today’s business section focused on the phenomenon of online dating. I was amazed to read that millions of people worldwide are turning to internet dating sites in hopes of finding love. I won’t lie– I laughed when I read that; then I stopped to ponder the more serious aspects of such a thing.
My first thought was that the most desirable people are not searching for their mates online. Online dating is something of a last resort– nobody starts there; people only turn to the internet when they find their physical appearance and/ or social skills are not such that they are able to find partners in the real world. More than that, people with interesting and fulfilling lives are out living them, not sitting in front of a computer searching for like-minded soul mates. Someone worth dating, and possibly even marrying, isn’t going to be so desperate for love that they run personal ads online. Such people have too many suitors as it is– they certainly aren’t going to waste their time trying to find any more on the internet.
Someone searching for matches online is basically dredging the bottom of the dating pool in hopes of landing a passable catch. Meanwhile, plenty of interesting, active people are coming and going every day, people our internet daters could pursue. Instead, they interact online with the other people who likely share the same common traits: a lack of self-confidence, an inability to make social contact in face-to-face situations, an addiction to the internet, and a willingness to settle for less than the best; in short: hardly an ideal mate.
Just today, while walking to my aforementioned lunch, I encountered a girl standing next to me at a crosswalk. It was raining, and she had no umbrella. I only saw the back of her head at first, but on reflex I shielded her with my umbrella. She was polite and thankful, and we walked the next block together until I arrived at my chosen luncheon spot (La Fiesta). During that block walk we chatted a bit. As it turned out the front of her head was even cuter than the back of it, and were I single and looking for a date or a girlfriend or what have you, I’d have asked her for her phone number. I relate that story to illustrate only the most recent opportunity I had to meet someone, but that’s neither here nor there. What matters is the moral to the story: there is no shortage of fun, attractive, single people in this world. Said moral leads nicely into Today’s Question: Why would anyone sift through the anonymous, unwanted masses online when a world full of real, live, desirable people is just outside his or her door?
The Chronicle article had all manner of losers at the bottom of the page relating their online dating horror stories. One poor fellow admitted that he flew all the way to Thailand, only to find that his soul mate was dating multiple men she had met online. Oddly, this seemed to surprise him. You’d think anyone willing to fly to Thailand of all places just to meet a woman would be used to facing such disappointments and embarrassments on a daily basis.
I just have to say that you’re hilarious. haha.
@Habitat Gurl, Hilarious in a good or a bad way?
@Peasprout, Good, of course.
I think your coming at this totally from the wrong idea… online dating yes is bottom of the barrel but sometimes its like a .. spark it makes you feel like you have good qualities if someone likes you becasue you like to hike or cook for your dog .. it makes you feel like you might have something worth talking about but maybe i’m just weird but i dunno i dont think you can be so cynical
@Habitat Gurl, Well, okay then.
Very good point on Valentine’s Day!
And, there are ups and downs to online dating. My aunt is married to her online man, and they are beautiful people with beautiful children now. One of my roommates is also together with someone she met online.
–Judith
my current beau was found on AmIHotOrNot.com
@Miss Judithann, I feel rather bad now, and I’m sorry to have mocked online dating without exploring its positive aspects. I know many amazing people have found great partners online, and my generalizations were kinda harsh. Sorry!
@Peasprout, By all means, I do not want you to be sorry about your opinion! That is ruining your opinion! *smile* I strongly agree with you on numerous things, but there are some occasions in which people are happy with the outcome of online dating. There will always be exceptions to everything!
babe people who are online dateing have no friends there online dating so they can feel better about themselves to get friends..
thats a cute umbrella story! haha. well online dating isn’t so bad, i mean its just another option that you could combine with meeting people in real life, in clubs, etc right? as long as people don’t get too caught up too soon and take things slow, i think it could work out. hope ur vday was good! and my computer is happy now, haha
good job! :)
How do you know the cute girl in the rain is available? I bet she is on her way to meet her on-line bf.
Yah for game night, when? And why is game night in quotes?????
Well said. And very true.
I came across a dude on xanga who shared all of his online horror stories. I admit, I laughed hard, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy because it seemed like it was his last resort and even that wasn’t working out.
@wingb34, I don’t think we ever had game night. :/