Online Dating - Is It for Me?

Online dating is gaining popularity in many parts of the technologically advanced and developed countries of the world. Thus, it is not uncommon for many married couples to meet their mates for the very first time on the internet.

However, online dating is not embraced by the majority of persons in Africa and elsewhere in the less technologically developed countries of the world. Perhaps a common reason for this is the apparent low awareness of computer operations and the various areas that information technology can be put to effective use.

Anyway, better believe it, the internet has become a convenient means of dating among members of the opposite sex - a phenomenon which is becoming commonplace everywhere across the globe.

But, before you consider joining the bandwagon with respect to dating on the internet, please tag along as we examine the merits of online dating alongside its demetrits.

The Benefits of Online Dating

There is no doubt whatsoever that online dating holds a lot of benefits over conventional form of dating. Some of the benefits of online dating that readily come to mind are as follows:

• Online dating provides a point of contact for folks interested in establishing new relationships to do so.
• Online dating is very convenient as it makes possible the opportunity for members of the opposite sex to interact with one another from the comfort of their own home.
• Online dating is affordable. Many online dating services are offered completely free, while some of them charge reasonable fees and equally provide extra services to their clients. In most cases, all that a person pays for online dating is the browsing tariff imposed by the individual's local internet service provider for use of its services.
  
  On the other hand, conventional method of dating is often more expensive as it involves incurring expenditure for both yourself and your partner on an ongoing basis as you conduct your date.
• There is complete safety while dating online - though I must emphasise here that users of the internet need to exercise the greatest caution while dating online as a result of the inherent danger associated with online dating (see details about this below).
  
  It thus creates an opportunity for meeting as many people as possible on a dating website and interacting with them without the risk of revealing confidential information relating to oneself indiscriminately.
  
  Thereafter, once a level of trust has been established, a person may choose to reveal personal and confidential details to whomever he or she wishes.
• A person who is attracted to someone on the internet and is interested in carrying on a relationship with that individual can do a complete and detailed objective assessment of that one's personal background from a distance - totally devoid of any emotional attachment to the individual. Additionally, online dating affords a person the opportunity of knowing a dating partner with respect to the basic aspects of that person's life before deciding whether a physical contact should be arranged or not.
• Conversations are very easy to start online and there is no uneasiness and ackward or tense moments as it is common with "real life" scenarios.
• Another great benefit of online dating is that it allows you the opportunity of specifying the exact type of person you are looking for. By creating a profile indicating your personal interests, activities, goals and preferences on an online dating site, it helps to attract persons of the opposite sex of like minds as yourself. In other words, your profile on a dating website serves as an introduction of the kind of person that you are.
• Online dating services are available 24/7/365/6 - that is, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 or 366 days of the year! Is that not simply awesome? But, is that the case with other conventional form of dating? Of course not!
  
  So, persons dating on the internet can always log on to their online dating service any hour of the day - whether when they are feeling down and out, lying in bed because of an ailment, or they just feel like staying at home on a weekend.
• Online dating allows you to have complete control on how fast and at what pace a relationship is evolving. Since your initial contact and repeated interactions is done on the internet and later by phone (if you choose to), you can easily fit this into your crowded schedule without being obliged to meet with the person at certain places or times of the day. You thus have complete control over the online relationship and you can decide when it is convenient and expedient to meet your online partner in person.
• Finally, if you are a great fan of platonic relationships or an ardent believer or even a promoter of sexual abstinence before marriage, then online dating is for you. The simple reason is that in online dating, there is no physical contact and interaction between those involved in the online romance.
  
  Though there is phone sex, presently a factor to consider in many online relationships, and which does not require physical contact among the parties involved, it is certainly a fact that those who engage in the practice do not have a high regard for moral chastity before marriage.

Danger Associated with Online Dating

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that online dating has a lot of advantages over conventional form of dating.

However, as allurring as online dating might be, this convenient form of dating has some inherent dangers associated with it. Yes, indeed, despite the numerous benefits of online dating as enumerated above, there is the need to exercise the greatest caution while dating online.

So, what are the dangers associated with online dating? Some of the dangers assosciated with online dating are as follows:

• Danger No. One - Perfection on the Internet

A major danger associated with online dating is that everything is so technicolor perfect on the internet. As a result of this, the physical limitations relating to colour, race, ethnicity, age differences, educational or social barriers, peculiar with the "real world", are virtually non-existent on the internet. Is it any wonder then that it is so easy to fall in love while dating online?

And therein lies the danger of online dating. Why?

The simple reason for this is that there is concealment of information or outright dishonesty by either one or both of the parties involved in online dating in at least 90% of all online romances. Thus, you only know so much about the person that he has divulged or is willing to reveal about him or herself to you.

So, you cannot say for sure that the online friend you are emotionally attached to has bad breath, has body odour, snores in his sleep, is a chain smoker, goes about without changing his or her undies for days, goes to bed daily without taking his or her bath, an alcoholic, a chronic womanizer (player), or a compulsive gambler who is indebted to almost all the loan sharks where he/she lives.

Due to the fact that you do not see the other person's imperfections when dating online, everything you know about the person are from the often unverified and unverifiable information that the person is willing to divulge to you online or through the phone. Consequently, the person may cleverly conceal the unsavoury blemishes about him or herself while telling you about him or herself.

Do you now see why it is so easy to be hoodwinked, hook, line and sinker on the internet? Indeed, the blemishes and imperfections commonplace in the real world is not easily noticeable on the internet. And, undoubtedly, many folks have ended up being hookwinked as a result of not exercising caution during online dating.

• Danger No. Two - Internet Rave

Another danger necessitating great caution while dating on the internet is that there is so much hype or rave, or what I may simply refer to as "noise", with respect to the latest fad, trend or what is "in vogue" on the internet. This bustling internet community is so infectious in its activities that the unsuspecting individual can easily get caught up with the tide.

The unsuspecting internet newbie can easily become entangled in the web of trying to get the many products and services raved about and peddled on the internet as being the "in-thing", the latest "fad", the "trend", or tagged as being "chic" or "macho" on the internet.

As a result of this internet rave, online practices, such as zodiac love matches, love horoscopes and others which are popular with those dating online becomes fascinating too to online newbies. Additionally, many folks who become newly assimilated into the online community feel inclined to flow with the bandwagon with respect to what constitute proper behaviour while dating online - in order to feel accepted and have a sense of belonging within the online dating community.

Consequently, it becomes very easy for the unsuspecting and uncautious internet user to lose a lot of money on irrelevant and unnecessary products on the internet or even get love-scammed while dating online.

• Danger No. Three - The activities of Fraudsters

Many people deliberately set out to defraud others on the internet while adopting various strategies to accomplish their aims and objectives.

One of the modus operandi of fraudsters on the internet is exploiting the human need for love, affection and companionship to perpetrate outright fraud. The remarkable number of persons that have been swindled through online dating by love scammers makes this a worrisome trend indeed.

Even worse, a lot of persons have been subjected to rape, torture and murder as a result of not exercising caution while dating on the internet. See the web pages: Love Scams, Online Romance Caution and Love Scam on Facebook? Better Believe It! It is REAL!!! for information about the nefarious activities of professional love scammers on social networking media and online dating websites.

Online Dating - Is It for Me?

Online dating certainly holds a lot of advantages - no doubt about it. And it is fast gaining in popularity across the globe. As a matter of fact, according to one report, an estimated $500 million is spent annually by people living in the United States alone on online dating services. This invariably means that the internet is the first port of call for many persons when it comes to the subject of dating and finding their potential soul mates.

So, should you seriously consider online dating simply because it is becoming popular or the "in-thing" nowadays? Well, of course not. On the other hand, there is no doubt about it whatsoever that online dating services increases the chances of finding an ideal or suitable mate for an individual. Thus, if you are looking to find that special person that is "just right" for you, within a short space of time as well, you need to give online dating serious consideration.

However, before you reach a concrete decision as to whether online dating is worth the bother after all, it is my candid advice that you take into consideration the dangers associated with it as enumerated in the foregoing - so as to exercise the greatest caution while actually engaging in online dating.

Consequently, it is strongly recommended, therefore, that you review the information contained in this material, as well as those web pages mentioned in the last sub-title, again and again - so as to arm yourself with a complete information about the modus operandi of love scammers as well as their various strategies on the internet.

Certainly, there are dangers associated with online dating - aside from the numerous benefits that is derivable from it. Having a detailed and complete knowledge of such hidden dangers is essential towards conducting a successful online dating and finding that person to whom one may fall in love with, get married to and "live happily forever after".

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Need Some More Dating Tips?

Do you need some more online dating tips? You can find some more tips on dating totally free at:

• Dating and Courtship - Any Implication for Marriage?
• How to Conduct a Date
• How to Woo a Girl
• Love Making Positions and the Key to Sexual Enjoyment
• Love Scams - Be Aware of the Dangers Involved
• Online Dating Tips for Everyone
• Online Romance Caution