Hi there.
21 yr old white f here.
Brn eyes and brn hair.
About 5’2′ and 135 lbs. from BR.
I’m not afraid to admit that I have gone on dates with people I’ve met online. To me, the Internet is just another forum for social interaction. Almost 40 million other single Americans would agree, according to this week’s U.S. News and World Report.
Still, online dating is not something many people will brag about. Meeting up with a complete strangers has a social stigma. Many argue the person at the other end of the connection could have little more in common with me than the fact that we both are connected. The worst draw back I find is calming down my concerned friends who react strongly to the news that I’ve accepted dates from guys I’ve randomly met online – “Are you crazy? He could be a serial killer.”
But owners of personals and dating Web sites like the new tigersingles.com or lsusingles.com are bragging. These clever entrepreneurs convinced Americans to spend more than $302 million last year, a figure four times the amount spent in 2001.
They couldn’t have done it if people weren’t willing to participate. Their supposed match-making technology has skyrocketed in popularity. I would argue that they have successfully tapped into a market that is revolutionizing the American social scene. While there may be some safety risks associated with meeting up with MrRightLSU123, the Internet is changing dating today like cars did in the 20s and birth control did in the 60s.
For some proof, I encourage everyone to consider my situation.
I am not a member of any Greek organizations, so Grab-a-date arrangements are not a solution. I work about 60 hours per week on the side of my studies. Besides the fact that office policy prevents me from dating anyone I employ, I have little time to socialize after work. The friends I do have outside of the office would rather hang out at someone’s apartment than go to a bar.
As soon as I mention my career goals in class, I usually deter any guy who is unsure of his future. I must avoid hooking up with any other campus leaders to prevent conflicts of interest with my job. That same conflict of interest really knocks out my options for joining an organization to meet people.
The best hope I have for finding a date is chance. And because I am better at writing than I am speaking, I usually blow chances with bad first conversations.
So for me and those 40 million other Americans who are open to finding a companion online, the Internet is just a way to interact with new people. It is a date-finding method that compliments my personality and busy lifestyle.
I see no difference in meeting a stranger at a bar and meeting one through an instant message screen. The guy in either situation could tell white lies about his identity or even be a serial killer. But at least I have a chance to find out more about the guy on my screen before I agree to meet him.
And in all the occasions where I have agreed to give my phone number out or meet someone for a date, I’ve found that I actually could have run in to them if I exhausted the traditional dating efforts. From a friend of a friend to a guy who frequently came into the office where I used to work, to me Internet hook-ups are nothing different than everyday encounters.
However, safety before these encounters should always be a priority. And by no means can I testify to a higher success rate for Internet-initiated relationships. But there is nothing wrong with having it as a possibility.
The only problem with viewing Internet dating as an option is when it becomes the only option. Since I met my current crush while tailgating, I think I’ll be okay