Episode 11: Online Dating
Online dating has now become mainstream. You see it in movies and on television and it seems like there is advertising everywhere to find that “special someone” online. So what’s online dating all about? Well the Simply Digital guys hope to answer those questions in episode 11.
This week, Michael Ashby turns the tables on Analog Dave an places him in the hot seat to answer a few questions. Analog Dave has tried online dating off-and-on for several years and this week he shares some of his insight in how this style of dating works. From do’s to don’ts, Dave walks us through the process and explains how it works and what to expect in your search.
Show Notes
- Analog Dave doesn’t know what the topic is going to be before we start recording the show, so this week’s episode was a bit of a surprise.
- Online dating is a relative topic because so many sites have added personals to their content offerings, not to mention the fact that there are so many online dating sites out there as well.
- Michael’s been married for 12 years, so he can barely remember dating.
- Analog Dave has been using online dating for many years and brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the topic.
- What Is Online Dating And How Is It Different From Regular Dating?
- With online dating, you have a lot more information about the other person than you do with traditional dating.
- With traditional dating, about the only thing you know upon meeting the person is what they look like.
- With online dating, there is more information available to you to help you make a more informed decision about wether or not you want to date someone.
- We all have criteria, or traits that we’re looking for in a mate and online dating provides you with most of the information up front, instead of having to learn as you go.
- Ultimately, online dating streamlines the process of meeting people so that you can physically meet them in person.
- Is Online Dating Just About Hooking Up?
- No.
- Online dating mirrors our culture, so if you’re looking to just “hook up”, then that’s what you’ll find.
- However, if you’re looking for a long term commitment, then online dating can be the perfect tool to do just that.
- How Do You Get Started With Online Dating?
- For starters, just go online and browse anonymously so that you can get a feel for what online dating is like.
- When you join an online dating service, you’re going to be creating a profile of yourself. You might even think of it as a personal ad.
- Instead of just copying what someone else has done, Analog Dave recommends that you use your own language and create your own story.
- It’s important to keep the information that you put online fairly generic. In other words, you want to stay as anonymous as possible.
- Saying you live in Nashville, for example, is good. But saying that you live at 123 Something St. is not.
- How Many Online Dating Sites Are There?
- Analog Dave has tried online dating
- eHarmony.com, Match.com and Yahoo! Personals are three of the larger sites.
- There are thousands to choose from however, including an online dating service for Trekkies.
- Does It Cost Money To Date Online?
- You can post your information and typically browse other people’s profiles for free.
- To make contact with the other person though will typically cost money.
- Some services will give you a short demo so that you can try before you buy.
- Most online dating sites charge a monthly fee.
- What Is The Typical Online Dating Process Work?
- It all starts with a search.
- If you find someone you like, you contact them through the online dating service system. At this point, things are still fairly anonymous.
- After a rapport is developed, you might give the person your private e-mail address so that you can continue the “conversation” without the need of the dating service.
- Eventually, you exchange phone numbers so that you can talk to the person directly. This allows you to have a more dynamic conversation. and get a better sense of what they are like.
- If the phone conversation goes well, then you can set a meeting in a public place. Bookstore, coffee house, some place public.
- If the meeting goes well, you can leave the public place and go to a movie, or dinner later. Or, set a date for another time.
- From then on, it’s just like normal dating.
- Some Helpful Tips
- It’s best to reply in kind, so if someone “winks” at you (or whatever the dating service call it), you can wink back. If someone e-mails you, it’s common courtesy to e-mail them back.
- If, for whatever reason, you’re not interested in that person, it’s best to let them know how you feel and not lead them on. Otherwise, you will be wasting the other person’s time, which is not courteous.
- “Good luck in your search.” is a polite phrase to use.
- If you’re female, you will be approached more than if you’re male.
- We can’t say this enough, keep your personal information private. Use generic information for your public profile
- When creating your profile name, don’t use your real name.
- Even if you have specific requirements in your profile, not everyone pays attention and will contact you even though they meet your requirement.
- Even though you might not find a soul mate, you can find some really good friends through the online dating process.
- When you do meet someone in person, a lot of the awkwardness is gone because you know a little something about the other person before you physically meet them.
- If you have special needs, there are online dating services that specialize in this, such as Dating4Disabled.com.
- When taking photos of yourself, take several and be sure that one photo includes a head-to-toe photograph as well.
- Things To Be Careful Of
- Online dating, just like everything on the Internet, is susceptible to phishing.
- Scammers will setup fake accounts and then attempt to con you out of your money, or worse, your personal information.
- Key things to be wary of are: poor grammar, request for you to visit a different web site, requests for you to download something, etc.
- Can Someone Who Is Married “Slip Through The System”?
- It’s possible, but if you’re screening properly you should be able to rule that out.
- True.com does background screening for felony records and married people.
Miscellaneous Stuff
- Mothership BBQ is a GREAT BBQ restaurant here in Nashville. Jim Reams, the owner, used his blog as a way to develop a relationship with his customers prior to even opening his doors for business. It paid off in spades when 50 people showed up when Jim opened his doors for the first time.
- FlamingPickle.com IS available at this time for registration.
The Bottom Line:
Wether you’re looking for true love, or just looking for “Mr. Goodbar”, online dating is a great way to meet that other person. Keep your public information to generic things thereby keeping your private information private. Be open and honest with the people that you meet and who knows, you could find that special someone online.
Add comment November 8th, 2006