Excelle

Not only did I meet him, we married a year later and still going strong!!

My opinion would be to give it a try, just be safe about it.  Listen to your instincts, have a clear head and go with your heart.

Vanessa

I have actually been using online dating for a about 14 yrs since my first divorce.  Nothing beats meeting someone without having to get dressed to go out!  It is such a nice way to find out about someone "behind the persona."  I can find out bunches from grammatical errors to jealousy before I ever talk on the phone.  I then move to "phone" after about 2 weeks or more.   I will then only meet the folks that pass the e-mail and phone test.  So far...have met some great people...no surprises in all these years. 

Internet dating appears to be catching on as a more valid way to meet people.  You can meet undesireables in bars, or art museums, etc.....I liken this form of dating to the war days as people got to know one another via snail mail!!

I've met a few people from the internet, most have been okay, but listen to that little voice if things don't feel right....or feel TOO right! There's nothing wrong with optimism served with a healthy dose of skepticism. I did meet one girl who I was engaged to, but the distance became too much to overcome.

There are a lot of advantages, but I have found that some people are both more honest and less honest about themselves when they have the anonymity of the internet to hide behind. They can open up about issues they wouldn't tell someone they know, but will also sometimes "embellish" themselves.

I was "looking" for Mr. Right for awhile. I did the whole speed dating, being set up on blind dates, meeting men at bars, looking for men at Starbucks and the book store, weddings, etc...NO LUCK!.  I was happy being single but still did want to meet someone.  So I took some advice from my boss who met his wife on Match.com, and joined. It is very overwhelming with the fload of emails. For the most part people seemed honest.  I went out on dates with acouple people, all of whom were nice but not my match. (One looked VERY different from his picture though! ) The key is to talk, talk on the phone, and then meet soon after at a very public place. End of this story, I met the love of my life. I think that if you don't try it you will never know! Just be safe.

Deneen....

I too used Match.com, and next monday will be our 2 year wedding anniversary!  We dated for 4 years prior to that!  (had to make sure all the kids were good with this! LOL)

It's not easy!  Let me assure you of that!  There are alot of fakes out there, and those just out there for one thing.  But, there are some truely amazing guys (and girls!) out there on the sites. 

I did try EHarmony, and found it ridiculous!  I put in what area i wanted to look in, and it was matching me with people in Alaska, California, etc!  (not bad, if i didn't live in New Hampshire!)  LOL

I always met someone at a VERY neutral place....  ice cream stand, local restaurant, etc.  They NEVER came to my house!  Or picked me up!!!!!!!!

Respectforall says ...

I've met a few people from the internet, most have been okay, but listen to that little voice if things don't feel right....or feel TOO right! There's nothing wrong with optimism served with a healthy dose of skepticism. I did meet one girl who I was engaged to, but the distance became too much to overcome.

There are a lot of advantages, but I have found that some people are both more honest and less honest about themselves when they have the anonymity of the internet to hide behind. They can open up about issues they wouldn't tell someone they know, but will also sometimes "embellish" themselves.

Yeah, the embellishments can be a problem.  Some are more obvious than others.  For instance, I've read quite a few posts from guys who claimed that they had their own private jets and lived the jet-setting celebrity life, but wanted someone who wasn't into all that.  Say what????  Or even the ones that claim that they're really popular and active in the community, but can't seem to find a date.  Hmmm.  So, I guess it's true, if they look too good, they probably aren't.  Some of them are honest, though, and you can usually tell when someone is being honest because..for one thing..they aren't embellishing!  Hey, if you're bald, you're bald.

I've posted my profile at eharmony.com before and got a whole lot of matches. They never resulted in anything. To each their own... what doesn't work for you, just might work for someone else.  Good luck to all you ladies looking for love online!  Be Careful.

I come from the old school. What you see is what you get. Better you see it once than hear about it 10 times. Men who have all that time to sit anonymously on the Internet and chat/email to women indicate a lack of social skills or just lazy. Many are married and looking for side dishes to liven up their monotonous lives. Just way too many lies and embellishments on those sites - and of course you have to pay for all that. I prefer meeting someone first and talking. Within 15 minutes it becomes apparent if the chemistry is there or not. I don't want to waste time with emails only to find out he is ugly or stupid in person. Professional organizations and activities are great ways to meet someone. I am involved with the arts so most men I meet are at performances or workshops. My friend met lost of guys when she took up Argentinian tango dancing. And of course cheapskates don't take dancing lessons. I'm not looking to get married or have children so my needs are different. I seek an interesting and fulfilling lifestyle with a man. For that he has to be financially successful, well-rounded and have social skills. That kind of man is not going to have the time or desire to sit on the computer emailing loads of women.That seems juvenile.The kind of man I am interested in is too busy professionally networking or pursuing satisfying hobbies like horsebackriding, boating or riding motorcycles.

I try to be open minded and feel whatever works for the individual is great, whether that be on line or face to face, etc. I have friends and relatives who have met great people on-line and have maintained relationships on the web or and/or met on the web.

However, I am definitley not one of those people. Personally I could not see myself having an on-line relationship. It feels cold to me and I don't know if I would ever really be able to trust the other person. I need to look at the person's face, see their emotions, their body language in order to be able to take it to the next step.

I have met a few people via online dating sites. It's just like being in any other social setting execpt you really have to be careful. Thankfully I've missed Jack the Ripper and the Boston Stangler and most of the other nutcases that can be found out there. I didn't like Yahoo, Match.com or EHarmony. I think EHarmony is the worst!! I did try a site called Chemistry, I'm still on it I just haven't been in a while, and I really like it. Most of my success has come from Chemistry.com (if you want to call them successes. I've not married or anything but I have been shown a great time by some fantastic men.)

I know that I'm the reason the relationship fizzles. I get scared when someone gets too close. I'm seeing a really great guy now and I hope that I overcome my closeness issues. (ain't that ususally the guy's problem???)

I needed to hear all these things, I've been discouraged about online dating due to chatting with some guys who seem interesting then they just disappear. I felt like writing, "was it something I said?" but know better to just dropt it. It does take kind of a thick skin. I'm glad to hear about you ladies having success-I was beginning to wonder. Being single again after 20 years of marriage I have read lots of books on dating and online dating do's and don'ts so I feel fairly secure about how to be safe.  But it's hard not to get swept up in all the marvelous things some men say in their profiles only to find out it was just a come on. Deep inside I know there are perfectly wonderful men out there and I apprieciate hearing about them, so thanks ladies!

I have tried many sites time and time again. I have found that this whole thing is just too time consuming. It just really bores me. When I am at a social event or private party I can walk around and in 10 minutes focus on 3 men who might be interesting to get to know. What I see is what I get. It is easy for me to approach strangers at a social event. I am not fearful when strangers try to engage me in a conversation. Especially with good food and alcohol, most people feel relaxed enough to socialize. Writing emails, looking at pictures that may not be representative of the truth - it hasn't worked for me. I'm in real estate sales so I like talking to people, laughing and socializing. The Internet? Ahhh - I think not.

Internet Dating.....I feel I could write a book or give a class.  INTERNET DATING WORKS!!!

My advice is that you must be positive.  Work on yourself to look great because you are competing with millions of other women out there.  You must also be patient.  Join many sites, such as Match.com, which is my favorite, e-harmony, date.com and so on.  Take a few cute pics of yourself, create a positive description of who you are and what you are looking for.  Do not talk about what you are not looking for or any of your excess baggage.  If you are in your 40s, we all have them.

I use to schedule 3 meetings per week, usually for a glass of wine, no dinner.  If they show up and the pictures are 15 years older, you should dismiss the meeting or make it short, it's your choice.  I have met the nicest men in my life on the internet, dating a few for close to a year and end up marrying the greatest man I have ever met.  I lived in Las Vegas, he lived in the East Bay, San Francisco area and now I am happily married and live in the East Bay.  We have been together 3 years and we got married Sept. of 08.  We both are self-employed and work from home.  He is my best friend.  He adores me and I love him dearly.  If you don't have chemistry on the first date, do not waste your time for a second date, it usually doesn't change.  Please ladies, get to know the man a little, feel chemistry and comfort before you sleep with him :)  I have heard many happy stories of marriage, just like mine from internet dating.

For me, this was the only way to meet professional men of caliber.  My clients are all physicians (surgeons) and Administrators.  I keep my private life completely away from my business world.  I also did not go to clubs on my own or bars.  Therefore, if you are in this type of position, it is worth taking the time reading profiles and looking at pictures.  Take a minute and look at my family, didn't do too bad lol.  I have a 21 year son in college who lives in Las Vegas and my twin step daughters live with their mom and visits their dad and I every other week.  We all get along great.  At my age, I would have it no other way.  Life is great.  I wish you all the best.  Ask me any questions, I'd be delighted to answer them.

Funny to read my last post here 7 months ago but guess what-I finally got it right! Here's some things that worked for me; it is best if they contact you first, have a few short emails, if you are  still interested, then go out for coffee, if there is chemistry then make the date longer. Usually there is nothing there and you know it immediately. But just when I was going to give it a rest I met my sweetheart of 5 months now-such a beautiful man, I totally lucked out. So keep trying gals, you'll know it when you meet him, you don't have to settle for second best. Oh yea and don't forget the background check.

It is really hard to date someone you meet online. I went out with a couple of guys I met on a very popular social network a few years ago and what I can tell you about is, that sometimes the relationship with the person you meet works. I have 2 great friendsthat  I met online and I felt in love with other guy. The relationship with this guy lasted 1 year and 8 months, he is a really nice person. Unfortunatelly it did not work, but I can still tell you that,  that was the best relationship I've ever had. And the best person in the world, a little bit 'weird', but the best.