People who have been online dating for quite some time now know that there is a fine line between real and virtual. They know that what may be fantastic online can be a disaster once you meet face-to-face
This however does not have to be the case going from online dating to real world dating. As mentioned above, there is a fine line between the two. This can also mean that the line is very thin-too thin in fact. Aside from the physical presence, there really isn’t that much difference. How?
• For one thing, the meeting process is pretty much the same. The virtual world has become so “realistic” that it now tends to replicate reality. Take for instance those websites. These are no more than your average “singles clubs” in “3-D land”. An online dating site dedicated to health buffs for instance, is pretty much like a health club, except for the treadmill of course. But in principle, it is a place where health conscious individuals meet and talk shop.
• Whether it is real or virtual dating, you need to let people know that you’re available. In real world dating, this means going to clubs or pubs, flirting quite a bit and so on. Or you can join such activities as speed dating. By the same token, online dating entails signing up for a dating website, writing a profile and posting a photo and voila! You’re now on the market.
• The approach is yet another facet of dating, virtual and real. Of course, a lot argue that it is a lot easier to approach people online since looks and other factors aren’t present. Whilst they hit this fact right on the mark, it isn’t as easy as they think. One needs to write an interesting and attractive profile, post a decent and recent photo and so on. In short, whilst you may work on your physical appearance when going to the pub, online dating means working on your profile. It is all a matter or how you present yourself. No matter where you are.
• And of course, how you follow through after meeting the person is always crucial. At the pub for instance, you need to be witty and interesting, lest you bore your date. The same holds true for online dating. The emails, instant messages and so on need to have a certain edge lest they get thrown into the recycle bin.
And of course, no matter where you choose to date, being yourself is the best way to do so. No one likes it when he or she is given the run around. Besides, what’s the point of pretending?
So the next time you decide to go online dating, remember that it isn’t that different from real world dating. Happy hunting!