Dating sites are a fantastic way to meet new people for fun, friendship, and relationships. You can browse members according to their location, age, religion, and what kind of relationship they’re seeking, among other criteria. And the moment you find someone who seems to fit your requirements, you can send that person an e-mail. On many dating sites you can even make a request to chat with them if they happen to be online at the same time as yourself.
It all seems so easy, efficient and immediate. However, there is one paradox inherent in the structure of the internet that you should remember: Just as it is a great way to connect with others, it can also be used as a barrier. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are active on dating sites but terrified of meeting others in reality. They would rather spend ages playing e-mail ping-pong or chatting online before actually having a coffee or drink with you to see if there’s any actual chemistry. And some will never get around to meeting you, even after weeks of online correspondence!
Not surprisingly, many people find this behavior extremely frustrating. They would much rather get to the point of meeting someone in the flesh sooner rather than later.
If you are one of these more direct people, then you should make a point of saying so in your profile. It will probably put a lot of other members off. They will tend to think it’s a bit impatient or intolerant of their comfort zones. But then they’re probably not the kind of people you’ll hit it off with anyway. And if you are using a large established dating site then there will still be lots of members who won’t be put off by such a statement. Of these, a fair proportion will know exactly where you’re coming from and appreciate your honesty. Some will share your feelings themselves. It’s these people you want to make contact with.
Needless to say, there are still many other factors determining what happens after you first get in touch. It’s an unfortunate fact that you still won’t get to meet a certain percentage of those who respond to your ad and/or e-mails. And there’s no guarantee that even when you do meet them that anything will develop.
But you will certainly have saved a lot of time. And that means you will be able to meet more people, increasing your chances of finding a partner.