Online dating: Have I got a [fill in the blank] for you! : Men

[Barbie]

This is the information age. We turn to the Internet for almost everything… reading, listening to music, downloading movies, doing research, shopping for groceries, banking, gaming, gambling, even working or finding our next job. So, why then should it be so unusual for men to look to the Internet for their next romantic partner and vice versa?

Years ago, when a man met a woman, it was the “old fashioned way,” face-to-face; maybe at a club or a bar, at work, school or church, or even through a blind date. But before you even had your first date, you did a lot of sizing up of your potential next main squeeze, didn’t you? Even a blind date, is sized up to some extent, because there’s a lot of back and forth about, “Oh, you’ll like him because he’s this…” and “Oh, you two will hit it off well because she’s that…”

It’s good to get a glimpse of the “real” them before you you’re your approach, and before the mask drops down. If what you see or hear isn’t what you’re interested in, you’re not obligated to go any further.

In some ways, online dating gives a guy the same opportunities, the chance to “see” someone naked, so to speak. How do you do that? Well, first, of course, if they’ve posted a picture of themselves, you make your first decision right there. You disregard the one who is too blonde, too dorky, too skinny, crooked teeth, too old, too young… whoa! Stop right there. Now, that’s a Hottie!*

First hurdle overcome; on to the profile. “Hottie” likes to relax in a hot tub, enjoys skinny dipping, bowling, all contact sports, speaks fluent Klingon and was a runner-up in the Mr./Ms. U.S.A. Transvestite Competition. What?! Next!

Okay, that’s pure hyperbole, but the dating profile tells a lot about a person. One thing you should bear in mind is that a lot of times, they lie. And that’s not necessarily a terrible thing. They’re mostly little white lies, like the kind that push up an IQ or a bra size, or skim a few years off an age. Sometimes, the lie is really an exaggeration… “I own a Ducati,” and it’s really a Vespa. They’re the profiler’s wishes, wants and desires, and naturally, what they think will make them more appealing.

One quick cautionary word about the online dating profile, and even once you’ve made contact with someone you’ve met through an online dating service. There are, unfortunately, rampant fraud and dating scams out there. Online predators post profiles that are so interesting and appealing, and with pictures of individuals that are so attractive, that, your first impression may be “Wow! Why does he or she need to take this online?” If that happens, Red Flag it, that’s probably the “*Hottie” I spoke of before. It’s likely a scam, especially if they are “stranded” in a third world county asking for money.

You’ve made contact, and struck up a conversation or two (hundred) through online chats, IMs, text messages, Skype calls and mobile phones. If there’s a “click,” you’ll feel it, and can move on to the in-person meeting. Now, some dating websites actually organize get-togethers. I think that’s a great idea. You should go, even if it does cost $20 or $30. At a minimum, you’ll get to mingle, have a drink or two and have the chance to show yourself off.

If you meet your online date offline, and you hit it off, great. Congratulations! If not, no harm no foul. On to the next.

There’s a great big dating world out there, and thanks to the Internet, you can meet the love of your life half way across the earth, from the comfort of your living room.