You experiences with dating sites? (how to, married, women, love)

[Ron.]

Share some of your experiences with dating websites. I am using one for the very first time. Boy-o-Boy is all I can say.


If you don't use the sites keep your smart remarks to yourself.

[Tropical Trouble]

Well, I'm currently using three, and NO, I am not desperate but you never know where Mr. Right may be hiding.

I use eharmony and have never had much luck, so far it's amounted to one date with a very nice guy but because I'm moving to San Antonio soon, and he's locked into his job here in AZ for the next three years it would never have worked. I do have friends who met on eharmony and got married about two years ago, so it can happen. I'm not sure how long I want to keep up the monthly payments though.

I use match.com but am about to give that one up because it seems that most guys on the site are not looking for anything serious. One guy from there seemed nice, but he only ever suggested that I drive 80 miles to have margaritas at his house. Sorry, but if you want to meet me, you come to where I am and we meet at a restaurant. I don't do house calls on a first date.

The one that's worked out the best in the past is Yahoo Personals. That one has resulted in more dates for me than the other two combined. I know three married couples who met on Yahoo. I met my ex-fiance through Yahoo and the fact that he turned out to be a jerk after two years had nothing to do with how we met. My latest ex BF was also from Yahoo and although I wasn't the right one for him in the end, we remain good friends.

There's been nothing creepy or desperate about any of the guys I've met in person from the online services. If they seem fake, creepy or ugly I don't answer their e-mails/winks/icebreakers in the first place, and I do get those once in a while. Any guy who uses the word "discreet" in his profile is instantly blocked.

I consider myself to be a normal, attractive person who just has a hard time meeting people. The online dating thing is a better way to spend nights at home instead of in front of the TV with a pint of ice cream anyway. I live in a rather small military city that's about half very young soldiers and half old retirees, so finding a single, normal, 40 year old guy is difficult. I'd love to meet a nice military officer but the military seems to issue the wedding ring when they get their commission.

Once I get to San Antonio there should (hopefully) be more opportunities to get out in the community and meet new people. I plan to volunteer at the USO, the Rock-n-Roll Marathon (I don't run, but damn I love guys with runners bodies), and even get together with other women to scrapbook (they may have brothers, or sons). I'm not just going to sit on my butt in front of the computer hoping Mr. Right will pop up, but I figure having another way to meet new people really can't hurt.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by ChicagoRon

Share some of your experiences with dating websites. I am using one for the very first time. Boy-o-Boy is all I can say.


If you don't use the sites keep your smart remarks to yourself.

Who needs dating sites when you date supermodels...?!

[Ron.]

Ok, thanks for the great answer.

I was talking to a buddy of mine and we have never had a problem with meeting women in person but he stated he has used Yahoo personals and meet a few nice women. So I thought I would give it a try. I don't see it being any different than in person.

Peolpe lie in person as they do online. People are standoffish in person as they are online. It's really no difference to me. Even in person you have to talk to many to meet a few good ones.


Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by frootloop6

Well, I'm currently using three, and NO, I am not desperate but you never know where Mr. Right may be hiding.

I use eharmony and have never had much luck, so far it's amounted to one date with a very nice guy but because I'm moving to San Antonio soon, and he's locked into his job here in AZ for the next three years it would never have worked. I do have friends who met on eharmony and got married about two years ago, so it can happen. I'm not sure how long I want to keep up the monthly payments though.

I use match.com but am about to give that one up because it seems that most guys on the site are not looking for anything serious. One guy from there seemed nice, but he only ever suggested that I drive 80 miles to have margaritas at his house. Sorry, but if you want to meet me, you come to where I am and we meet at a restaurant. I don't do house calls on a first date.

The one that's worked out the best in the past is Yahoo Personals. That one has resulted in more dates for me than the other two combined. I know three married couples who met on Yahoo. I met my ex-fiance through Yahoo and the fact that he turned out to be a jerk after two years had nothing to do with how we met. My latest ex BF was also from Yahoo and although I wasn't the right one for him in the end, we remain good friends.

There's been nothing creepy or desperate about any of the guys I've met in person from the online services. If they seem fake, creepy or ugly I don't answer their e-mails/winks/icebreakers in the first place, and I do get those once in a while. Any guy who uses the word "discreet" in his profile is instantly blocked.

I consider myself to be a normal, attractive person who just has a hard time meeting people. The online dating thing is a better way to spend nights at home instead of in front of the TV with a pint of ice cream anyway. I live in a rather small military city that's about half very young soldiers and half old retirees, so finding a single, normal, 40 year old guy is difficult. I'd love to meet a nice military officer but the military seems to issue the wedding ring when they get their commission.

Once I get to San Antonio there should (hopefully) be more opportunities to get out in the community and meet new people. I plan to volunteer at the USO, the Rock-n-Roll Marathon (I don't run, but damn I love guys with runners bodies), and even get together with other women to scrapbook (they may have brothers, or sons). I'm not just going to sit on my butt in front of the computer hoping Mr. Right will pop up, but I figure having another way to meet new people really can't hurt.

[driftwoodpoint]

Our kids have used local professional dating groups in their towns. Our daughter was divorced and really wanted to be married with kids. She met a great guy and they married and number two is on the way, She just turned 40 in July.
My other son is in TX,30, and he just joined one in Dallas. They guarantee you six dates I think and so far all of the dates have been great matches. He has used Yahoo personals but so many he was interested were quite a distance.
I think these are a great idea if you are careful. I'm sure most of the people are great but you just have to weed out the others. Make sure you meet in a safe place and don't give too much information out before you check them out.

[Ron.]

Good stuff.

Oxford,Ohio.........Is that the home of the beautiful Miami U.campus??

Originally Posted by driftwoodpoint

Our kids have used local professional dating groups in their towns. Our daughter was divorced and really wanted to be married with kids. She met a great guy and they married and number two is on the way, She just turned 40 in July.
My other son is in TX,30, and he just joined one in Dallas. They guarantee you six dates I think and so far all of the dates have been great matches. He has used Yahoo personals but so many he was interested were quite a distance.
I think these are a great idea if you are careful. I'm sure most of the people are great but you just have to weed out the others. Make sure you meet in a safe place and don't give too much information out before you check them out.

[Chris M]

Originally Posted by frootloop6

One guy from there seemed nice, but he only ever suggested that I drive 80 miles to have margaritas at his house. Sorry, but if you want to meet me, you come to where I am and we meet at a restaurant. I don't do house calls on a first date.

I am not a drinker in any sense of the word, but underneath the "come to my house for drinks line," maybe he invited you to his home to appear hospitable and try to impress you and show you what he had to offer in the way of a family home.

I personally would never invite a woman to my place unless my intentions were to marry her.

[Tropical Trouble]

I'm pretty sure he was trying to be hospitable. He was always talking about his great backyard and how much work he had done on it, and loved to BBQ. He's in the Air Force so if anything had gone wrong, I knew how to find his boss! We had talked on the phone a few times but he never suggested driving down to see me, only the other way around and my thought was that if he wanted to meet me that badly, he could put forth a little effort. After all, he contacted me first. Besides, I still think its inappropriate to invite a girl to your house if she's never met you before. After several phone calls he finally suggested meeting somewhere in between and I said fine, but I never heard from him again to finalize the plans and I didn't follow up either.

I hope I either find someone online, or meet Mr. Right in the grocery store or the airport before I go broke with these dating sites. I was on Yahoo Personals for a year and a half before meeting my ex-fiance. $$$$. So now I'm back at it, and hoping for better things.

[bluegrassgirl]

Originally Posted by frootloop6

Well, I'm currently using three, and NO, I am not desperate but you never know where Mr. Right may be hiding.

I use eharmony and have never had much luck, so far it's amounted to one date with a very nice guy but because I'm moving to San Antonio soon, and he's locked into his job here in AZ for the next three years it would never have worked. I do have friends who met on eharmony and got married about two years ago, so it can happen. I'm not sure how long I want to keep up the monthly payments though.

I use match.com but am about to give that one up because it seems that most guys on the site are not looking for anything serious. One guy from there seemed nice, but he only ever suggested that I drive 80 miles to have margaritas at his house. Sorry, but if you want to meet me, you come to where I am and we meet at a restaurant. I don't do house calls on a first date.

The one that's worked out the best in the past is Yahoo Personals. That one has resulted in more dates for me than the other two combined. I know three married couples who met on Yahoo. I met my ex-fiance through Yahoo and the fact that he turned out to be a jerk after two years had nothing to do with how we met. My latest ex BF was also from Yahoo and although I wasn't the right one for him in the end, we remain good friends.
.

I've done eHarmony as well and don't recommend it at all. For the money, I felt I got nothing. Most of your matches aren't truly members and you'll never hear from them regardless if you send a message.

I agree completely with you on Yahoo as well. While there can be a diverse membership in my area, most have been very "normal" good middle aged men. (I'm 45). Although no great love of my life, I met several super nice guys and dated one. This was over a very short timespan as well. Thumbs up IMO.

Match - I have no experience with it, but a friend who used it had terrible results. She'd meet lots of men, but everyone had issues or baggage of some kind. I will never try it.

[artsyguy]

LOL can't you get dates in "real life"?

Most of the online people I've met in the past for dates were freaks. I'm gay, so it is harder to find dates in real life. Gay community needs a huge revamping because they seem to not really care for social skills or tact lol.