"PRESS MY BUTTON, BABY!"
Okay, the world didn’t end as predicted, and some people are disappointed. Some people are so hard to please.
But now that you’re officially stuck here on earth, you might as well enjoy yourself. You might as well find the love of your life. But how will you do it? A lot of people are doing it on the internet. In fact, it’s the main way people seem to be meeting nowadays.
When I told a guy at work that I met Jill in a bar—without previous internet contact—he was surprised. Of course, he didn’t realize I went to that bar to jam every week for six years, so sooner or later I was bound to meet SOMEONE. But let’s not get off the topic.
Most people have given online dating a shot, including me, and below are my conclusions. If any of this is useful, you’re welcome.
1. Take it into the real world quick
The main problem with online dating is that until you meet someone in real life, you haven’t met anyone. I don’t care how many online chats you’ve had—when you meet that person, you need to do it all over again. So what’s the solution? Meet that person quick. As soon as you think you’re not dealing with a serial killer, set up a meeting in a public place and go for it. This is much better than meeting someone after six months of virtual discussion and discovering that, for a variety of reasons, you would rather stick a nail in your eye than meet again. Trust me, it happens.
2. Dating Sites Suck For Most People
In real life (and by “real life” I mean a room full of people and alcohol), you’ll end up talking to a variety of people you probably wouldn’t talk to if you only saw their “online profile.” Online dating sites are very static. Since no one knows what any of these people are really like, there’s a tendency for everyone to only bother being interested in those who seem most ideal. So if you’re a good-looking male doctor, a million girls will answer your ad. If you’re a hot-looking girl who does anything at all or even nothing at all, a million guys will answer your ad. But everyone in between? Well, it’s a lot harder.
Online dating sites aren’t any better than chat rooms. And they’re not nearly as good as twitter.
3. Did you say twitter?
Yes, I did. I got married before twitter existed, but if I had to do it again twitter would be my PRIMARY vehicle for meeting people. Why? because it’s a fast moving world of little photo icons where you can narrow in on people who have similar interests and easily strike up a conversation. Sure, you need to “follow” that person and they need to “follow” you, but how lazy can you get? Click the “follow” button and see what happens. If nothing happens, “unfollow” and click the next one.
I personally know of several tweeps who’ve gotten together in a good way. Welcome to the future.
