Online Dating...?

[ruthd]

Have any of you tried online dating?

I saw this on ITV.com www.itv.com/page.asp?partid=7839 and it got me thinking...would i be brave enough to go through all of that?!

[DivaSkyChick]

I met my husband thru online dating after my friend met her husband thru the same site.

There are lots of frogs no matter how you go about it but at least this way you can take your time and get to know someone thru email, then phone, then meeting in public... it's a nice way to go especially if you're wary or have recently come out of a LTR.

Plus, I was in PR in Hollywood. All the guys I met were either actors (frogs!) or gay. Or drunk in pubs and that's no way to do things these days!

My husband tells his friends that if they're serious about meeting someone, they'd be crazy not to try online dating!

Let me know if you want help writing your profile.

[thegardener]

I tried on-line dating for a little while, it was fun, i didn't marry anyone from it but it did give me a bit of confidence meeting the opposite sex and it was nice having a few dates to look forward to.

[weebleswobble]

I met dp online. Before meeting dp I had a whale of time meeting some great people and some tossers, great people being in the majority. I've made lovely friends through online dating sites.

It really gave me back my confidence to date again after divorce.

I would talk for weeks/months before meeting anyone because I wanted to be sure they could talk. If they couldn't hold a decent conversation on msn or the phone, they weren't going to be able when meeting.

Ruthd do be aware of the safety aspects - always meet in a public place, make sure someone knows where you're going etc.,.

[ruthd]

Thanks so much for all your advice guys I totally understand the safety aspects...

I like hearing other people's stories, here and with that lady on itv weblives so keep them coming - it all spurs me on!

[Louplet]

I met my DP (soon to be DH) on match.com I had a great time on it virtual flirting and then starting to meet and date people. I had come out of an 8 year relationship and had not much confidence at the time or much idea of how dating worked as had never really done it and it was a fantastic experience. I recommend it to all my single friends.

[mistressmiggins]

I met my DP through match.com
my ex left 18 mths ago & one day I signed up (didnt pay) to put my profile out there.
I had loads of WINKS but didnt follow anything up cos wasnt ready to start dating again.
DP somehow managed to put his email address on his photo & I emailed him
the rest is history

he is embarrassed that we met like that & in fact has LIED to his family how we met

Im not embarrassed

I was a single mum with 2 kids under 5 so how was I supposed to meet new people?
He had full time custody of his child - ditto me

best thing I ever did[love.....]

[NuttyMuffins]

There are hundreds of sites, some better than others, but tbh imo they are all pretty shite, or maybe it is just me.

I only get messages off old blokes, or tossers.

[pirategirl]

i have just re activated my profile on msn/match dating, have been onthere before, metlots of ok people. It is a confidence boost.

Have now just started chatting ot a very nice guy. So it is worth it 4 a bit of fun, and it you r realy lucky, like these other ladies, you could meet someone lovrly.

why not meet someone this way!!

[snowwonder]

oh i wish i could get on one of these sites, have no credit card, and it isnt the sort of thing i can borrow my mums for without her laughing

[snowwonder]

glad things are good for you mistressmiggins

[ruthd]

Aw thanks for all your replies guys! I LOVE hearing success stories...it spurs me on :D

I just went to check in on the ITV page again and now we can vote for who she gets to go on a date with... i choose Paul or Desmond...can't decide which!

[miniandme]

Snowwonder try freedating.com, i was a single mum to 3 kids,2 of whom have special needs,had been single for 5 years and just simply dont have the time or energy to go out dating got onto online dating through boredom have now met a wonderful guy,we got engaged and are holding our engagement party on saturday im also 8 weeks pg wiht our baby when he was told he was infertile!!
So go on try it dreams do sometimes come true!!

[goldenpeach]

I met my partner through snoglondon.com, which is free, but suitable for 'younger' men. There was another one called love and friends, which had free partial membership, suitable for professional people. We are very happy (I met my previous partner through a lonely heart ad and it lasted ten years, it ended because he didn't want children and things got stale). So yes, I believe in that kind of dating but you need to meet lots of men before you hit it off with somebody. Just meet them in pub or bar for a drink, it's enough to find out if there's any attraction and it's safe. Before meeting, chat with them so you can find out if they share same outlook on life. Good luck.

[pornstarswife]

I have male friends that use online dating for a shag so word of warning don't believe a thing anyone tells you until they have earned your trust. I'd email for a while before a meet if they are just after one thing they wont bother iykwim.

[galaxy]

Met my dh through an internet dating site. Had to sift through loads of obviously dodgy emails from men but I contacted DH based on his profile. We emailed for about a month, then spoke on the phone for a couple of weeks before we finally met. Then I moved in 2 months later, married within a year of our 1st meeting and had dd 18 months after we 1st met. Ben together 7 years now.

So I say go for it but be prepared to have to dodge a few curve balls before you find Mr Right.

[pornstarswife]

a girl friend dated 21 slept with 1 and found noone last year however another friend is marrying the only person she met so you never know!

[goldenpeach]

I met my partner through snoglondon.com, which is free, but suitable for 'younger' men. There was another one called love and friends, which had free partial membership, suitable for professional people. We are very happy (I met my previous partner through a lonely heart ad and it lasted ten years, it ended because he didn't want children and things got stale). So yes, I believe in that kind of dating but you need to meet lots of men before you hit it off with somebody. Just meet them in pub or bar for a drink, it's enough to find out if there's any attraction and it's safe. Before meeting, chat with them so you can find out if they share same outlook on life. Good luck.

[talie101]

Online dating is great fun...can be frustrating as well. Go into it with an open mind and not too seriously and have some fun.
Lots of idiots out there like everyone says, but sift through and you can chat to some great people...even if they just end up as friends!

I'm very choosy and only go out on dates with those I feel a connection with...unfortunately there's been no chemistry on meeting in real life...but being a single mum..it's got me out of the house and given me chance to dress up and be ME again..so it's all good fun.

I don't usually pay....a couple of free sites are:- girlsdateforfree.co.uk and plentyoffish.co.uk

I'm actually in a dilemma (first time it's ever happened!!...I'm definitely no stunner!! lol)...I have four guys asking me out this weekend...and can only go out fri and sat...decisions, decisions!! It's so funny!!...That's the best thing about it after divorce...that feeling of being wanted again and attractive to the opposite sex when your confidence is zero!!

GET YOURSELF ON THERE GIRLS...IT'S FUN, IF NOTHING ELSE!! LOL :-)

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

met my dh online.
At our wedding we told everyone dh had typed a description of his perfect woman into Google and I was the first hit. Most people didn't know how online dating worked so they thought we were serious

[flibbertyjibbet]

My best male mate just got married to a wonderful woman he met on datingdirect.com. Seems like a very civilised thing for busy people to do.
Even though it sounds like there are a lot of frogs out there at least you are in control, not like all the blind dates that friends used to send me on (pre internet days), cos then if you didn't like the person you would have a third party telling you off!

[talie101]

Sorry those free sites are :-

girlsdateforfree.com

plentyoffish.com

......not co.uk

Have fun!

[bananabump]

okcupid.com is free and fun, has loads of personality tests which match you up to your best local and worldwide matches, although it's probably aimed at a younger audience.

I'm a lardybum so met my dp (and a few men before him) on a bbw dating site (big beautiful women...second B is debatable! lol) called [http://www.datingbbw.co.uk datingbbw.co.uk]]

Makes dating SOOOO much easier when you're overweight as I find it hard to pluck up the courage to speak to men I meet in everyday life.

Just keep safe, listen out for lies and complicated reasons why you can't visit them at home whenever you want to etc (sometimes married men use dating sites for flings) exchange pics immediately so you don't waste time on people you have no physical attraction to, and if you can, try to look as locally as possible. It's all very well falling for the man of your dreams online but they'r eincariably in New Zealand or Zimbabwe or something, and it's a LOT of upheaval!

Finally, save yourself some money by using skype or other voicechat technology (you just both need a microphone headset) and freeonline texts instead of your phone as you may do a lot of chatting before you meet up!

Webcams are also a good idea because you can learn a lot from seeing someone in real time rather than a static photograph (One guy I met up with had a constant and rather ugly sniff where he wrinkled his nose up and exposed his teeth- if I'd have seen that on webcam I would have been less keen to travel hundreds of miles to meet him iyswim)

[43Today]

As I've just started online dating again I thought I'd add some advice; I tried it 4 years ago after finally separating from XH after 18 years together.. I met a lovely man who unfortunately couldn't commit himself enough to move in with me after over 3 years together.

Now I'm starting all over again, hopeful but feeling a little disheartened. I think it is perfectly possible to meet nice people if you are careful to present yourself in a way that makes it clear what you are after - for example, if what you really want is a longterm relationship, say so - often there are options like 'let's see what happens' which could mean anything! You might get fewer men contacting you, but hopefully they will have the same expectations as you, so you don't waste time with someone who never wanted to share his life properly with someone else.

[ruthd]

Wow thanks for all your advice guys! I'll have to give some of them a try!

I keep following the story of that lady on ITV weblives - she is doing well too!

[newlifenewname]

Have you tried the media section?