Has anyone had any success with online dating sites?

[SingleMum01]

Are they all full of blokes just after one thing or are there any genuine ones out there?

I feel like I'd start to get out there again, but don't go out much to meet anyone - and the ones I meet are all after one thing.

Where can I find an honest bloke?

Tell me some success stories!

hop on the other thread lol
i've dated plenty of men nobbers and had become v cynical and jaded about the whole online thing to the point of having to actually force myself to go out on dates
but then i met my DP and almost 6 months down the line we're planning on living together
so yes there is hope...

there is a depressingly large number of jokers, losers and total w***s on online dating sites. It seemed to me sometimes that they were like little boys in a large sweet shop.

However, having met DP a little over a year ago, I can say that there are some geniune ones on there, though the hunt to find the elusive holy grail could be a long and disheartening one.

personally I haven't tried, but one of my best friends has this year been to three weddings where the couples got together via internet dating sites!! there is hope yet!

Thing is, there are plenty of losers ready to take advantage in RL as well as online.....

I've done loads of online dating. It's basically the same as bumping into someone in a pub and getting chatting. Most of them will be fine, but not your type, some are tossers, now and then you find a good one.

Online does allow ppl to lie up to the point when you meet. But once you've met up it's just like anyone else you met randomly.

I went on dating sites a few years ago. i was really cautious though. i only actually met up with 2. some were just idiots but i met a great man who is now my dh and we have 4 dc. (I was probably over cautious - arranged to meet dh 3 times and kept cancelling lol)

I have tried it and have given up! It is good if you don't have the opportunity to meet many men (especially those who are perhaps at a similar stage in life). Online dating allows you to be completely upfront (however alot of people dont read your profile properly). You can also search specifically for people who also have children.

I think it can course work. HOwever there are a lot of men "window shopping" (to quote someone I went out with!").

I just didnt have any success!

I've done loads of this and yes, 90% of them are total wankers who are only after one thing (or are married etc)

However, met my dp on there and now after 4 months we're more or less living together.

So good ones do exist, unfortunately you end up 'meeting' a few bad ones along the way, ime!

Don't give up at the first hurdle!

Good luck

Thinking about it, if you're going to try stuff like this, I think Speed Dating is the one. I've done it myself, and a few friends have. One is very happily married with two kids to 'Mr 34' that she met Speed Dating.

I tried internet dating in 2000 after I had split up with a long term boyfrined.
I was quite picky... but had a brilliant 6 months and it really boosted my confidence.
I ended up marrying a man that I met on it and we are still together.
Two of my friends have also met/married men off dating sites...
There are really nice men out there... but there are also a lot of nutters/just in it for a shag.
So you have to check them out carefully, but i reckon the odds are better than finding someone down the local pub/club.
It I had to do it now, I would look at the Sarah Beeney site... my single best friend.

I met my DH through online dating. Be very careful about what site you use and do a lot of prescreening. I used Dating Direct, the fact that you have to pay a small amount puts off the non serious, and I refused to meet anyone who used text speak. You do need to post your photo to get a reasonable response.

Standard tips are don't build up a huge online relationship, swap a couple of messages to make sure you might get on, one or two phone calls tops, then meet up for a coffee or drink, keep it low key and short.

Give it a go, hope it works out.

Totally agree with rookiemater... only meet up for coffee to begin with. To be honest I had sister/friends at another table for some first meetings just keeping an eye out because this was nearly 10 years ago not many people really did internet dating.
I met mine through dating direct too!

I met the most wonderful man online just over two months ago and we're alrady making plans for the future Before that I had loads of dates and another quite serious relationship that lasted a year. It works very well if you just apply common-sense (as you would meeting someone offline).

I would never have met DP in everyday life and I think online dating is a simply fantastic tool, especially if you're older like me and don't get to meet people at work/college/in bars. Agree with the others, use a paid site, the free ones like PoF are really hard work.

I'd be very very cautious about the site you use and meeting them. Yes, there are a lot of complete wankers out there and beware that it is extremely easy to lie (and yes, men do!) online.

I met my soon to be ex-partner 2 years ago on Match. Thought everything was fabulous until a couple of months ago when I found out that he's got active profiles on Plentyoffish, Dating Direct, SwingingHeaven, FriendsReunited Dating and countless more. The low life scum has also been emailing and IMing other women, arranging to meet and even sending explicit photos, all while we've been together. Beware, men are scum and are not to be trusted. His pathetic excuse was that it was all a laugh with his armed forces colleagues!!! Yeah right! He even had a profile as a woman called Lara and an email address in her name to pull other women as a lesbian. How twisted is that?

I met DP online, through a dating site; 3 years together and and plans for a baby in the new year so yes very successful!

IMO if you want some fun go for a free dating site. If you are looking for a relationship go for one where you have to pay, it shows some commitment I think.

My sister is trying out eharmony at the moment, she's having a good time.

Even if you don't find Mr Right straight away it's really fun if you take it for just that:fun.

Chat with people, go on some dates, flirt, have a laugh and don't pressurise yourself or prospective men into a relationship.

I have to say that I've had largely negative experiences - the few times I've been persuaded to meet men from dating sites, they've, lets say, not been all they seem.

I was so peed off I gave up for a while but have started dipping my toe in the water again - not sure if it's just me or the fact that I'm 40+ and in London but think there are a lot of chancers/married men out there.

Generalisation but I reckon most men who don't put up photos are married - and have had this suspicion confirmed on several occasions.

However, if any of you more successful online daters would look at my profile for me and tell me where I'm going wrong give me ideas for improvement, I'd be very grateful [looks around for begging emoticon]

I met my fiance on a dating site

I found my Lovely Boyfriend on plenty of fish. We've been together about 8 months now. He's awesome - I love him. I really do! And he loves me!

you do have to wade through piles of nobbers to find a decent one though.

i went out with one bloke who took me to meet his mother after about a week. Dumped me the next day. By text.

Bizarre.

I got really lucky I think - have not had much luck, or is it judgement! - in the past but am now with an amazing man and am in love and happy

Am very about all the successful internet daters on mn but very happy for you all. Hope that this time round I find someone great as well - or at least not a mad, knobby, eejit who's only after one thing ...

get back on the thread kdk we miss you!
believe me that particular nobber is doubtlessly still looking himself...don't let him put you off

BEWARE these sites can be dangerous!!!!

7 years ago i joined a dating site for a laugh really, i had been a single mum for 2 years at this point.
I contacted ONE man........mainly because he came up as a top match for me........................

7 years on we have been married 6 years and have 1 dd between us! LOL

like i said these dating sites can be very dangerous!

Online dating is no more, no worse than meeting someone whilst out in town. In fact for many reasons I'd say its safer.

Yes you meet a lot of "nobber" who are only after one thing. Yes, undoubtly many of them are married/in a relationship. But thats the same as if someone came and chatted you up in a pub.

Think of online dating sites as a bloody big pub. There's going to be some idiots, some players, some hopeless and the odd one who is relationship material. Just like real life really.

From a man's perspective we have to put up with:

• Women who think the photo from 8 years ago and 100lb's lighter is still accurate.

• Those who have read the Daily Mail too much and think all men are pervy psycho stalkers.

• Those who have absolutely no intention of meeting a man online (erm why are you there?)

• Those who are still pining for their ex.

• and last but not least, ugly women who think they are god's gift cos they have 100 men messaging them a day not realising that most men usually end up logging in, cut & pasting the same message to 100 women then see who replies.

Amongst all those, we occasionally find the odd gem we'd date too!

My point is that on dating sites, it cuts both ways. If you think we're all losers and players then we think your all timewasters and need to look in the mirror once in a while.

Cheers Niceguy, good to get the male point of view. I think I may come under no. 2 - think all men are psycho stalkers