Matchmaking / introduction agencies? Other creative ways of meeting sane happy single men?

[ExeuntPenguinFollowedByACat]

Would anyone recommend these? If so, any specific tips or recommendations?

I am in my early 30s with a LO on the way (long story but I am on my own) and slightly despairing of finding a good relationship when I look a little further into the future.

I had a long and generally lovely relationship that broke down a couple of years ago, and I had never dated properly before that and so was quite shocked by my experiences on OkCupid and POF (penis snapshots! expectations of casual sex! I was so naive...) and have since given up, especially since being pregnant, obviously. My experience of internet dating has basically been pretty grim. I have met some seemingly lovely men but they have all had something desperately wrong with them - it emerged that one already had a girlfriend; another was incapable of commitment and despite being in his forties had never been in a living-together type relationship; another was just keen to date as many women as possible at the same time. My friends are all very much settled down and I don't really seem meet any single men in my social circle.

And basically, while online dating seems like it could be quite good fun for casual stuff, I have had no joy with finding anyone looking for anything more serious.

I did think of evening classes etc, but when I have taken some it appeared that all of the other participants were women. Maybe I have been doing the wrong things? (book clubs, life drawing)

I wonder whether there are other avenues to explore, where I might meet somebody really lovely who shares my values and wants to settle down with, you know, just one person. Hopefully me. I think I would be happy to spend more money and time and really put the effort in to find the right relationship, if this actually helped.

Recommendations and words of wisdom, please!

At some point in the future I'd like to meet a decent man too. Not had a go yet, but have looked at pof, match, and okcupid and been massively put off. Guardian soulmates seems a bit less creep-ridden. Think I might try that first. Have you had a look for any single parent groups in your area? Widening your friendship circle has got to help, or you might meet a single dad...
I've heard joining a gym is a good way to meet fit men too, plus it will help you feel good about your body post-baby! Congratulations btw!

Bump. Anyone?

www.meetup.com/find/

try here? It's for groups to meet up with a particular interest or to go to museums etc.

Some sort of voluntary work, perhaps?

Increase your female friendship circle. Women love to set their lovely 'why are they still single' male friends up & the guys come with a reference.

Does that ever work Gumbo? Most men I know are pretty down on the women their female friends try to set them up with when the words "why are they still single" involved.

I met my DH via a dating agency which specialised in our hobby. I'd done a bit of internet dating and speed dating before but wasn't finding people I had much in common with.

He was my 3rd date with the agency and I was his 6th.

It was expensive but we both felt this acted as a strong filter - everyone was genuinely interested in finding a long term partner so no cheating husbands or blokes sending you cock shots.

For me it was great as it cut out a lot of messing about, men being intimidated by my career (dating was a good way to find out the a lot of men haven't made it out of the cave), thinking my interests were weird (well I don't think going to the pub and the gym count as interests) etc. I work in an all female workplace and it's hard to meet blokes with the same interest as me so they did all the hard work for me.

DH says he met women who either had the same interest or knew that if you were interested in that hobby you were probably well read, liked going to art galleries or museums or whatever was their primary interest. He was actually a lot less isolated than me but just hadn't met anyone he clicked with.

Just because everyone talks about internet dating, don't knock the old-fashioned agency!

PS I know what you mean about evening classes - I tended to go to one that were primarily women. But I wanted to meet a man who was interested in book clubs and life drawing!

They are hard to find but they are out there - just not on POF

There are enough MN members, who's knowledge of available men In their social circle, should start a list,in OTBT.

I hear good things about e harmony. They are for people looking for serious long term commitment.

My best friend met her lovely bloke on EHarmony - he was her second date and they got married on Saturday!

Met my DP on e harmony too. so did one of my friends at work

I know that sites with a religious focus are good, too. They attract people who are thinking about marriage and raising children in their faith. Obviously, you would need to be of that religion.

My point is, there are sites that attract the marriage minded.