Help from online dating experts please!

[2013letsdothis]

So, I just joined Okcupid (first time ever online dating!) last night and already have four messages from guys who I don't fancy but they seem quite normal, nice guys. What's the etiquette, is it rude if I ignore them? I don't want to start a conversation when I know I'm not interested, and I don't have masses of free time either to spend it chatting to random guys (only the hot ones ;)

What do you all do? Also when I see someone I like, do I just send a message saying hi or can I just 'poke' them?

Sorry if completely stupid questions .... completely new to this and a bit lost!

Thanks!

if you don't fancy them, feel free to ignore them. It's the equivalent of noticing someone looking at you and smiling across a crowded room. If you don't want to, then you don't smile back.

Men send dozens of messages out, as there are lots of women on there. For every 10 sent, they can expect to hear back from one or two people, generally. It's a numbers game.

Some may get offended if you don't reply and send you a pissy follow up. Block them, they're entitled morons.

You could send a 'thanks but no thanks' email to everyone but to be honest that's just more annoying than being ignored, as seeing a response from you gets them all excited and then they get let down - and you'll get more pissy emails.

join the Dating Thread for more info, advice and support. And amusing stories about angel delight and patio-laying.

Thanks Bant, sll clear now, I'm free to ignore ;)