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Relationships

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Original poster

57 and thinking of trying internet dating

10 replies

Jo61 · 22/12/2017 14:07

I am single and about to hit my 57th birthday and am thinking of trying internet dating. I am nervous. Are any of you my age? Have you tried?
What have your experiences been like? Have you met some lovely people?

OP posts:

falleninlove · 22/12/2017 14:14

Watching with interest.

I'm 54. I would love to find someone and have thought about internet dating but I confess I am just too scared. It looks very complicated and I think there are lots of dating protocols these days that I wouldn't have a clue about. All this texting and blocking and stuff is an alien world to me.

My new year resolution is to try google meet up, and maybe get to know someone in real life rather than in virtual reality.

Good luck OP.

whoareyoukidding · 22/12/2017 14:16

I met my now DH on internet dating when I was 57, so as long as you're sensible, don't put yourself at risk and have no expectations, I would say go for it!

Original poster

Jo61 · 22/12/2017 14:36

I have read a couple of articles suggesting that men my age are looking for someone a lot younger and there are so many more women than men.

OP posts:

bigtissue · 22/12/2017 14:50

I have read a couple of articles suggesting that men my age are looking for someone a lot younger and there are so many more women than men.

^^This seems to be true in a lot of cases. Also, people may be looking for casual sex but don't admit it, people may already be in a relationship but don't admit it, people get enough jollies online and wont actually meet up when it comes to it. There's no punishment for lying on dating sites, sadly.

I gave OLD up, believing there are other ways to meet people where there's far less opportunity to pull the wool. Been with DH for eight years now and married for two, so it worked for me. We met participating in a sport, if that is any help to you

Emmageddon · 22/12/2017 14:51

One of my workmates is in her 50's. She went on a few disastrous dates - men in their 70's claiming to be 60, married man pretending to be single, men claiming to run their own business but in reality working minimum wage jobs (nothing wrong with that, it's the lying). Anyway she was all set to throw in the towel and went on one final date. That was 4 and a half years ago, and they got married 2 weeks ago. He's an absolute diamond, divorced with 2 adult children, and they are very happy.

So my advice would be to be meet up asap, don't get embroiled in an email/phone/text relationship, and meet several different men. Expect to be disappointed some of the time. But there are decent guys out there, and to be honest, the men in their 50's seeking younger women are going to be utter creeps anyway.

Good luck.

Tanfastic · 22/12/2017 14:57

I did internet dating 15 or so years ago when I was early thirties, went on exactly 11 dates, had over 800 replies (not boasting this was over a long time) but weedled it down to 11 just by using common sense and detective work to check they weren't married or lying.

You need to be savvy, have your wits about you and trawl through a lot of shit before you meet a diamond. My number 12 was just that (as I was about to give up). We've been married ten years with a child.

My uncle was late fifties when he tried it after being divorced after a very long marriage and met a wonderful lady. She was similar age and he wasn't looking for a young un. He is quite a catch too.

Give it a whirl, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good luck.

Babseu · 22/12/2017 15:06

Personally I would look at joining some Clubs where there will be men- cycling is a great one. Walking another.

You need a really thick skin for internet dating.

lightcola · 22/12/2017 15:10

My dad met his partner online in his 60s. Go for it. Just have an open mind and not expect too much straight away.

ginghamstarfish · 22/12/2017 15:15

I did in my early 40s, wondered why I wasn't getting a lot of responses from my own age group (the pool was much smaller then!) then twigged that almost all men seemed to want a (much) younger woman. Eventually met my (younger) lovely DH who did not put a restrictive age limit on his profile, otherwise we'd never have met. I should think it's more difficult nowadays as there are so many more people doing it, so perhaps you have to be fairly ruthless in weeding out unsuitable types. If you have 'real life' opportunities to meet people then of course that is much better, but if not, then take care and stay safe.

puffyisgood · 22/12/2017 17:26

My recent boss did a lot of internet dating after being newly widowed in her late fifties. Got a lot of responses from men but an incredibly mixed bag, was a lot of work to separate the wheat from the chaff.

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