Online Dating Rules

Online dating might be any easy way to find your date. But there are certain unwritten rules that everyone should follow, while scouting for a potential date in any online dating portal. Here are some of the important ones that would come handy to both the sexes.

The first step is to plan ahead. That is, you should decide for yourself what you want from a dating portal. Be clear in mind as to whether you are looking for a chat friend, someone to hangout in the weekends, or seeking one for a one-night stand etc. Else, you might end up hurting someone’s feelings or find yourself in yet another failed relationship again. Let be clear about your aims from the very beginning!

There are lots of dating portals in the cyberspace today. Hence, it would be advisable to seek the opinion of your friends and peers, who might have already used/using such dating portals, rather than you yourself picking one in random.

Take your own time. You might need to chat, email, or even talk over phone before both parties will feel comfortable enough to meet each other. In other words, don’t rush with your date, or push him/her to meet you when both of you have hardly known each other.

Be honest! Tell the other person who you are, what you are doing, your passions/interests etc, alongside answering his/her queries on you. Be yourself rather than pretending to be someone else. People love individuality, but not boasting or pretension.

While you try to be honest, you can’t always expect that the other person will also respond in kind. If you hear something from your prospective date that is too good to true, be watchful while you take the conversation any further. Take your time to know more about the other person, and verify the authenticity of his/her identity, when he/she reveals, in some practical means. For example, if he/she claims that he/she is working in a community college, check the local phone directory or any other public record for his/her name/address. Let not leave any stone unturned, if the game is about checking the identity of the other person, whom you have not met yet.

Also, be polite while chatting, and make yourself available over the web daily. You might need frequent communication in the early days at least.

Finally, before going to meet the person, assuming you’ve reached that stage, ensure that you meet up in a public place, where there are lots of people around, and keep yourself in an environment where you are comfortable in. After all, you are meeting someone for the first time, and the other person is more or less still a stranger to you. Safety is the priority here!

Penpal Dating

Millions of people log onto the world of online dating every day.  These different dating sites offer people a way to meet other singles in their area that share common interests and characteristics.  There are many different types of online dating that can offer users a unique experience but none can offer the personalization or charm of something called penpal dating.

Before the Internet came along many people communicated by writing letters.  A penpal was a person that lived a long distance away.  To communicate with this person you would write letters to him or her.  The concept is interesting because the other person may be someone that you have never even met.  Having a penpal allowed you to share a bond with someone of a different culture or environment.  Sadly, because of today’s technology, namely email and the Internet, the concept of a penpal has basically died. 

Now there is a growing fad of people who are bringing back the old ways of penpal dating.  They are committed that by writing letters people share a bond over a physical object (paper and ink) that leads to a more intimate relationship than electronic communication can offer.

The problem with penpal dating is that it may be difficult to meet a person that is culturally different than you and lives a long distance away.  Ironically, the thing that killed penpal dating (the internet), is now bringing it back into popularity.  The web is now offering sites that promote and set up different people as penpals for dating. 

To find a site that will help you get in contact with a penpal, all you need to do is run a search in a search engine about penpal dating.  These sites will be able to get you in contact with a person that you can start a relationship with through letters. 

Learn to Chat

One of the best ways to improve your chances with online dating is to learn how to chat.  You don’t have to be an expert typist, but it doesn’t hurt, especially when the timing matters.  Sometimes people that type a little slower can miss a beat and seem to be rude.  If you happen to be a slow typist then you should just simply let the person that you are chatting with know that upfront.

So, just like in the “real world” you need an opening line.  On most dating sites you are given the opportunity to know a lot about a person right away.  That gives you the unique opportunity to come up with a catchy opening line far in advance.  It could be about their interests in movies, music or food or even something related to their eyes or hair or clothing in a posted photo on their profile.

The great thing about chatting is that even shy people can do it.  It really takes the fear factor away and you can really say anything to anyone that isn’t directly in front of you.  Even if you might be rejected, it doesn’t sting as badly.  The first time you try chatting it up with a stranger might make you a little uncomfortable, but if you find someone that has a shared interest it can really be entertaining. 

With everyone texting and using Facebook and Twitter, it’s just a fact of the dating world now; you have to be able to “spit game” but in text format.  Without some skill in this arena, it will be very difficult to make a connection. 

For those that are braver than others, there is always the possibility of suggesting that you use SKYPE.  That will give you an opportunity to not only not have to type, but you can also see the person that you are communicating with.  A good first step is being able to text chat because it will slowly improve your communication skills as well as your patience.

10 Keys to Success in Online Dating

Online dating is extremely popular and mainstream these days. Eventually, it will become the most common way that couples meet. Hollywood really jumpstarted the whole “online dating” thing with the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan film, “YOU’VE GOT MAIL”, over a decade ago, and the online dating scene has become one of the best ways to find potential mates or casual partners. Even niche dating sites for people who are pet lovers, or a certain ethic group, or “green” eco-friendly people, or those seeking people who like all things tech, or alternative lifestyle swingers, are joining dating sites to find partners who have similar interests.

Hundreds of millions of people across the globe have joined dating sites, as well as social networking sites, to connect with singles or even attached to find potential mates and partners. The results: millions of dates and connections and hundreds of thousands of marriage proposals and weddings!

So what are the keys to finding the ideal partner?

Places to go on a free date

So the hard part is over and you've landed yourself a first date!  Now the question arises where should the two you go?  Too many people rely on the boring dinner and a movie cliché that almost guarantees disaster.  In these tough economic times people may not have a lot of money to plan an elaborate first date.  I was left pondering the question, "Is there anyway two people can have a good and fun free date?"  The answer to this question is a resounding yes!  It is possible to have a quality time on a budget.  The following list is hardly comprehensive, but it is a start to help you start thinking about ways to put together good free dates.

1. Know the area.  There are a lot of cool landmarks, museums, and historical locations in the world, and chances are your area has at least a few of its own.  Look around for museums that have free admission.  Museums and historical landmarks are great for a few reasons. First, if the conversation lulls there is always something to talk about it.  If nothing else you can talk about the art work on the wall of the museum or the placard of historical information at a historic location.  Many people do not take time out of their busy schedules to really get to know the area they live in.  So doing your research can pay off!  In fact, it will look like you were trying to be creative!  There is no reason your date should ever have to know you were trying to save money.

2. The use-up-my-cupboard picnic -- Go out for a picnic and create the menu out of things that you already have in your cupboard.  There is nothing less romantic than a picnic even if all you serve is sandwiches, chips, and a cheap bottled drink.  Try having the picnic at night so that you can lay back and gaze up at the stars. 

3. Go for a nature walk.  If you area has a local hiking spot, and your date is not too afraid of the outdoors, why not try a nice hike.  It is a great opportunity to get to know one another better while enjoying the innate beauty of nature.

4. Free concerts.  There are tons of bars and pubs and even universities that put on free concerts all the time.  Keep your eye open.  Whether your date likes grunge punk rock or classical music you should be able to find a place that offers the style of music that you are looking for.

5. Open mic nights.  A lot of coffee shops offer open mic nights on everything from poetry jams to stand-up comedy.  Since the performers are amateurs there is usually little or no admission.