Is Online Dating a Dirty Word?
Is Online Dating a Dirty Word?
After a long day at work doing pre-production for our channel’s next reality show, I along with a few co-workers headed down to the pub.
Over some alcoholic beverages I chatted to them about the dates I had been on. My colleagues seemed genuinely happy for me.
“So how did you meet these guys?”, asked a colleague who I’ve named (in my head) Blonde, Anorexic and Dumb (BAD). “I’m trying online dating.” I said, as if I have nothing to hide.
A few of the girls looked at me scornfully. “Oh, I could never do that,” cooed one of them. “It’s just so much natural to meet someone in person.” That was the general consensus amongst most of the girls there.
“Yes, in many ways it is, but I’ve tried that other way. I’ve tried meeting guys in a more natural setting. Through bars, supermarkets, bookshops even at work to a certain extent. And after all these years it hasn’t gotten me anywhere. So I said I’m gonna try the online dating thing and see how it goes. I’ve only signed up for 3 months, so I’ll have a go at it until my membership runs out.”
“I suppose,” one of them conceded, but she didn’t sound satisfied.
I think one of the difficult things about online dating is the stigma that is attached to it. It is implied that by signing up for online dating, that you’ve given up trying to find someone the ‘traditional’ way. Or, perhaps that you’re not pretty enough / clever enough to meet to meet someone the ‘traditional’ way. Perhaps there is some truth in that. Perhaps there is an element of desperation in online dating?
But if you, like me, have spent the past 10 years dating the ‘traditional’ way and it hasn’t yielded results, isn’t it worth trying something else?
So this is what I’m trying and I’m not at all apologetic for that.
After a long day at work doing pre-production for our channel’s next reality show, I along with a few co-workers headed down to the pub.
Over some alcoholic beverages I chatted to them about the dates I had been on. My colleagues seemed genuinely happy for me.
“So how did you meet these guys?”, asked a colleague who I’ve named (in my head) Blonde, Anorexic and Dumb (BAD). “I’m trying online dating.” I said, as if I have nothing to hide.
A few of the girls looked at me scornfully. “Oh, I could never do that,” cooed one of them. “It’s just so much natural to meet someone in person.” That was the general consensus amongst most of the girls there.
“Yes, in many ways it is, but I’ve tried that other way. I’ve tried meeting guys in a more natural setting. Through bars, supermarkets, bookshops even at work to a certain extent. And after all these years it hasn’t gotten me anywhere. So I said I’m gonna try the online dating thing and see how it goes. I’ve only signed up for 3 months, so I’ll have a go at it until my membership runs out.”
“I suppose,” one of them conceded, but she didn’t sound satisfied.
I think one of the difficult things about online dating is the stigma that is attached to it. It is implied that by signing up for online dating, that you’ve given up trying to find someone the ‘traditional’ way. Or, perhaps that you’re not pretty enough / clever enough to meet to meet someone the ‘traditional’ way. Perhaps there is some truth in that. Perhaps there is an element of desperation in online dating?
But if you, like me, have spent the past 10 years dating the ‘traditional’ way and it hasn’t yielded results, isn’t it worth trying something else?
So this is what I’m trying and I’m not at all apologetic for that.
Labels: online dating
posted by Naive London Girl at 2/20/2008 12:44:00 AM
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6 Comments:
i used to feel the way your co workers felt till recently ive met sombody online whos great
I like that you know what you want and willing to go for it!!
Nothing wrong with online dating. In the old days people used to use log tables and slide rules to do complex calculations. Now we use a calculator or computer. You can now sift through a mound of figures a whole lot faster to get the answer you want. I've met many interesting people online and are good friends with them now. Just becasue they live in other countries and 20 years ago there is no way I would ever have had the good fortune to meet them, does not mean that I'm not supposed to associate with them. Some strange people too, but in the same ratio as I would have with out going online. Just proportionally more. Welcome to the digital age... ;-)
I love the way the "Luddites" all try to look down their noses at the open minded.
I still don't understand why in this day and age, there is still a stigma attached to online dating. There's no shame in finding a date/love that way!! Good luck in your dating adventures and more power to you.
Hi
I honestly think there's nothing wrong in online dating.. It'sjust another way of meeting.. I had a 2 year relationship which started by an online dating site. Sometimes it even expends your opportunities 'cause you can meet guys you wouldn't normally stumble upon in your daily routine - think about it - on a day to day basis you meet guys at work, when going out, at university Etc. While online you can meet guys who don't necessarily live near you, work with you, go out to the same places you do.. Ok, so maybe it's not as romantic to tell you met your mate online.. But frankly - who gives a damn?
i am 28, in the same situattion with you girl. have had a few online dates. i have only told a few good friend becouse most people are still very shallow. the judge people,
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