Dating Online

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I was talking to a friend who's a fellow blogger last night, and one of the things we discussed reminded me of the days I used to co-host a radio show about relationships. As I told him, overall I had a great time, though I would've done things differently if I'd been the sole host. The primary host (let's call him Sam) had an agenda: he wanted to promote his dating website as much as possible. It kinda got in the way of truth at times.

You see, I think that you can meet 'The One' online; I really do! In fact, I know personally of some couples that met each other that way and lived happily ever after. But I also think you can make terrible mistakes. That's why I recommend the datings services that either screen their candidates or at least put everyone through a rigorous personality test. It could make the difference between "happily ever after" and "chopped up and buried under a playground set in Milwaukee".

I once began a relationship with someone I met online. He was everything he had said he was, except for one little detail: he was a sociopath. And yes, I mean that in the clinical sense of the word. But, I was lucky enough to diagnose it early on and get the hell outta Dodge. Not everyone is so lucky.

As Sam would point out, there are psychos everywhere so what difference does it make if you meet them face-to-face or online? I think the biggest difference is that we let our guard down online more than we do in person.

For instance, say you get a new co-worker sitting in that cubicle next to you. Do you: A) Go over and wish him good morning? B) Carefully rehearse and say something witty in order to "put your best foot foreward?" or C) Immediately start sharing the intimate details of your girls night out with the Chippendale Dancers? I'm going to help you out here: unless he's as gorgeous as a movie idol, it had better be A. But if he's as gorgeous as a movie idol, go for B. Above all else, avoid C.

But in the internet world, we ignore A and very rarely bother with B. So, instead of going through the intricate social dance, we cut to the chase and share some of our intimate details with total strangers. As my teenage cousin often says: TMI!!! (Too Much Information). It makes you an easier mark. And don't forget, the studmuffin you're pursuing may be misrepresenting himself, even if you aren't.

So here is Saur's Advice to the Lovelorn: If You Are Exploring Internet Dating, Be Careful. There are enough bodies missing as it is, and they haven't even found Jimmy Hoffa.