internet dating

[littlemissx]

has anyone ever done this??? what are your views???

[clarabel82]

I have met up with a few people from off dating websites love @ lycos and OK Cupid. The last bloke I met up with I'm still with 9 months later, we live 85 miles apart but we make it work. We were emailing and chatting on MSN and the phone for 3 months before we eventually met in my hometown. It does work if you persevere with it.

Always be careful to meet up in daylight at first and tell someone where you are going, just in case anything goes wrong.

Good luck!

[spaced]

i met my wife-to-be in a chat room on excite.com, over 5 years ago. 5 years later we are living together and will be married in july.

[KittyGlitter]

I'm doing it, I've only met one bloke so far who was really rude to me and it put me off for a bit. My advice, is don't rush to meet up with them - get a feel for them on email or over the phone. Treat it as just another way of meeting people - don't take it too seriously!

[Holbeckian]

I met someone from the US on the Internet over 8 years ago....we've now been together for over 5 years....best thing I ever did!!

[Supernick]

I decided to start this year and stop making excuses. Friday night was my first date with someone I'd been chatting with and it went pretty well. She wasn't a weird axe murderer, and is keen to meet up again this week, so I guess it works. Not sure how keen I am on her yet, but you're not going to be compatible with everyone you meet. With ref to Kitty, I chatted to her for about 3 weeks over e-mail to make as sure as possible that she seemed nice, but it's obviously more important for the irl to feel as safe as possible with whoever she meets. Give it a whirl!

[Supernick]

I mean 'girl' not 'irl' of course ;)

[Mistopheles]

I met my partner through internet dating... 3 and a half years and counting now. Just take the usual precautions - don't give out your address, meet in a public place, let someone know where you are going, the normal stuff. Good luck!

[David H]

It's easy, convenient, and if you look around, free as well.

You can be very lucky or waste a lot of time, I met one girlfriend, another unsuccessful meeting and that was about it. But it's better than using agencies as they send you who they feel like and you can't tell who's on their books which you can see on all sites before you decide to join. The only better direct method is speed dating but not everyone would want to have a go at that.

[milly143]

Can I ask another question adding on to this. I don't have a problem with internet dating but I always wonder what family and friends would think if I met someone off the net. I think I wouldn't want to say where I met them because they would think it was weird. Do you think they would actually be more open minded about it?

[littlemissx]

i always wonder that...i dont think i would tell people... maybe eventually but not initially

[Holbeckian]

Milly...

I wondered that at first but most of my friends thought it was 'cute'!! I suppose it was a little more exotic though as she was in the USA and I was over here....

[clarabel82]

Milly - I initially only told my family for safety reasons too, they were used to me meeting people from online. When my boyfriend and I actually decided we were going to carry on meeting up I told my friends and some thought it was weird and some thought it was better than meeting someone in a club or bar, as you are both sober when you decided on a date and you haven't done anything stupid before you realise that you aren't going to get on.

[suzi-q]

I met my husband through lonely hearts ads. I wouldnt rule anything out as long as same rules apply as when you normally meet someone. Just be careful and tell someone where you are and have a mobile phone with you.

At least you know that everyone (assuming they are being honest of course) is in the same boat and wants to meet someone.

Its hard to meet people when you are divorced and all your girlfriends are married. Who wants to spend evenings in sleazy nightclubs. At least this way you can weed out the dross and chat to someone and get to know them a bit and you are still in the comfort of your own home!