Dating in and of itself is a challenge. The rules have changed over the years. For example, in the mid-fiftis it was dinner at the local diner and a drive-in movie. Yes, there were the typical “make-out” sessions, where the couple spent the majority of their time kissing in front of the outdoor big screen. However, the twentieth century has found more couples making out in a variety of places; such as movie theaters, local parks, or even parked behind a local fast food joint, steaming up the windows and warming up the back seat.
Imagine then, finding yourself thrown back into the mix of dating at thirty-three years of age. It is foreign territory. People browse online dating sites in hopes to meet their true soul mate. As a society, we are subjected to the commercials touting true love matches. This can be either encouraging for the newly single individual, or daunting. What? Dating can be done online? The thrill of the chase can be titillating or mundane. We can be whoever we want to be sitting behind that computer screen. And more often than not, if and when an actual physical meeting is arranged, our hopes are dashed—revealing an entirely different persona than we had imagined.
What happened to meeting someone at the local food market, striking up a conversation, and after due time, and once a friendship has developed, an exchange of phone numbers or a meeting over coffee? As ominous as it may appear to try this online dating thing, it is worth giving fair appraisal. If you don’t like it, then find another avenue for meeting your future husband or wife. But it is important to remember these things:
1. Safety: It is important when signing up for when of these dating sites, or even entering chat rooms, to never reveal your true address. While the thrill of online dating can be enticing, the World Wide Web is full of predators and people who are just plain bad.
2. Privacy: Nothing says you need to reveal your phone number on the first match-up or chat session. For example, if you give out your phone number, and then after several chat sessions lose interest in the person on the other side of the computer screen, it may be too late because, short of changing your phone number, that person can still call you and become a nuisance.
3. Keep an open mind: Just because you don’t enjoy golf, does not mean that a potential suitor cannot. There are many other commonalities you two might share, for example, antiquing, browsing garage sales, or strolling along the beach a sunset.
4. Be realistic: Don’t expect to find Mr. or Mrs. Right on first contact. In dating, there is a type of grace period, where the person will be on their best behavior, in an effort to impress. But as time moves along, they let down their guard, and you begin to see the true person.
So in conclusion, dating, at any age, can be either daunting or fun. It is all in one’s perspective, and if online dating intrigues you and you follow these simple guidelines, you may just land yourself the catch of the century!
