Online Dating

By Jayde Johanssen

Back in the day, online dating was seen as something that only the socially inept engaged in. It was a last resort measure, a desperate move. No normal person would agree to date someone they had never met in person. That proscription has, for the most part though, been abandoned. Hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the interwebs to find romance. True love on the net has become fashionable, so much so, that more people now than ever before are connecting online. The internet is a top destination for romance. Even the older generation is getting in on the game.

The online dating industry is booming. Scan the net and you'll find sites like OkCupid, Yahoo Personals, and Date.com are making a killing online as more and more people are looking to the web to find their one and only. Finding romance on the web is becoming so fashionable that a whole bevy of matchmaking sites are cropping up by the hour; and these sites are specializing, gearing themselves to more discerning consumers.

If you're on the discriminate side, niche online dating sites can make all the difference. Niche sites are matchmaking services that are aimed at a single uniting factor like ethnic background or religious beliefs; however, there are tons of other niche sites. In fact there are niche sites for practically all interests. If you're into online gaming, there's a niche site for that. There are niche sites catered to dog lovers, bike enthusiasts, body art aficionados and the list goes on and on.

Practically every interest has a niche dating site catering to it.

So why is online dating so popular? It's a question that many skeptics-- those who've never dipped their toe in the online dating waters, so to speak-- ask their convert friends. For those who aren't immersed in the world of online dating, it may still seem odd. The internet is known for its fictions as much as for its facts.

And traditionally, it is a good thing to know what your date looks like, in person.

Online daters however, are not daunted by the critics. They're generally tired of the old hanging out in bars bit. They don't want to sit around just waiting for the right person to come along. It may not happen. Online however, it's a different world altogether. The internet is world wide. You can meet people from everywhere, not just your hometown. You're not limited. Communication is instantaneous and there are millions of possibilities. It's also a lot more relaxing to be able to chat with someone from the comfort of your own home, too. There's no fear of face to face rejection. It's easier to find people with similar likes and dislikes.

Online dating also has its benefits in times of economic or social uncertainty. Finding someone to talk to online when things are rough can be comforting. In difficult times people start thinking about their priorities. They start to yearn for someone to love and to cherish through the good and the bad. Online dating can help with that.

Of course there are a fair share of naysayers who bring up the cases that end in tragedy; or to a lesser degree, those cases where people are lied to, or mislead. However, these circumstances aren't limited to online dating. They actually occur as frequently offline as they do online. - 31368

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