Why the stigma against online dating?

A couple of weeks ago I wanted to know people's thoughts about online dating. I was surprised at how many negative responses I received. With the emerging popularity of sites like Match.com and eHarmony, I'd assumed that it was much more of an acceptable thing to do. I dated one guy I met online about 3 years ago. It only lasted a month but he was a fairly nice, normal guy. We just weren't right for each other. I have several friends that have had success with it.





The thing is that I keep hearing stuff like "it's only for losers who can't get anybody" or "you'll get raped and murdered." But how is online dating any worse than dating any other way? I met both long-term boyfriends I've had in a bar when I was half-drunk. How is that better than meeting someone online?





My current circle of friends consists overwhelmingly of people in committed relationships. This provides me with an alternative.





Of course there are weirdos online, but there are weirdos in the "real world" too!

Why the stigma against online dating?
I agree with you. I don't see anything wrong with meeting someone through one of the dating sites. I think it has such a bad stigma because of all of the abductions, etc. that we hear about. The thing is, those are few and far between.





The older we get, the harder it is to meet good people. Meeting a guy at a bar is just stupid-Lord only knows what kind of creepy slime ball you can meet there. We can't really meet friends of friends because most of them are married or in a serious relationship. I think finding a potential match on-line is fab. You can weed out the ones you know you're not going to have anything in common with. Generally the men on match.com and eharmony are going to be a bit more genuine than in the "real world" because they are paying for the service. I have quite a few friends that have gone on dates from people they "matched" up with.





Also, I think another cool way is speed dating. It's getting more and more popular out here, and the premise of it is pretty cool. The first and lasting impression!





Besides, who are you kidding, we all know you're holding out for Bono! :)
Reply:I happen to agree with you. Online dating isn't 'just for losers' %26amp; in the 'real world' you can get raped %26amp; murdered just as easily. Something that helps when online dating is if you have a webcam, that way you can see that they aren't a child or some old person. You take your chances both ways. I met my bestfriend online %26amp; he is one of the best people that I have ever know. A lot of people think that online dating isn't right cuz they watch too much 'CSI' %26amp; programs like that. My sister felt the same way when I went to meet my bestfriend she thought that I would be killed or something. I came back unharmed %26amp; very happy which was the opposit of what she expected. I was gone 6 days but to make her happy I checked in with her every few hours. When I went to meet my bestfriend we met in a different state ( him from Hawaii %26amp; me from Wisconsin %26amp; met in Las Vegas).
Reply:People have negative stigmas towards online dating because, its really easy to lie about who you are how you look and your situation in life(age). So if there are more chances for something negative to happen they are going to think unsafe. Human nature at its basics. Roller Coasters Plane rides scooba diving whatever.
Reply:I agree with you. Sure, there are weirdos online, but then there are people like you and me who just want to meet other people. It's hard to meet people, especially when you're out of college and aren't meeting new people easily. Besides, who's to say the guy eyeing you at the bar isn't a serial killer? I think the stigma against online dating is diminishing, which is good since it's a bunch of crap. Bully for the people who can meet people without having to use the internet.
Reply:I think you should talk alot on the phone first along with maybe meeting the guy in a very public place first along with taking a friend with you.You just cant be too careful with online dating or "real world" dating either
Reply:you never know who you are really talking to online, if you do meet them, it should be in a public place and not at the motel.


I actually enjoy talking to people online before I meet them, I hate to get stuck in an uncomfortable situation and the chemistry not be there and the conversation fizzles out. I haven't done much online dating though but I have done plenty face to face. no matter how you go about it, the people you meet that you like will be when you are just being your genuine self and people see you for who you really are and aren't hiding behind one of your mask. don't tell anyone that you are online dating, it isn't their business how you get you satisfaction. they aren't trying to set you up are they? if the answer is no, why do they deserve to know your business.


I will never admit to banging any women I have met on the internet but i am positive they are out there. i find the mystery of online flirting a fun experience. if I run across a dud, no loss, just move on.
Reply:The stigma against online dating is triggered by a combination of the fact that the internet is used by sexual predators to lure their victims, and the mix of truth and fiction that people hear about online dates that went wrong. However, the internet, like any other tool, is defined by how you use it. Used correctly, you can accomplish a great deal of things with your life!





As an online dating consultant, I'm here to tell you that I have a great deal of customers that are completely satisfied in their relationships, which I helped them to begin through specific online dating practices.





First of all, you have to start with the best in online dating sites. Freebees are where you are going to find the garbage of the internet. Yes, there are good people that use the freebee sites as well, but are you willing to filter through the garbage? Paying sites attract people that are truly committed to finding a relationship through the online medium.





The site that I use for all of my clients is listed below. I highly recommend it based upon their extremely affordable price for membership, their extremely user-friendly site, as well as their top of the line compatibility matrix software which will use your profile to find likely dating candidates for you...





Then, you must be up front and honest about everything! This includes your picture... no pictures from 5 years ago, or phot-shop altered pictures... These games are commonplace on the freebee sites, which is another reason to stay away from them! Don't muck up the valid dating sites!





Finally, get to know all of your candidates before you meet them in person! I recommend starting with a large list of candidates... and then start chatting/e-mailing them to get to know them a little. A little conversation over time will help you to realize whether or not this person is someone that you would like to meet in person. (Be honest here too!)





Pretend like you will never meet this person, ever! This will help you to quell you desire to impress someone. Tell them the truth about what you think, and how you feel about things. This will help the both of you understand one another better, and will help them to know if they will want to meet you as well.





I chatted online for three months with a woman before I met her in person. Now, she's my wife! My own experience and total though of the fact that I would never meet her, and her me, helped us both to bring down our walls and to be open with one another.





Follow these simple guidelines, and you will eventually find the success that you desire! I continually keep my clients in line with the guidelines, and help them to stay the course... However, you don't need to hire me if you adhere to these simple guidelines, and keep yourself focused on your desire to find someone special for you!
Reply:I concur, I met a lady on-line and she became more than a friend to me, but I had never met her so calling her anything more didn't seem right, so I asked (on Yahoo) how I should refer to her and everyone started telling me that I was stupid for meeting someone on-line and I was going to regret... etc, etc, etc, It's my life is it not, I'm not hurting anyone. why the negativity?
Reply:On line dating can be very nice. You get to spend time with someone special. OK it is not the real thing but you have the one special person to spend time with. I am looking for that special girl on line but cant find one. I am 24 and a nice giuy
Reply:I dont think there is a stigma against online dating anymore.. the shear numbers of dating sites and people on them should prove that much at least... No one I know of anyway associates any stigma with it... LOL Most people these days would say singles bars are for loosers I would think...
Reply:Because your not given a chance to observe them before getting stuck on a date with them. Puts you at greater risk for your own safety.
Reply:This negativity is so much nonsense. I've been on innumerable online dates and the only bad experiences I've had are ones where I expect Angelina Jolie and I get less than that.





Contrary to popular belief, there aren't hordes of sickos laughing maniacally as they attempt to lure in unsuspecting female victims via Match.com. Online dating sites like Match are so controlled these days that anyone who tried that would be easily caught and prosecuted. The worst that will happen on an online date is the person will weigh a few pounds more than you originally anticipated.





I think the negativity towards online dating comes from fear of something new. For people who have a lot of luck when it comes to asking people out in real time, they may view online dating as a threat, something that will allow others who maybe aren't so slick to also succeed at getting a date every now and then. There's no shame in online dating.
Reply:yuo can tell if the person hitting on you is 98 or 14 in real life you can't online.