One Too Many Fish in the Pond

Who ever said online dating is fun or easy, lied. My experience is minimal and doesn't go further than having a profile. I feel I should warn and caution my newly single compatriots, because online dating seems to be a savory alternate to being single.

I'm not against online dating by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it comes with strings attached. Online dating is people at their most primitive as we click profile through profile looking for the cute guy/girl. It is 100% based on physical appearance and witty profile names. There is nothing sincere about online dating.

Every email I receive I automatically put in the "Just want to sleep with me" file and move on. You would think the mystery of getting to know a person would make the process enjoyable. It is not. It's like pulling teeth with some of these guys. It is also so much easier for people to dismiss a person without any sense of guilt or wrong doing.

Perhaps, I am not enjoying myself, because I'm not ready to date. Even so, I browse through profiles, just in case I miss a gem. I would not recommend it for someone who who just got out of a relationship because of your level of vulnerability or people who are insecure. The program keeps track of who peruses through your profile and they usually don't message you. If you don't receive a message every few days you begin to wonder, if there is something wrong with the way you look. Which of course there isn't, but the seed is planted.

Let's say you find a person and you make contact, you'd be surprised what he/she will write you off for. Not having the same color in common, liking sports, misspellings and bad grammar. I am guilty of the last two, but it's a pet peeve of mine.What can I say? I'm an English Lit major, with my own speech impediments. Anyway, there is little to no human connection and the only anticipation you feel when that phone rings is if his voice is going to be squeaky.

It takes away from the spontaneity of meeting someone when you least expect it. There is no romance, no butterflies in the stomach or heated cheeks due to the way he looks at you. I highly doubt that I will be meeting my next heart break on an online dating site.

Now, I do think online dating is a great way to get your feet wet, if you are new to the dating game. You can be single and not know how to date. I was single for 5 years and only really dated once. So, with that said, I encourage the use for learning and practicing. It forces you to put yourself out there and tip toe along the boundaries of your comfort zone.

I guess what I am saying is, maybe it's not perfect and perhaps you won't find your one great love online, but it'll prepare you.

 So, perhaps, it is okay, okcupid.