Online Dating Experiences

LegacyUser

Hi All, long time poster here and with Christmas around, makes me feel a bit lonely being single and all that and thinking life is passing me by. A friend told me about anotherfriend.com (I am not a troll advertising, its the only one that I know of!!) and just wondering has anyone used these sites and met people (possible relationships) from them and any hints to reel someone in to put it crudely. P.S. Nearly 30 years old!

MissThing

OnlineDating wrote: »

Hi All, long time poster here and with Christmas around, makes me feel a bit lonely being single and all that and thinking life is passing me by. A friend told me about anotherfriend.com (I am not a troll advertising, its the only one that I know of!!) and just wondering has anyone used these sites and met people (possible relationships) from them and any hints to reel someone in to put it crudely. P.S. Nearly 30 years old!

Do it!
You've nothing to loose and everything to gain. I used a couple of sites and had success in meeting someone great. It did take a couple of months though and lots of 'dates' over coffee etc. You'll get better responses if you post your recent photo and write an honest account (nothing too serious) about yourself. Keep your expectations realistic. Above all be respectful of yourself and others, its daunting ground initially.
Good Luck MT

graduate

I too have found someone :):). In my case after a long time but in her case I was the first person she met. The point is the emails etc I sent to people and the meetings were pleasant enough in themselves, although of no long term significance. I'd say the online thing can lead to results and is not a hardship, so go for it. Read profiles carefully, the search functions on these sites are poor. Don't lose patience.

MIN2511

Not a big fan, cause you can meet weirdos but try plentyoffish.com
highly recommended

hussey

My experience is the exact same as real life TBH, meet some people very nice and some people not so nice

But the difference is people there want to give it a go.
Some people are just out to get laid, but that is the same as - well anywhere I guess.

I think the big difference is the social acceptance aspect, I live in Oz and online dating is very accepable over there, and people don't judge so much.

go for it, what have you got to lose.

The only advice I give you is be patient, if in life you have a few dodgy people in a club chatting you up, you ignore them rather than give up, do the same for this

biko

Some previous threads that might help
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055121663
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054918777
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055098576

eveamp

I did it too! (Anotherfriend also). If you see it as a laugh rather than taking it too seriously it can be great fun.The messages/chats etc. are good fun and you can then arrange to meet up too which can be great craic. And if it doesnt work out you usually get a good pub story out of it (like the guy I met who when I said 'should we get another drink' responded with 'well you better get one, I've mine ordered':rolleyes:)....Oh, and I met my boyfriend there (3rd person I went on a date with) and we're together over a year now........:D:D

McGinty

Hi Op

Go for it, it can be a good experience, same as the pub/clb situation, and maybe a better success rate

Rattlehead_ie

Hi OP, doesnt say your male or female, so Ill be generic.

I say go for it, I have tried it before and it can work just as good as any other method if not better. You can read about the person 1st and even get to know them. Yes there can be some weirdos (male and female) out there, but you can usually suss them out easily enough.

Best thing I can advise is
1)To put effort into your profile, don't just say "Hi, don't know what to say" sell yourself on it (not literally)

2) If your willing to do it, put up a picture. Its true what they say profiles with pics get more views.(remember don't be embarrassed about who might see you, if they're on the site looking whats the difference between you and them)

3) Be HONEST and this is probably the most important thing (maybe obvious too) but don't tell the person your
A) Brunette girl with toned figure and great ass, earn 150k a year etc (unless you are)
Tall Dark Handsome Guy, great in bed and earn 150k a year etc (unless you are)

Cause eventually you will have to meet someone and if your going to spend all the time, chatting with them, mailing them, putting effort into your profile and then your completely different to description your wasting your own and the other persons time.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Be careful of needy women.(If you're male) Don't commit to any sort of relationship or idea until you've met the person.

spinandscribble

never used them but common sense says dont describe your body, your pictures should speak for themselves.

Overheal

Pfft... joined up with plentyoffish.com which is definitely a nice one - especially as its 100% free.

From what I can see the best thing is to give yourself an honest pic of yourself and in your profile just pretty much say exactly what youre after eg. im looking for something more, i like cooking, animals suck, etc. If you're looking for a romantic relationship than say so in plain english. I've already read over a few profiles and, unless you write yourself a well thought description, then people will pay little attention.

McGinty

Be careful of needy women.(If you're male)

What about needy men online as well? I have tried online dating plenty of times (have had two relationships out of it) but I also encountered many needy men as well, so I would say be careful of needy people not just women.

Op there is some good advice, and overheal is right, the more you say about yourself the more people will be interested, also it gives them something to say in their first e-mail to you. The other thing that annoys me is one liner e-mails, sort of yes/no replies. This can be read as a sign of disinterest or just can't be bothered, but basically as the e-mail is the only initial communication, it is the only way to interest the other person, equally if the other person gives you a one line answer would it bother you? Another thought as well, ask questions, some people can be shy and not know what to say and by asking questions it shows you are interested (plus it helps build a picture). Best of luck,

pclancy

Go for it. I always found it really hard to meet interesting people where im from. Ive met a couple of girls from dating sites, sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt just like trying to pull in a club but at least this way you can go for someone that shares interests and chat with them before you meet. I met someone through yahoo chat two years ago and we're moving to NZ together in a few months...it can work!

dr_manhattan

1. total honesty (why, why, why would you pretend to be what you're not? whole idea is to find interesting people!)

2. fill out the form in a good mood or if you're drawing a blank, then with a mate who knows you well - and if you can't take it seriously (cos sometimes the whole thing is pretty dross, really: what is your ideal date? zzzzzzz) then make a joke out of it. I personally think not using several pics is just daft. Put yourself out there.

3. if you're gonna try and paint a literal picture of yourself just remember people aren't stupid and they'll notice that it's actually quite odd to read very serious books and watch very serious films yet describe yourself as a "party animal" and "lighthearted" - see 1.

4. Don't try to be a 'player', and avoid people who think they are 'players'. Well, I dunno maybe that's just me: but I find these people just boring and alarmingly wierd. Read 'the game' by neill strauss if you need clarification on this - awful people. Funny book.

I cannot underline how amazing some of the people and times I've had through online hookups have been... but there again I can't underline how unbelievably crazy some people are, too. And how angry. Boy, there's some angry women out there and *whoa boy* I've been told about some angry men, too.

But by and large, it's a great laugh.

Funnily enough, it actually made me meet more women in clubs and bars, too, because when you've a date arranged for the next night, you're not "on the pull" so you're altogether a more agreeable bloke to meet on a night out if you're a hot woman. And when you tell them you've a date the following evening, it sounds like you have a life, lol.

Just don't tell them it's some *freak* from the internet! lmao

best of luck sir

LegacyUser

I've used another friend.

If you are female put a pic up, 90% of girls don't and for me at least (I know I'm shallow) that put me off getting in contact.

I have to say online dating isn't for me. I find it hard to make a connection with someone just over written word and I prefer to have the feeling of butterflies in the stomach when I spot someone that I has something about them that makes me attracted to them (yes I'm a sucker for chick flicks too!)

Just remember to be careful when you meet someone. Be honest with your profile (maybe get a friend to write it from their view point for you, let them brag about you!)

If you don't feel the chemistry you may have just made a good friend with other hot friends. So stay in contact

Porkpie

OP,

If you're a bloke, I wouldn't recommend Anotherfriend.com. There's not that many good looking girls on it (at least last time I checked). I'm currently on Match.com, there are a hell of a lot more nice girls on that, with more photos to look at.

I've tried Plentyoffish, but have received hardly any emails. Believe me, I have a good profile and I have some nice photos up. And I'm not bad looking. I think because it's a free dating site there are a lot of members that are just messing around. Compare this with Match.com, where I've been in contact with some women already, and I'm only on the site just over a week. You could give POF a go, but it's also worth the money to upgrade to a better dating site.

Anyway, I would definitely recommend joining a dating site, whatever one you go for. It only costs €40 for 3 months, you would spend twice that on a night out. Think of it that way. You could meet the girl/guy of your dreams!

St Bill

Porkpie wrote: »

OP,

There's not that many good looking girls on it (at least last time I checked).

I've tried Plentyoffish, but have received hardly any emails. Believe me, I have a good profile and I have some nice photos up. And I'm not bad looking.

Maybe you're coming across as judgmental and big-headed, not a nice combination.
OP, using a dating website is good fun, as you'll meet people you'd never have the chance to meet otherwise. As another poster said, you have a head start with a dating site because you know the person you're chatting to is single and looking for someone too (well, they're supposed to be single!!)

funloving

Maybe you're coming across as judgmental and big-headed, not a nice combination.
OP, using a dating website is good fun, as you'll meet people you'd never have the chance to meet otherwise. As another poster said, you have a head start with a dating site because you know the person you're chatting to is single and looking for someone too (well, they're supposed to be single!!)

I can guarantee some people only pretend to be single...
I know well a guy who wrote he was single,looking for dates,serious relationships as well when he had a gf of more than2 years...

Watch out