Dating sites?

lg01

I'm recently single and want to give Internet Dating another try. I did do it a while back and actually really enjoyed it. met a few girls went on a few dates and generally had good craic. Just wanted to know from here if many have tried it - specifically which sites are any good? I tried plentyoffish.com and connectingsingles.ie but I'm beginning to think the paid ones are a better bet.
Any advice?
tx

Galvasean

Funny I should stumble across this. Logged onto smooch.com for the first time in a very long time just there.

*looks at photo rating*

2.3? ...out of ten?

No wonder I stopped checking.


edit: for the record, I never used the paid ones. Seems like horrific exploitation of people's loniliness to me.

Mrmoe

Galvasean wrote: »

Funny I should stumble across this. Logged onto smooch.com for the first time in a very long time just there.

*looks at photo rating*

2.3? ...out of ten?

No wonder I stopped checking.


edit: for the record, I never used the paid ones. Seems like horrific exploitation of people's loniliness to me.

I think you are right, the paid sites seem like an exploitation of basic wants and needs of people but not too much of a surprise in the world we live in. However, they do have the advantage of weeding out wasters . That is not to say that you will not find genuine people there or that you will not find wasters on the paid sites but you are more likely to find genuine people on the paid sites simply because you have to hand over cash to join. I'd say give it a go anyway. You have nothing to lose. However do not neglect the more traditional route as well. Use internet dating as an extra string to your bow. Best of luck.

lolytest

Let us know if you find an interesting one.
I found that free ones are sometimes a bit "drafty" or have annoying adverts all over the place. Or most of the time are just not really free.
You can register for free but that's it! Want to send a message -> become a premium member...

Snowie

I had a look at this smooch site couple of hours ago.
Its a weird web site, tbh I don't really like it.

I was'nt really that impressed bye some of the women on it. When a woman calls her self "Diva" alarms bells rang and I decided to look at fish tank.

Plenty of fish on the other hand again well from what Ive seen is women seem to make more of an effort while off course you can click on some orange thing resembeling the skin colour of an umpalumpa

saying :[ Love to party with da girls at da weekend, me motto in life is live it ta da max love parteyin with me girls. And I work as a.....

Yet thats just some women then other emake a genuine effort to show who they are. I've had a fair few dates on that site. So I like it.

theres another one called, Ok cupid which I dunno i dont think its perticularly good from having a look at it a few times. Just had another look, I still think Its a site for chin strokers. To me now, but you know i dont like the pretentous snoberey that goes with that site from reading umtean profiles.
I'd like to point out this is my opinion what doesnt work for me could work for others.

Online dateing I try not to take it to serosuly, just because theres no point. its full of clowns( dont dare cdfm ) as in every ones got there own agenda at the same time looking for different things..

CDfm

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

Online dateing I try not to take it to serosuly, just because theres no point. its full of clowns( dont dare cdfm ) as in every ones got there own agenda at the same time looking for different things..

Dont knock clowns , I was friends with the late great Teddy Fosset and was set up by him as a member of the audience and on a date. Was at the Burlesque New years at Kilmainham this year in fossets marquee with herself. A great night.

So dont you have group dating events on Plenty of Fish a bit like beers too.

http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts10134820.aspx

I suppose a lot of people dont know how to use these sites ( I dont for instance) but are too dumb or too shy to say it here.

So what I think this needs is for you to say is this is how to use it and this is what is available events like etc. Cos they are a socialnetworking tool and a bit of if you like this -you may like speeddating etc.

I would have been almost frightened to do the whole on-line dating thing.

PCPhoto

theres other places like maybefriends, or anotherfriend (met my missus on that) ..... or www.iliveindublin.com (not really a dating site .... and not a very good site)

the problem with those dating sites is that there are too many fake profiles - like the OP said.... treat them as a bit of a laugh and everything will be ok.

the stigma of online dating is still there to some extent.

CDfm

I met my g/f right here on boards.

So mostly its the being nervous of doing the asking or getting the opportunity to ask someone out puts people in a blah.

What most people would want to know is what is the best way to use the sites and other social networking things.

like i wouldnt have known where to start and what to put in a profile

Cept for snowy who hangs around circuses chatting up the clowns

Snowie

PCPhoto wrote: »

the stigma of online dating is still there to some extent.

I could care lees I'm putting my self out there, no harm in it either :cool:

CDfm wrote: »

Dont knock clowns , I was friends with the late great Teddy Fosset and was set up by him as a member of the audience and on a date. Was at the Burlesque New years at Kilmainham this year in fossets marquee with herself. A great night.

So dont you have group dating events on Plenty of Fish a bit like beers too.

http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts10134820.aspx

I suppose a lot of people dont know how to use these sites ( I dont for instance) but are too dumb or too shy to say it here.

So what I think this needs is for you to say is this is how to use it and this is what is available events like etc. Cos they are a socialnetworking tool and a bit of if you like this -you may like speeddating etc.

I would have been almost frightened to do the whole on-line dating thing.

I wouldnt be that arsed now, tbh... I wouldnt mind meeting a cool chick but I hate saying this I like my single life i can do what i like when i like how i like with who ever i like.Having a girlfriend means thinking of some one else. as for speed dateing it sounds ok, just a bit, well i mean just sit ther ebee sarcasticly playfull

CDfm wrote: »

I met my g/f right here on boards.


Cept for snowy who hangs around circuses chatting up the clowns

I know who she is to lovely lady.

I dont like clowns actually I hate the things FREAKS :pac:
Its why im scared of female umpa lumpas who've been attacked bye a crayons..... theres significant, simeralitys

CDfm

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

I could care lees I'm putting my self out there, no harm in it either :cool:

A bit of wisdom from Slutboy -put yourself out there unashamedly if you want to date women

I know who she is to lovely lady.

thank you

Darmstrong wrote: »

in fact i've met a few girls through Novella,
i just dont need to try and sleep with every female that moves, i'm mature enough to appreciate having a friend of the opposite sex

And here is a healthy attitude about liking women and being friends with them and dating your female friends friends.

So work on doing activities that bring you in contact with women.

Snowie

CDfm wrote: »

A bit of wisdom from Slutboy -put yourself out there unashamedly if you want to date women

its not like that man, :pac:! I've no issue with other people being like that but for me not really my thing... Every ones got different values, and beheaves in different ways. That doesnt mean that Im a saint it means that these days My bheavour is a lot more different then when I was say 22 ...

I like anticipation of the wait a, makes it so much more worth it. When anythings handed on a siliver plater i kinda just ughhh... Where as a if i gotta be paitent its so much more worth it... .

Its kinda like having your first scrambeled eggs witha nicely smoked salmon and then being suprised with black truffel shavings.

scrambeled egg and smoked salmon is good, but with black truffel. id hike the wicklow way for. I'm a man of taste seedy, I know plenty of people who eat Sh1t food, and the gfs dont impress me that much intelegence wise personality or anything, but those who I know with taste, do.

Or Am i rambeling. :pac:

CDfm

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

its not like that man, :pac:! I've no issue with other people being like that but for me not really my thing... Every ones got different values, and beheaves in different ways. That doesnt mean that Im a saint it means that these days My bheavour is a lot more different then when I was say 22 ...

Wasnt it Cyril Cusack pater of the Acting dynasty and Trinity philosophy graduate that wrote " shyness is the illness of youth".

Its kinda like having your first scrambeled eggs witha nicely smoked salmon and then being suprised with black truffel shavings.

scrambeled egg and smoked salmon is good, but with black truffel.

Or Am i rambeling. :pac:

Very freudian my boy.

There are those who will read deeply into your words and climb Croke Patrick and contemplate them while pulling fluff from their bellybuttons.

If Joyce was alive today he would wonder why he didnt think of that. It works on so many levels.Deep.

There is nothing as sensual as black truffles.

Snowie

CDfm wrote: »

Wasnt it Cyril Cusack pater of the Acting dynasty and Trinity philosophy graduate that wrote " shyness is the illness of youth".

I think shy kids are the best. I was one:pac:

CDfm wrote: »

Very freudian my boy.

There are those who will read deeply into your words and climb Croke Patrick and contemplate them while pulling fluff from their bellybuttons.

If Joyce was alive today he would wonder why he didnt think of that. It works on so many levels.Deep.

There is nothing as sensual as black truffles.

are you trying to say my words are about as deep as shallow pot hole ? :pac:

CDfm

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

are you trying to say my words are about as deep as shallow pot hole ? :pac:

your protestations of innocence are falling on deaf ears here son :pac:

Fago!

Just signed upto Smooch.com. It's complete gack I say. Women are rotten on it.

CDfm

Fago! wrote: »

Just signed upto Smooch.com. It's complete gack I say. Women are rotten on it.

But you havent kissed any frogs yet Fago!

At least Snowey here has a track record :pac:

Chardee MacDennis

check out okcupid, i've heard a bit about it on reddit.com, tis free anyway!

force majeure

anotherfriend.com but I had my ass roasted alive on it a few years back after bumping in to an Ex their. the sight itself is good.

x in the city

smooch is single moms paradise

Fago!

x in the city wrote: »

smooch is single moms paradise

True! Just browsing there on it, I found a girl I had sex with a few weeks ago and browsed some more and found my mates sister.

mcbobbyb

Dating.ie

Fago!

Just went onto plentyoffish. Some of them there profiles look fake.

Galvasean

x in the city wrote: »

smooch is single moms paradise

Indeed. Some of the profiles there seem to be looking for a babysitter moreso than a date.

I like that connectingsingles lets you filter out people with kids in their searches.

Sebastien De Valmont

Who needs dating sites?

Just go up and approach women wherever and get their numbers and take it from there.

Dating sites are for losers who are scared of women.

HavingCrack

Sebastien De Valmont wrote: »

Who needs dating sites?

Just go up and approach women wherever and get their numbers and take it from there.

Dating sites are for losers who are scared of women.

Do you just constantly slag men on this forum who clearly aren't as outgoing, confident, unafraid of women as you? While 90% of what you say about meeting women is true you're coming across as very condescending and arrogant which isn't a particularly pleasant trait. Perhaps its just the way you type however.

While I'll admit that dating sites are never a substitue for meeting women in real life there's nothing to lose from going on them. You might find a few absolute stunners that you'd never come across in your day to day wanderings (eg she lives in wexford and you're from donegal).

I myself certainly am not scared of women and appraoch lots in day to day but have used pof a handfull times and met up with an 8.5 looker that I never would have come across normally.

Basically Op, give the sites a shot, you've nothing to lose but certainly don't rely on them for meeting women as a substitue for real life.

princess-lala

Sebastien De Valmont wrote: »

Who needs dating sites?

Just go up and approach women wherever and get their numbers and take it from there.

Dating sites are for losers who are scared of women.

Lots of people use dating sites!

Dating sites are not for losers! Alot of men don't want to just walk up to a woman in a pub/club because they can come across as sleazy!

Ok not all men and women on dating sites are normal but with that attitude you come across as a cocky fucker! If you approached me in a club I wouldn't be long about telling you where to go!

Sebastien De Valmont

princess-lala wrote: »

Lots of people use dating sites!

Dating sites are not for losers! Alot of men don't want to just walk up to a woman in a pub/club because they can come across as sleazy!

Ok not all men and women on dating sites are normal but with that attitude you come across as a cocky fucker! If you approached me in a club I wouldn't be long about telling you where to go!

Approaching women is a numbers game.
There would be more women in the club than just you.

K-9

Sebastien De Valmont wrote: »

Approaching women is a numbers game.
There would be more women in the club than just you.

Meat markets Clubs aren't for everybody.

Giselle

K-9 wrote: »

Meat markets Clubs aren't for everybody.

True, I HATE clubs and I know I'm not alone.

princess-lala

Sebastien De Valmont wrote: »

Approaching women is a numbers game.
There would be more women in the club than just you.

I never said I would be the only woman in the club!

x in the city

princess-lala wrote: »

I never said I would be the only woman in the club!

the chances of meeting a woman in a club now are about the same as England playing France in a WC losers 2010 match.

nightclubs now are just plane scary tbh. and seem full of knackers if nothing else, or else pre pubscent girls dressed as whores

K-9

Giselle wrote: »

True, I HATE clubs and I know I'm not alone.

They are fine when you are a young thing!

Prefer the pub myself.

Internet dating is great for people past the club scene.

Sebastien De Valmont maybe of that generation, were clubs suit him and maybe they are the be all and end all.

Or he may be a disciple of the American Pua stuff were you can walk up to a woman anywhere and ask for their number.

Giselle

K-9 wrote: »

They are fine when you are a young thing!

I am a young thing, but I still hate them.:)

Sebastien De Valmont maybe of that generation, were clubs suit him and maybe they are the be all and end all.

Or he may be a disciple of the American Pua stuff were you can walk up to a woman anywhere and ask for their number.

If he sees it as a numbers game, I think you're right on both counts.:)

K-9

Have you actually used dating sites or is this from your perception of them?

Sorry, Sebastien De Valmont deleted his post there.

Sebastien De Valmont

Giselle wrote: »

I am a young thing, but I still hate them.:)




If he sees it as a numbers game, I think you're right on both counts.:)

Clubs and pubs are the #1 place where people go to socialise and meet people the world over.

But if you want to meet people outside of clubs or pubs you can meet them anytime of the day in any location where there are lots of people.

Just go up and talk to people.

You don't need to plan what you are going to say.

Dating sites are for people who are not prepared to take a risk.

If you want to meet people get out front behind the computer and go out there into the real world.

Snowie

/ Drops a cog lifts hand brake

My opinions been drasticly changed over the past few weeks...
while you can meet people and yeah there cool, I think its an excuse, for shy people to use there shyness as a scape goat...

Meeting people is ieasy.... if your any way sociable. if your a muppet whos liveing under the false pretences that oh i want this and this in a potentiol partner and have no give i think a lot of people will be very lonley for a long time.

Its like buying a packet fruit pastels and hopeing to get 7 black ones roe, I think in this day in age of technoligy, is well the lost art of a phone call has been replaced bye a text, everything thats real has now been tunred into a digital way of life.. Its kinda sad.

Theres to much judgement in online dating far to quick, you can say oh shes a student shes 28 nah shel be an unprofesional person state of mind wise... Or no i dont like that picture so I wont talk to her....
yea 9 times out of 10 people in person look and are about 20 times more atteractie then ina poxy pic. Its making people to Picy

if you dont like going to night clubs...join a soical group or a club with like minded people.
if your meeting stuck up women every night your out change your location.
If your not attracting women jazz your style up with out spending 100s you dont need to...


I is indeciive. i proabbly say somethign different next week be warned....

Sebastien De Valmont

if your meeting stuck up women every night your out change your location.

That is a crucial point.

Men have to ask themselves why they keep meeting so-called "stuck up women" which triggered them to give on clubs and turn to dating sites in desperation.

Attractive women are approached all the time by needy guys who telegraph their interest from the get go.

They are bored and irritated by it.

Girls in their teens who go out for the first time think that all these guys coming up buying them drinks and talking to them are so friendly.

However by the time they are in the early twenties they know these guys are simply trying to buy their attention.

Even if the guy is the nicest most sincere guy in the world, if he becomes part of the queue who make the same generic approach, she will shut him down immediately.

Just imagine having the same conversation ten times in one night?
Imagine completely unwanted attention?

Women are so jaded that they will simply ignore the man completely to get him to go away.

Calling women "stuck up" or "bitchy" will just make them laugh.

Running away from the clubs and real world interactions to the fake arena of dating sites is not a solution by any means.

Emme

A poster here referred to clubs as meat markets and I agree to a certain extent. However internet dating is no better. If you were to get a breakdown of people in clubs who were there just for sex and a breakdown of people on the internet who were there just for sex the percentage would be just the same.

How about joining a club or taking up a sport where you can meet women - ie tag rugby? That way you can get to know potential partners over a period of time before asking them out and make new friends into the bargain. Win-win situation.

As a woman I am sick of internet dating. I'm sure there are decent guys on the sites, but like in clubs, they are outnumbered by sickos wanting to get their rocks off on the first encounter.

I agree with Sebastian about talking to women face-to-face but not all men are confident enough to approach women. That's where clubs come in - you can get to know somebody through the activities without any pressure. And you're more likely to be sober as well!

Sebastien De Valmont

they are outnumbered by sickos

There are few if any genuine sickos in clubs.

The creeps are actually men who never go up and talk to women at work, at lunch time, after mass or if they were sitting next to them in a cafe or anywhere else.

They leave until it until Fri, Sat or Sun nights and surprise surprise they haven't a clue how to behave and get thick when women reject them out of hand.

First of all they are uncomfortable talking to strangers in the first place and they are drunk thinking alcohol is going to turn them into Mr Charisma.

As a result they are trying to rush it and they blow it.

Imagine if an average guy came in off the street was put in a Man U jersey and was expected to take a penalty in front of thousands of fans in Old Trafford and live in TV.

It's equivalent to that.

Using a dating site is not going to improve a man's chances.

Baggly

Sebastien De Valmont wrote: »

There are few if any genuine sickos in clubs.

The creeps are actually men who never go up and talk to women at work, at lunch time, after mass or if they were sitting next to them in a cafe or anywhere else.

They leave until it until Fri, Sat or Sun nights and surprise surprise they haven't a clue how to behave and get thick when women reject them out of hand.

First of all they are uncomfortable talking to strangers in the first place and they are drunk thinking alcohol is going to turn them into Mr Charisma.

As a result they are trying to rush it and they blow it.

Imagine if an average guy came in off the street was put in a Man U jersey and was expected to take a penalty in front of thousands of fans in Old Trafford and live in TV.

It's equivalent to that.

Using a dating site is not going to improve a man's chances.

You seem to be making an awful lot of sweeping statements there for every man.

I have to disagree. It has been my experience that both can be good fun. I have no problem talking to women in pubs or clubs....my friends bring me along because i find it very easy to strike up a conversation. And that carries over onto dating sites too. Ive since stopped using them not because i didnt get any dates or meet any nice people, but just because there are any number of fakers on these sites, in my experience; and it can be difficult to differentiate.

You seem to be painting a picture that men can only do one or the other and that if a man cant score in a pub/club scene, he resorts to going online. I dont think this is true in alot of cases and i dont understand your stigma against dating sites when it would appear to me you have not used any. Would this be the case?

Emme

Sebastien De Valmont wrote: »

Using a dating site is not going to improve a man's chances.

Unless he wants a one-night-stand and is too cheap to go to a pub or club to pull.

K-9

Emme wrote: »

Unless he wants a one-night-stand and is too cheap to go to a pub or club to pull.

So what if he wants a one night stand though? You meet, if you haven't sussed something is up anyway. The one nighter doesn't happen so you go next!

Emme

K-9 wrote: »

So what if he wants a one night stand though? You meet, if you haven't sussed something is up anyway. The one nighter doesn't happen so you go next!

Each to their own but I can see how the internet appeals to men who want one night stands :rolleyes:. Most of the men on the net are either already attached, looking for one night stands or both. This makes women wary and suspicious of the internet. I personally would rather meet somebody face-to-face through friends or some activity. You don't know who you're meeting in a bar or club and the internet is worse :mad:.

Baggly

Emme wrote: »

Most of the men on the net are either already attached, looking for one night stands or both.

How do you figure that?!?!

You could easily say the same thing about anything.

Most men in clubs, Dublin, Ireland, Europe, the universe want one night stands.

Doesnt make it true. Im on the net and not looking for the above nor am i attached. I think there are alot more guys on boards alone in a similar position.

Emme

Pter wrote: »

How do you figure that?!?! .

Experience.

Pter wrote: »

You could easily say the same thing about anything.

Most men in clubs, Dublin, Ireland, Europe, the universe want one night stands..

I won't dispute that.

Pter wrote: »

Doesnt make it true. Im on the net and not looking for the above nor am i attached. I think there are alot more guys on boards alone in a similar position.

Guys like you are in the minority, believe me.

Baggly

Its not that i dont believe you...its just i dont believe what you are saying....

i know guys of both persuasions. I dont think i am of the minority.

Galvasean

Sebastien De Valmont wrote: »

There are few if any genuine sickos in clubs.

Any women here care to verify this?

westliferule

Hiya,

Ive recently started dating a guy from Plenty of fish.com we met early last month and things are going great between us but just becareful they are some weird guys out there

Panthro

westliferule wrote: »

Hiya,

Ive recently started dating a guy from Plenty of fish.com we met early last month and things are going great between us but just becareful they are some weird guys out there

Hi,
We have a thread about Online Dating/Experiences here