DATING 101: The Good, Bad & Ugly of Online Dating
The dating world is a war zone! Dating has always been difficult, but now it seems to be even more complex with technology throwing all types of "hiccups" and "short-cuts" into the mix.
My experience in the dating world was filled with some fun moments, but it was also quite tumultuous at times. And though I've now been married for four years to a great guy, I still have many friends and family members who tell me their on-going sagas about the terrifying and intimidating horrors of the dating world.
So, if we live in the most globally connected age with every type of social media app at our fingertips, then why is it so difficult to find the right person to date and marry?
I wanted to delve into the subject of dating and research all the best pieces of advice that will help every wonderful single person find the right person to be their lifelong companion. This first topic we're going to tackle together is all about the pros and cons of online dating. Many people are turning to online dating verses the traditional methods of dating (i.e. friend's friend, church member, car repairman, high school sweetheart) and I thought it would be a great idea to unleash the honest truth about all the good, bad and ugly of online dating. Here's what I discovered!
The Pros and Cons of Online Dating
#1 - Convenient
PRO: It's easy and convenient to meet many people in your city or anywhere in the world that you would probably never run into during your ordinary day.
CON: Just because you can meet people in your city or anywhere in the world that you probably wouldn't know otherwise know may be preventing you from some awkward or hurtful experiences; sometimes, people are not meant to be in our lives for a reason.
#2 - New
PRO: You discover something new about a person you've never met! They are like a brand new book that no one in your circle has ever read and you get to the be the first person to read their story.
CON: Maybe no one really knows the true story about this "online guy or girl" because they lie about everything! They get to create a whole new persona through an online profile.
#3 - Truthful
PRO: You get to "reinvent" yourself with a clean slate by showing the online dating market that you're talented, funny, beautiful (with filter) and have a successful career.
CON: The guy or girl you meet online may develop into a longterm relationship, but they may be disappointed when they discover that you're not the "perfect person" that your online profile said you were. Oops! You're human like everybody else.
#4 - Long Distance
PRO: You might meet a great guy who lives in Australia or on the other side of the country and while you get to have long, romantic conversations on the phone or FaceTime you're still able to live a "single life" apart from each other.
CON: If you meet someone online and live far apart, the relationship may blossom with long calls but you may be in for a rude awakening once you see how they live their day-to-day life up close and personal.
#5 - Appearance
PRO: Online dating can be just as exciting as Amazon going through hundreds or thousands of profiles seeing which guy or girl is the best looking and has the characteristics you like.
CON: If appearance is the first reason you pick a person to date, then you may end up disappointed when you actually meet them and they don't look the same as their profile picture or their personality, morals and values don't meet your expectations. Bummer.
#6 - Good Enough
PRO: Online dating is like broadcasting your personal resume to the world---you can choose to showcase your best attributes and success stories making you look sharp, polished and confident.
CON: But with online dating, there is still always the chance that you will meet a person for coffee, they'll take one look at your true appearance and make a lame excuse to pick up their friend's dog from the sitter. In other words, you're just not good enough. Thus, your self-esteem is crushed and you feel worse than you did before joining the online dating service.
#7 - Safety
PRO: Online dating services and apps have some security measures that they take to screen the people using their services and they do have age requirements.
CON: Online dating can also be very dangerous. How do you know if the person you met online will not kidnap you, rape you or kill you? (News stories)
#8 - Commonalities
PRO: Online dating may present a great avenue for you to meet someone you have more in common with than anyone else in your circle of friends, at work, at the gym or in your town. (Farmers Only & Millionaire Match)
CON: You may meet, begin dating and even marry a person you met online who has more things in common with you than anyone else, but there are other disagreeable aspects of their character or behavior that you overlooked because you thought they were the "best match" you could ever find.
In Conclusion...
I hope I didn't depress you too much with these pros and cons of online dating. Most importantly, I hope you discovered a more realistic view of the dating world so that you can be smart, honest and truly fulfilled with a companion who shares your same morals, values and outlook on life. Remember, whether you're in the traditional dating scene or online dating world, the best person for you is someone who loves all the good and bad of the real you. Being honest and truthful is the best way to start a relationship.
Happy Dating! Check out this funny article: Weirdo Bad Dates To Avoid!
