Why would you date online?

[heatherq17]

I dont and never will date someone online. You dont know who your really talking to sometimes. I ment my Bf through friends and we've been together for 3 years. I knew some girls around my area who got into some trouble doing that.

 

[Princess Pea]

This topic comes up periodically, and I think it's important to draw a distinction between meeting online and dating online. Meeting online is fine, but until you meet in real life I think it's asking for trouble to consider it to be a dating relationship. More thoughts in my blog if you really want them ...

I have met men online and then gotten together in real life. I've even dated one or two of them for a time. But I've never dated online, so I can't answer the poll.

 

[joeman1]

You know we all have had different experiences in the online world but one thing that has stayed commen is that we didn't go online specificly looking for a mate. Myself I found my fiance here on the forums. LOL its kinda funny we met because I was ranting and raving about women liking jerks becuase I was hurt by women in the past. then we started sending PM's back and forth. We started encouraging eachother in the Lord and helped to restore eachothers faith in him. Then we started talking about things going on in our lives became good friends then close friends. Then I reserved a plane ticket to go and see her. We said even though we had romantic feelings toward eachother we would wait until we met in person before determining if we would start a relationship. Then just about a week before I was to come there I asked her to be my girlfriend. She said yes. Then I went and visited her and well as they say the rest is history. We will have been together one year on the 19th of this month and we are getting married next year.

 

[ItalianAngel]

It just happened for me. I met Bob (my boyfriend) online at a messageboard we both belonged to. We just instantly "clicked". I admit that up until then, I really was opposed to meeting someone online or being in a long distance relationship (which Bob and I are in), but being that I was in my late 20's and haven't met my soul mate yet, one day I decided to let go and let God guide me to my soul mate, whether it be through friends or online or what have you. It seemed when I handed the reigns over to God, I met Bob not too long after.

One big advantage to meeting someone online is you get to know a person from the "inside out". Bob and I loved each other before we met in real life. Our first face to face meeting was so natural and unawkward, it was a "continuation" of our relationship.

 

[stealingheaven]

I used to chat online often with people I considered friends (I'm shy so find it difficult to make friends 'face to face') I wasn't looking for a relationship and had as many male friends online as I did girlfriends. I chatted to my now fiance for 4 months before meeting in person, when we met it was as friends we weren't expecting anything else because there had never been any romantic connotations during our chats. It was however love at first sight and we get married next August!

 

[Deliberatetourist]

Why do lots of people date online? Because churches have become dead ends for meeting an developing relationships with quality people. Also I think society in general has become more of the "loner" mentality and people just don't have the social avenues available to them that once existed.

 

[robalan]

A woman met a man at church, dated him and married him, 12 years later learned he was a serial killer in his free time. No Matter where you meet someone they may be unsafe.

I think that's a good point. Creeps and killers are experts at hiding their true identity--regardless of where you meet them. So it could happen anywhere.

As for me, I just got a random post from a girl on another Christian forum over 1 year ago...and it's been history ever since. I don't know about her initial motives, but I definitely didn't start talking to her because I was seeking a relationship. We live half-way across the country. I've already visited her, while she is coming here in 2 days! I don't know the future, but marriage is certainly a possibility for both of us.

 

[stonetoflesh]

I turned to online dating after years of "analog" dating. Basically, I was at a point where the only places I could meet eligible women were a.) church, b.) bars, c.) work, or d.) online. Nothing panned out for me at church, and I wasn't interested in the bar scene. Neither was I keen on dating coworkers or hitting on library patrons, so that left me with little choice. Good thing for me it worked out marvellously!

 

[bumblebee62331]

My boyfriend and I went to the same school in year 3 but didn't really know each other. Then we lost contact for about 10 years. We met up through a mutual friend - I got his email address and we started talking on msn. Then we met in person. I did fall in love with him over the internet - but I did know who he was, even though I didn't know him, if that makes sense. I don't think I would be able to just give my heart to someone I had never met in real life. But I did like talking to my boyfriend online because we could just concentrate on conversation - we got to know each other so well because that was the only way we could communicate. It was wonderful.

 

[Deliberatetourist]

Internet dating will work for some and it won't work for others. I think in any situation up close and personal vs. online ther are inherent advantages/disadvantages and the importance of each will depend on the individual. Internet dating is a tool really, nothing more nothing less. You can choose to effectively use that tool or not use it. Either way whatever your reasons they are your reasons and they are valid for you but maybe not for someone else.

 

[robalan]

Hey, deliberatetourist, I should introduce you to accidentalnative.

 

[Deliberatetourist]

Hey, deliberatetourist, I should introduce you to accidentalnative.

I've already met one! Were pretty serious.

 

[princessellie]

i started online dating because i really didnt like the idea of dating any of the guys i already knew, i must admit there are alot of loosers out there and you need to be extremely careful, i met quite alot of creeps online and almost gave up when i met my currant bf who is amazing, online dating can be ok if you have strict rules put in place otherwise it can be quite dangerous

 

[Inperfected]

I did have feelings for someone online.... and it got REALLY messy, because after i got engaged, he still called me beautiful and complimented me contantly. Now he's a great guy and christian, but he wasn't completely unstanding of my situation even though he'd been told!