It still amazes me that we call it the Dating GAME when it’s probably the last activity in our lives. Arriving at the twilight of his years and looking back on a life full of love and friendships really should have been the most fulfilling experience we could have. Finding someone to love and respect and who loves and respects us in return should be everyone’s greatest hope.
However, we still treat it as a game of chance, and sometimes as a particularly dangerous game of chance. We take a seat at a singles club, ideally with a good friend for support, and look forward to the cheesy, laid-back pickup of each and every swinger. The “singles bar,” “happy hour,” and “nightclubs” are the dating scenes we’re all familiar with. The actual impression of these places can be exhilarating and fun at times. Generally viewed with hope and high expectations. However, the actual reality can be so different and so disappointing. These places can be stressful and an incredibly ineffective method of meeting someone decent, and note that I said DECENT.
This outdated method of dating has been quickly superseded by newer web-based dating services. Nearly half of all adults say they have signed up with a dating agency at some point, which is truly a staggering number. Memberships have skyrocketed in recent years. Why? Just for the reason that it’s simpler, rather than lazing around in a club all night. Sitting at home, in your armchair, with a cup of hot soup, or why not, a cup of hot chocolate, examine the people you are interested in, which sounds more relaxing than stressful. The simple act of ‘watching’ can certainly be exciting in itself.
All of this aside, there is still a degree of caution that we need to instill in ourselves, and this can be enacted by collecting vast amounts of data about an individual so that you can base your decisions on informed choices. Are you seriously looking for a relationship or just a one night stand? Do you know someone who might want them? And so the questioning goes on and on.
Just as the web provides the answer to the singles bar problem with online dating, it also offers help with the challenges of online dating. That is, how to verify that what they have told you is accurate. At the singles bar sometimes you want to make snap judgments. Don’t you want the freedom that comes with evaluating your date before you date?
So, go back online and run a background check to verify that they are who they say they are. Make sure there’s nothing in his past that you really need to know about. Oh, like they were married with six kids or just got out of prison again for multiple involuntary manslaughter that they just forgot to tell you.
