Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Chronicles of Online Dating: Episode 4

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Alright y'all...

Good news and bad news. So, let's do the good news first, okay? Good News: things with Mr. Three Dates are going very well...in my opinion at least. Which brings me to the bad news: I won't be sharing as much detail regarding my dates.

Mama's got to have a li'l bit of privacy, you know? 'Specially when thangs is going well...

Anywho, on to a more...general subject. Can I just talk for a minute about the stigma of meeting someone "online"?

Well, I guess I should ask the question...is there really a stigma associated with dating online anymore? Honestly, whenever I've told someone that I've met a sig-oth online, I rarely have any weird reactions. Perhaps the times are a-changing and this has become more widely accepted? Or maybe, this is just the case in my circle of influence. Generally, someone's reaction to you meeting someone via an online dating site can be classified in one of the following categories:

1. "Oh, that's awesome! I wish I had the guts to do that!" - These are the people who would probably support the idea of meeting someone online, but for whatever reason, haven't actually tried it.

2. "Really? You're not scared to do that?" - These people generally focus on the "dangerous" aspects of online dating. It's probably too hard to see past that to the benefits of online dating. Maybe this response is also given with some sort of side-eye. ;)

3. "Which one did you use? I've had great experience with _____ before!" - These are the ones who are online dating savvy. They know all about it, have tried it and may even compare notes with you.

4. "Oh, that's nice." - These are the small fraction of people who might "look down on you" for meeting someone via an online dating site. Maybe they are just more old-fashioned in their approaches to dating? Maybe they've been burned before with something similar? Maybe they are Mennonite? For whatever reason, there still seems to be a small margin of people who are fairly hostile towards this concept.

To them I say, phooey. If my GRANDMOTHER can support (and, dare I say be happy for) the fact that I met someone online then can't everyone else? That's what I thought.

To catch up on the other episodes click here, here and here.


6 comments:

  1. I'll admit to having once been a #2. I knew a lot of people 10-15 years ago who were meeting their SO online. Back then it wasn't through dating websites but in chat rooms and they were traveling hundreds of miles to "meet" these people. It WAS dangerous. Nowadays, most people who meet online do it through dating websites and they're meeting people in their own city / geographic area. To me, this doesn't seem any more dangerous (and possibly less so) than meeting someone at school, church, work, a bar, or, like me, a coffee shop. I guess now I'm a #1, minus the part about having the guts to do it, since Bert probably wouldn't like that. ;)

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    1. I agree with you on the chat room meets.

      Also, BAHAHHAHAHAHA. I'm sure your hubby would NOT like you meeting guys online either. ;)

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  2. I feel like the stigma is almost all the way gone. Just the way it is now! no? I hope this keeps going to the point of you being able to share again, you know? Reemerging on the it's going so well now I have to share side!!! Woot woot

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    1. Yes ma'am! I feel like if things get to the serious relationship standpoint, I will definitely keep y'all in the loop! You have all been my cheering section throughout this whole thing!! :)

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  3. Online is basically how people meet now. I think nothing of it.

    I'm glad things are going well!

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  4. I met my boyfriend online, and while I've never had a negative reaction when I tell someone I hate when people feel the need to tell me about their friend/cousin/co-worker who also met their boyfriend/girlfriend online. I feel like they're trying to make me feel better about it. I always want to scream "I don't care!"

    -Airlie

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Comments make me SO happy! Go ahead...make my day. ;)

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