Party line isn't online....

Online dating has really evolved since it first presented itself oh so many years ago. When online dating first came on, it was for people who were too insecure to see someone face to face to have a relationship, or for those predators you see on Dateline's "To catch a predator" types.

But today, it is so commonplace. It is the subject of movies, of blogs, of weddings, etc... (I know two people who married from online matches, and a lot more who are currently dating...)...

To a certain extent, society still holds that stigma. I noticed that people are shy to acknowledge, right off the bat, that they met their significant other on match.com, or cupid.com or some other such online matching website... but 3 out of 5 of my friends have been on one of these sights to find a relationship.

There have been a number of duds, even amongst my friends. I think my favorite was when a friend of mine went on her first meet after a couple of weeks of online talking, only to be told, "I just want to be up front that I would absolutely be alright if this was a completely sexual relationship." My friend pretended not to understand, scarfed down her food, and got out as quick as she could.

But let's compare all of this online dating to the blind date. How is online dating not up to par as compared to blind dating. Most of the time, a blind date comes from someone you know. Now - sometimes, you know this person very well, and other times you barely know the person, but you kind of like them, and you're thinking - well - they're kind of cool- and birds of a feather... whereas online dating, you depend on the answers answered by the other person, and a computer matches the amount of things that match, and boom. Match. (at least that's what I heard...)

But think about it - how often do we tell our friends what we're looking for in a relationship - that isn't purely superficial? And what of co-workers, parents, and office mates? They have no more divine insight to what is good for you in a relationship than whether or not they know what kind of cream cheese you want on your bagel. Its hard to really convey what you want in a guy... So -you stick to the superficial, and believe you me, handsome means so may different things to so many different people.

As opposed to online dating. Most of the time you fill out a questionaire (which I've heard is grueling with Match.com... like taking the bar, or SATs all over again...) Then there is what is believed as some sort of representation of how they look. You pray that its accurate, but would you have been better off with a description from your friend about a blind date? Oh - he's about 5'10" dark complexion, brown hair, young looking...

But online, you have a picture... so the jig is up relatively quickly as to looks after you meet the person. Online, you have one on one acces to the person, without a third person interpreter, somewhat akin to the game "telephone" giving you the messages..

And then, after all this vetting, you get to decide in the end whether or not you want to see this person. And no one is hurt. If things don't work out - I'm sure match.com or the ISP provider isn't going to feel awkward in front of you and perhaps even not talk to you, or worse, judge you for not liking their friend. Like it was an absolute choice you could make.

Online, you can specify ethnic background and understanding. There are online dating sights for every race and ethnic background in the book. Blind dating only has a representation in a description by a friend who may or may not remember who they are. there may never be an issue with your parents EVER AGAIN about dating outside your race!

I'm not advocating one over the other, I'm just saying that online dating should not be as taboo as it was... I don't think its that bad anymore (predator-wise) and if you're not meeting people in your area, then why not -eh?

So - give online dating a go. Its scary, its crazy, its an endless pool of opportunity... and it should be.

And that means you Luscious.