How many people here have dated someone they met over the internet?

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

The way some girls (and guys) take pictures nowadays can be pretty misleading. Just look at all the chubby emo girls with the 'Above and angled with low light filter' shots they take.

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The most overused trick in the facebook

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

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The most overused trick in the facebook

I think it's almost criminal how us drunk creeps are exploited on there by chubby emo chicks.

[Daradon]

^^^

[J pold]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think it's almost criminal how us drunk creeps are exploited on there by chubby emo chicks.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by J pold

PM sent.

[MagicallyAdept]

Dated... I MARRIED a girl i met on the internet. A dancer/model from Saskatoon who was living in Calgary. I flew over to your fair city and lived there for 6 months with her and had the time of my life. Then she lived here for 3 months before she had to fly back. She applied for a visa and came to live with me 2 and a bit years ago. We got married at Christmas last year and i have to give thanks to MSN messenger, hotmail and webcams.

Magic.

[SpitFire40]

Does meeting a girl, talking for a couple days, knocking boots one night, and mutually agreeing we had a good time but we weren't right for each other count?

Ah well, I was 18... it was off season and the opportunity arose... I don't look for that kind of action but when it's there, why not? I'm a good read of character when it comes to girls online so I know how to seperate the crazies.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Rerun

So she said she likes you, after talking to you for a bit. I like lots of people after talking them for a bit... and there's lots that I can't stand.

Maybe she just meant that she likes you.... not she LIKES you... if you catch my drift.

By the way... what does she look like?

I catch ur drift... but I know what she means cuz of all the words she decided to use... I have that MSN conversation saved... On a separate conversation that I Didn't save, she said that I was the type of guy she was looking for... my... personality...

What does she look like? I have absolutely no idea...

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by ken0042

As long as you are only the pitcher and not the catcher, then you are not gay.

Dude, everyone knows that it's only gay if you push back.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Here's the thing. Think of the internet (MSN, Lavalife, etc) as just another means of meeting someone, just like a night a the bar. That's all it is, a vehicle to meet someone.

After that it's no different than "traditional" dating. It's all up to you and your personal skills. How you talk, how you act, what you say/write doesn't change much from "normal" dating. The Internet isn't going to help you if you have the interpersonal skills of Dion Phaneuf.

I find it interesting how people think of Internet dating as some sort of completely different animal than "traditional' dating, with different rules and space age techniques. Really, it still boils down to you.

I did mess around with this for a period of time (not any more though). While the above holds true, you certainly do get to see a greater cross section of the dating population than "normal dating. The women I met when I was into it trended into categories: (just like "normal dating" I might add)

1) The Jaded - broken up with boyfriend from an engagement / long term relationship. You're not going anywhere with this. Tough nut to crack as she'll always have her guard up.

2) The Serial Dater - is currently has about 6-8 men right now. Not sleeping with them all or anything, but certainly is enjoying the attention and "fun" side of dating (being wined and dined). This more than anything is higher in Internet dating than it is in "traditional dating". Not interested in a relationship.

3) The Casual Dater - just wanted to see what this Internet dating thing was all about. Might answer emails sporadically, or not at all. Often is a "hot" girl, just curious to see what's other opportunities there are.

4) The Ego Builders - would post a ridiculously hot photo. Probably had about 50 emails a day. Would morph into 3) above.

5) Self Esteem builders - saw this a great way to meet people without being disadvantaged by that fact they might not (with all due respect) be all that physically attractive. Posts somewhat misleading photos.

6) The Nympho - as 2) above, but sexually active. Lots of talk about how much it means to them. Not good relationship potential though.

7) Damaged Goods - herpes, $18,000 of credit card debt, various mental disorders (eating, psychological, etc). Some people like to use this as an opening line to put this on the table, and "take me for what I am". I don't want to sound callous or insensitive, but it's not exactly what people are looking to get into (at least I wasn't, and had to extracate myself with care, as as not to hurt them).

8) Normal - These truly do exist -sometimes you'll find someone actually interested in a relationship. Just like "normal" dating you'll have to seperate the wheat from the chaff, and it's certainly not easy. They're out there!

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

So you met someone in a chat room who was looking for 12-13 year old girls. Your parents dropped you off to meet said person not having any clue who it was? Seems sort of odd, and scary.

That has Dateline written all over it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Great list Hulse! I totally agree. Those are the exact categories.

You should add a 9th one though...

9) The Auctioneer - Those women who put up their status as 'single', put up a photo-edited pic (or an extreme complimenting one) and wait for the droves of guys to add her as 'friends'....Then, she will see which one has the best profile stats and agree to go out with them on a date. May or may not be interested in relationships, but will choose the best male caller. She doesn't even have to lift an e-finger to do this, either!

Seriously! Take a look at Facebook - the minute a girl puts her status as 'single' or adds a sexy picture, the male 'friends' show up in numbers. It's quite remarkable, and funny at the same time. And that doesn't include when a women puts on her profile 'random play'........

[CaptainCrunch]

You guys missed the big one

10) The Religeous converter - Picture looks good, she enjoys neat things like night on the town, or cuddling on the couch or camping or rock climbing. Agree's to dinner, dresses semi sexy. Halfway through dinner when she's sucked you in, she asks if you've accepted Juesus Christ, or Allah, or Buddah, or Zortak the Emperor of planet Rigel 7 as your personal lord and savior.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

alright I figure I'll chime in.

I haven't dated anyone that I've met online. However I've met and become friends with people I've met online. I agree it's no different than meeting people at bars, the gym, in line at the supermarket etc. I don't think there should be a stigma about "ohhh they met online" which there was when the internet first started to be a tool for people hooking up.

In fact, 2 of the last 3 weddings I was at the bride and groom met online. The first wedding reception I was emcee for not only did the bride and groom meet online, but I met both of them online, the best man, groom and bride all met online. People with common interests coming together, and discovering that they have more in common and become friends and good friends.

As for how someone looks in pictures. I've said a while ago that we're going to hit an era of everyone being photogenic. I *never* used to take good pictures at all. I'd cringe when I'd see a good picture of me. Then when posting pictures of myself on Hi5 (wooo pre-facebook days) I'm obviously not going to post any bad ones, so I noticed what I was doing in the good photos as opposed to the bad ones. Face the camera more directly it'll hide the fact I'm a scrawney little bugger, big smile as if I was going to laugh, eyes open and look directly into the lens.

I think there definately is a trick to taking pictures. I've seen parts of America's Top Model (my old roommate used to watch it, I swear) and I'd see girls who were alright looking take some great photos. Why? There's a trick to it.

So I don't blame the "fat emo girl" for adjusting the camera and lighting, who wants to post a bad picture of themselves? Just don't judge based solely on a picture... hell I like to think people don't judge me based on my looks but more my personality (maybe that's why I'm single, haha).

Once you learn that with photography, and adjusting depth (again I hide my beanpole-esque figure just like fatty fatty mcfat-fat hides her stomach) you can fool around and take some fun pictures and crazy pictures a well (like holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa or grabbing your best friend's boobs)

To get back to my point, it doesn't matter if you meet online, at a bar, supermarket etc. But if you're looking online remember there's more to someone than just a picture. If you're juding them by a picture and are upset at a camera angle... well... you ain't gonna find happiness that way.

[MagicallyAdept]

Maritime Q-Scout i totally agree about about not judging a person by their photo as each person will only post photos on their profile that they are happy with. Most users will have a digital camera and/or webcam which means an infinite number of photos can be taken then edited and the ones that make them look the best for potential dates will get added to his/her profile. Plus how many people steal other peoples photos or ones from modelling/porn websites and pass them off as their own. I used to ignore any users with photos that looked too professional as they were most likely lying. I have many photos of myself taken by professional photographers from my modelling days but i never posted them online for a few reasons - one i didn't want them being stolen and used by someone else and it made me look like a liar. I only used photos i took of myself (which was a lot!) but i only picked normal looking ones, i never really went for edgy ones with soft/hard lighting, shadows, unnatural angles etc. The secret to judging a persons appearance without meeting them is webcam. When you chat on webcam you can see the person move through normal angles of their face and can judge how they look much better. Also if someone looks hot on their photo but say they do not have any more pictures or won't go on webcam they are a liar, vanity is the key there. If they are hot, they generally know it and want to flaunt it. Well thats how it worked for me and my wife at least.

I remember when we first told people how we met the responses were along the lines of "you two - met online! wow!". i guess they just assumed back then that only geeks met online but now it seems everyone is dating off the internet and ruining my cool story. haha!

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by MagicallyAdept

I remember when we first told people how we met the responses were along the lines of "you two - met online! wow!". i guess they just assumed back then that only geeks met online but now it seems everyone is dating off the internet and ruining my cool story. haha!

Closet Geek

[I_H8_Crawford]

It has already been mentioned: Beware the FGAS!!!!
(Fat Girl Angle Shot)

EDIT: Just posting that something is NSFW doesn't make it OK to link to stuff like that.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by MagicallyAdept

I remember when we first told people how we met the responses were along the lines of "you two - met online! wow!". i guess they just assumed back then that only geeks met online but now it seems everyone is dating off the internet and ruining my cool story. haha!

Thats it . . . . give me your lunch money

[feartheflames]

Originally Posted by rubecube

PM sent.

this is an awesome thread, i have never laughed so hard, I've never actually dated anyone from the internet, I actually had to close my myspace and my HI5 cause of all the creepy guys that want to meet/ marry/ take you on a trip. I love facebook though....

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by feartheflames

this is an awesome thread, i have never laughed so hard, I've never actually dated anyone from the internet, I actually had to close my myspace and my HI5 cause of all the creepy guys that want to meet/ marry/ take you on a trip. I love facebook though....

really? I've never had a creepy guy want to take me on a trip... for enough beer I'd consider it