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Online Dating on Campus Offers Convenience Despite Some Stigma
Meeting new people on campus -- or anywhere -- can be discouraging, but online dating can make it easier
By Meredith Wilkie Special to Yahoo! Personals Updated: Aug 12, 2008
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Internet dating has become a popular option in coping with busy college schedules. But it still carries an embarrassing stigma and poses some safety issues.
Leah Kean, a sophomore in pre-social work at Ohio State University, met her significant other through online dating. She thinks online dating is much easier than trying to meet someone at a bar, because there's room for more conversation; you can learn more about a person through email than through a drunken first impression.
"It's easier to do that (online dating) than going to a bar," Kean says. "I work full-time and go to school full-time, so it's just convenient."
The convenience of online dating allows participants to reply at their own discretion
"Once one leaves university life or becomes entrenched in their job, the amount of available free time is reduced," says Ramirez. "Online sites allow individuals to manage their dating life in ways that suit them." This includes when to reply, who to communicate with, and the ability to control information available to others.
In order to reap the rewards from the convenience of online dating, you must overcome the stigma of using a dating Web site.
"Using online sites for dating has,
over the last five or so years, become less embarrassing than before
over the last five or so years, become less embarrassing than before," Ramirez said. In previous years, an online dater would be rewarded the stereotype of not being able to find a date in person, he says.
over the last five or so years, become less embarrassing than before Kristen Peairs, a personal coach for Internet dating, teaches classes through the Creative Activities Program at Ohio State. One of Peairs' classes focuses on how to create an accurate personal profile to attract the kind of people you want to meet.
More cautiousPeairs said older generations tend to be more cautious and less verbal about their Internet dating experiences than the younger ones. "The younger you are, the easier it is to say you met someone online," she said.
When attempting to find someone on the Internet, an authentic description for a personal profile is crucial to attract the correct matches, says Peairs. "It comes back to knowing yourself well. What do you value in your life and friendships?"
When developing a personal profile,
post an accurate photo of yourself and create an intriguing headline
post an accurate photo of yourself and create an intriguing headline, advises Peairs. "You want a brief title that makes an impact."
post an accurate photo of yourself and create an intriguing headline Along with creating a personal profile, it's important to have a knack for siphoning the good from the bad profiles.
"Almost everyone believes she or he has a good sense of humor, but what does that mean? Is that a Monty Python-type sense of humor or is that a South Park-type? Everyone is also athletic and active as well as positive and cheerful," Ramirez said. "Common sense tells us that we should question the prevalence of these claims."
When trying to differentiate between desired respondents and the fakes, "gut-feeling has a lot to do with it," says Peairs.
Kristen Peairs offers 10 tips for creating a profile that attracts a great match.
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I met my significant other through an online video game, (and it's working out great). When I tell people this, it's mostly took with a reaction of interest or surprise.
However, my father met his current girlfriend through an internet dating website, and when people hear about this, their reactions come with a more skeptical slant.
So I think there's definitely some truth to the "online dating" stigma being less noticeable the younger you are. It could also be that dating websites are still somewhat looked down upon, where meeting someone online through a community like gaming has a different response.
Awesome article.
I actually prefer to start ALL of my relationships online. It prevents me from getting distracted by traits that don't matter, and allows me to get to know someone in a low-pressure setting where we can both relax and be ourselves. I've found it leads to much better results, as well; I have never had a relationship that began online end in an ugly way. When they have ended (and I am seeing someone now), it has been amicably, due to relocation or changes in life goals. I think that the stigma associated with online dating is really baseless. As a matter of fact, which sounds like a smarter way to spend your time: Going out to a public place and trying to find someone who suits you without knowing a SINGLE thing about them before you talk, besides how they look... or going to a dating website, and being able to search profiles of people based on things such as shared interests, things that really mean something? And what if you live in an area where there simply are not that many viable ways of meeting new people (or that is small enough that you could meet all the singles in your town in a long night of barhopping), or have a really busy schedule? Online dating is a boon in the modern world, and I think that the people who look down on those who practice it are just plain silly.
TIMOTHTTAZ25
good advice
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