[markbarnes19]

Finding love on the Internet strikes me as a strange behavior. As someone who is married, I certainly don't have dating issues. I have heard of many people who meet people on the Internet, though, and I'm shocked. Perhaps I'm naive, but I don't see how people can truly get to know each other in cyberspace. Also, isn't this a risky behavior? Are you comfortable meeting someone online?

[mcmama]

I think it is risky, but I know people who have done it. Not so much through the large dating sites, but through specific lists for religious or ethnic groups, or hobbies in common. I belong to a yahoo group for divorce support, and a number of us have met - had a great fourth of July picnic - and some people are going to vacation in FLorida together. And some of those people do date as a result.
But the online sites? I would worry about them being authentic.

[ACard]

I met my husband via an online dating service. My friends encouraged me and I joined a well known online service despite my mother's opposition to it. I talked to my husband over the phone for a while then we met at a mutual location.

I wasn't meeting anyone in the area I lived and I was very lonely. Sometimes I think we act out of desperation and do some foolish things. Do I think that dating someone you meet at a grocery store is any better? No and here is why....It could be your neighbor that you meet and start dating. Do you every really know everything about that person? I don't think you do. Most people put on their best front to look good and try to be what the other person expects or wants them to be. But most relationships when they hit around the 6 month marker the real people start to imerge. There are many pros and cons to both but for the most part the neighbor could be a Ted Bundy just the same as the person you have met on the internet. It is all about the person and if they are honest or not. My husband never kept anything from me, he was very honest about his life and his past.

[blended Dad]

I met my new wife online after my first marriage breakup. After the breakup, my confidence was initially pretty low, and the last thing I wanted to be doing was going to bars to meet someone. After going out to bars with workmates and friends for a year, I decided to go online. So I post up my details onto a personal site. I went on a couple of dates, and then one day got this great email from this interesting lady. She was in the same situation as me (single with 1 child), and we had the same things in common. We met each others personality online first, before organising to meet in an open area for coffee. The rest they say was history...we were destined.
I certainly support online dating services. People are getting more and more busy, and put it this way - are you really giong to meet the love of your life at a bar nowadays? I just saw online as being another option. So long as you take care and the right precautions, you will end up with a great experience.

[markbarnes19]

I guess you are the perfect test case. It's still difficult for me to understand. Obviously, it's worked well for yo and your wife. Congratulations.

[AmericasMom05]

It's risky, but it worked for me.. I met my boyfriend thru the internet and we are happy and been togther since July 14,2005. However, he lives in my city, so that made it better. I would never hook up with anyone out of my area.,... I met Chris in a very public place and we got to know each other...2 weeks later, we get an apartment together... It all depends on the person and their views..
Caroline

[learningtofly]

Hey all,
Just found this site and post and had to join. I am 37, never married and no kids. An EXPERT on dating lol. Hmmmm lets see... here is a brief 10 years....
Last guy- Gave me an estimate on my furnance-great guy at first, turned into a jerk REAL fast and is getting a divorce and using that excuse for everything. I remember what my mom told me here lol... there are two sides to EVERY story. I would love to hear hers.
Boyfriend before that- Real hottie-met him in a bar. Instant attraction right from the start. Was going to sneak away and get married after two months of dating. GLAD I didnt GO there. He is a jelous nutcase who I might have to get a PPO on. Went out with him for a year.
Boyfriend before that- Step brothers best friend. Great Great Guy. Nicest guy you will ever meet. We moved in together. He found his cocaine problem and started that again. He had to go.. Two years there.
Boyfriend before him- Met him online. Lives on the next block (go fiquire lol) Scott Peterson without killing someone. LIES LIES LIES. Constant messing with your head and lies. 2 years here lol
Date from online- Very strange. could never go to his house (he lived about an hour away) because it was a mess??? huh?? He told me he worked all the time. ALL NIGHT AND DAY??? could only get him on cell. Asked him if he was married and he said no.
I could go on and on here. My point I guess I am trying to make is that it does not matter where you met them nutcases come in all shapes sizes and colors. Online is just another way of meeting people.
I can understand why you dont understand its because you are married. I have many many friends that are married (some for 10 years plus) who love to give dating advice. (no offense to you here). I have to laugh because they have not been on a freaking date in 10 years and they are telling me how to meet someone. lol

[chdsgrl]

I wasn't really sure what I thought about online dating, either. I actually didn't "meet" my husband with an online dating service, but it's actually a funny story. My husband was my very first boyfriend back when I was 15 years old. I registered for my ten year reunion on classmates.com and he actually found me on there and emailed me off of that site. He was living in a different state than I was, but after several email and phone conversations he came out to see me....talk about a nerve racking event! Anyway, after a long distance relationship, he moved back to California, we got engaged and the rest is history!

[NewroticGirl]

I met my fiancee online, though not through a dating service -- we play the same online game! Or, as I like to tell people, we play "dress up superheroes" together.

An ex-boyfriend (who I also met online, this time with a dating site) said this: Why would you rule out a way to meet someone you could really like?

Goodness knows I wouldn't have met my fiancee otherwise... he's from Kentucky and I'm from NJ!

[writerchick]

I signed up for an LDS online service when I first became single, because it was very difficult to meet men of my same faith, and that is definitely what I wanted. I think it works when you are looking for someone specific. I actually think it's less risky than meeting someone at a bar or wherever, because there is no direct contact at first. I was squeamish at first, but it worked for me.