Convenient at a Cost: The Personal Price of Almost-Blind Online Dating

Nothing beats the convenience of online dating, right? But what about the security? If you’ve ever browsed the profiles of traditional online dating networks, you’ve probably been amazed at the number of single, attractive, captivating people committed to finding love. Then again, if you’ve ever accepted a date with one of these virtual Helens or Adonises, you’ve likely had a rude awakening to the reality of online dating: people lie. Call it fudging, stretching the truth, or personal optimism, but any way you spin it, you can’t be too cautious when looking for love online.

Here’s what to watch out for:

The best of intentions? When it comes to defining romance, every individual has his or her own take. Unfortunately, it can be hard to gauge what kind of relationship people are looking for by just glancing at a profile. Someone looking for long-term love may pretend to be more flexible so as not to scare off any prospects, whilst someone looking for a night or two of companionship may act a bit more serious so as not to offend. Of course, someone seeking a fling is certainly not the worst of it, as it’s also possible for a virtual dreamboat to be nothing more than a con artist.

Describe yourself . . . If you’ve ever listened to a mate whine about her figure or gloat about her intelligence, you know that most people have a hard time seeing themselves objectively. Describing yourself for an online profile is never easy, even if you have every intention of being honest. That’s why trying to sift through delusional profiles can be a pretty fruitless chore. If someone admits to being quirky, does it mean they like obscure foreign sci-fi films, or are they a full-on space case? How about assertive? Does that make them a go-getter or a total hot head? Is it worth finding out?

You’re how old? You can’t put an age on romance, but you can’t put much faith in people who lie about their age either. Unless your potential partner is holding up a current newspaper in their profile picture, don’t be too sure that the snapshot (or the age listed below it) is current.

Beware of Photoshop! Lighting, makeup, and composition can do a lot to flatter in photos, and now with modern technology there’s nothing about a picture that can’t be changed at the click of a mouse. Wrinkles and extra inches can be dissolved instantly whilst hair, dimples, and desired curves can magically appear. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but there’s no guarantee any of them will be accurate.

Single – it’s not a grey area. Being unhappily married or newly separated is not, and never will be, the same thing as single. If it’s too complicated to be straightforward, it’s probably to complicate to involve someone else. If a relationship status ever seems questionable, just say sayonara.

At TopMatch, we applaud anyone smart enough to get proactive in the search for love, but we want you to be safe. That’s why we personally meet with and identify every potential Member – we work with Members to write profiles that are appealing and always accurate. If you’ve had enough with the online dating lottery, why not schedule a free consultation?

Happy Dating!