Online Dating- What Do You Think?

Online Dating - Or Internet Dating as it is called has increased so much in popularity that it is now quoted as fact that, "One in five people meet on the internet."

I've been out of the loop for a long time and recovering from very painful carpal tunnel for a couple of months so I've had some time to look around on the internet for different topics and this one comes up A LOT. Being from what used to be called, 'Old School," I have to say - "How Scary Is THAT!" But what I found out was that, it's really not that scary at all.

Note to fellow hubbers - Sorry to have been out of the loop here - I have missed you fellow hubbers terribly, but I will be back soon - Getting better every day!

Here is what I would like to know - This is going to be a interactive hub, so I hope you read through and help me by answering a few of my questions. I'm curious more than anything, so please indulge me with any answers you think of - Please don't be crude. I hate that.

• Do you think that a first date is meeting someone in person and getting to know them -

OR

• Do you think that a first date is having an 'internet interview,' where you ask each other questions and find out before you meet if it's worth your time?
• Also - Do you investigate each other so that the 6'2" cowboy you think you are talking to doesn't end up being the 5'6" arena clown you end up meeting?

I just have to know if people dress up anymore. And, hey by the way - I also want to know what you gals think of the way young men wear their jeans.

In an spontaneous survey I conducted at the gym - Are you listening fellas? 10 (YES TEN) out of 10 women ages 20-55 all agreed on one thing - They hate your skinny jeans and they think you look stupid in jeans that show the crack of your butt with your skivvy's hanging out over the top - the jeans that make you walk like a pigeon just to keep them up so they don't fall down to your ankles.

You look stupid like that - they ALL said the same thing - Because you look like you are walking like you just got off a horse and your pants are falling down. 10 out of 10 said this.

One young woman said, "I feel like I got ripped off because in the '80's, the girls wore tight clothes and now that I'm out dating what I see instead is guys in these low hanging jeans with the crotch at their knees and I what I want to see is their ass in a well-fitting pair of jeans. That's what I like! And besides that, they just look stupid and run like girls dressed like that."

Couple of questions here:

• Why do women get upset when their door is opened for them on a first date?
• What do guys do when they open doors and get yelled at for it - ? Common sense tells me that if you want to go home real quick, raising a fit when someone extends a courtesy to you might be one good way to do that.

• How soon do you start bragging to your friends about your perfect new partner?
• Do you tell your friends and family that you met online. I found that this subject is still something that couples would rather not share. Instead they make up stories about how they met for the rest of the world - Yes or no?

How do you protect yourself from:

The stalker from hell

The drug addict

The identity thief

The rapist

The mooch

Creepy People

Seems to me like some old fashioned methods might work real well on this one like a call from a friend at a designated time with a planed ahead 'cue' if things aren't going well. Or, a meeting in a well populated area, Or, a safe distance at all times, or . . tell me what you think

• What information do you gather online about someone, or from your online conversation that you decide to be important enough that you decide that you want to meet each other?
• How much information about yourself is 'too much,' to give - After all these are 'virtual strangers' you are 'talking' to.
• When do you give them a phone number - When do you feel safe enough to do that?
• Do you get references? I sure would!

What safety tips would you pass on from your own experience that you would share with others

I must admit that I am not so old that I have never gone online to meet someone. I once met a fella who I thought was interesting and wanted to meet him. He, however had no intention of meeting me. I found out it was because everything he told me was a lie.

When I told him to leave me alone he became agitated and angry and went to malls where he would give my pone number out to anyone he could entice to call me from a mall telephone and ask me what color my underwear was. Turns out he was ten years older, 200 pounds heavier and not nearly as pretty as he described himself to be. How could I have prevented that disaster from happening - Back then there were limited resources except a police check and even that wasn't completely reliable.

Needless to say, my interest started and stopped with internet dating right then and there, but that was about 15 years ago. A lot has changed and I want to hear what you have to say.

No, I am not going to be doing ANY internet dating. I am only conducting some research for a website that I am interested in.

The research is for me, not my personal life - Which is just fine. But I do feel weird and kind of creepy writing this - just so you know ;-)

And, thanks for your input! I appreciate your time!  It's good to drop in for a bit!