ONLINE DATING- FACT OR FISHING?

Online dating can be likened to surfing the treacherous monster waves in Hawaii, diving off the mega cliffs in Mexico, swimming across the English Channel, or taking a dip in shark infested waters. Sure, you hope it will be a fun and exciting adventure to laugh about later. But what is online dating really like?

While keeping a journal of my online dating experiences I have met some truly amazing men, enjoyed numerous delightful dates, and made some life-long friends in the cyber online dating process. Along with the displeasure of wrestling a few sharks, and extricating myself from some powerful undertows, I've escaped the vice like grip of an octopus in heat. On the sunny side, I can bask in the luxury of knowing there are some graceful dolphins, and a rainbow of unique, attractive catches out there.

In my experience so far I have been steering my raft through the wild rapids of online dating for a while now. My line has been cast into many tranquil lakes, choppy rivers and the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. Returning my share of catches back to the dark depths from which they came, I have managed to reel in some award winning prizes worthy of display. My rubber raft has sprang a few leaks, collided with jagged rocks, and the dolphins are having a blast bumping me off my safe little perch while singing delightfully. The friendly dolphins are keeping the cantankerous sharks away(for now), but I have been stung by a few transparent jelly fish with rather long reaching tentacles.

So my advice is to hang in there and keep throwing that line in to the online dating pond. Put lots of bright colored bait on the hook, and just enjoy the challenge and stimulation of the sport.

Honesty- honestly?

How honest are you on your internet profile? Are you willing to embellish in order to attract interest?

If you are truly honest on your online dating site, will anybody contact you? Can you really put yourself out there for the world to see and not scare people away?

When I wrote my online dating profile, I made every effort to be honest, factual and real. It can be very uncomfortable to finally meet the man you have been trading emails with for months on line only to find that he is three inches shorter and 50 pounds heavier than he portrayed himself to be. This is also true if you are the one who has falsely represented yourself on your online dating page. Eventually your perspective date will know everything, so be honest from the start.

When filling out your online dating profile, these are the questions to ask yourself and answer honestly.

How current is your picture?
It should have been taken within the last two years. If you don't have a current photograph, ask a friend to take a few, or go to a professional photographer to have some glamorous shots taken.

Is your age accurate?
If you say you are younger on your online dating site, eventually you will have to fess up. Everybody ages, so stand up and be proud. After all, would you really want a guy that's looking to rob the cradle, or is going to be overly critical of every little wrinkle?

What about your “body type”?
What is average? If you weigh 200 lbs. you are NOT average, no matter how many other women share your weight distribution.

Do you smoke, drink or do drugs?
These are things you must be honest about on your online dating profile. A non-smoker looking for another non-smoker will be disappointed and angry if you show up for your first online date with him smelling like you just inhaled a whole carton of cigarettes. You can only hide it for so long before he catches you slinking around in the backyard with smoke seeping out of your nostrils. So be honest from the start. Find another smoker that you can share cigarettes with.

I know it isn't always appropriate to post everything on your online dating profile, but at least be honest when conversing with someone. I have been sadly disappointed more then once when I found that my online date presented himself falsely. I know on occasion I would have liked the man had he just been truthful.

I want to be able to trust my friend and lover. Start out your relationship on a platform of honesty. Be proud of who you are, and if for some reason you are ashamed of yourself, then make some personal changes.

Be appreciated for who you are. A relationship based on illusion is pretentious. The best long lasting relationships are honest and real. This is what you must strive for, even if you have to take the long way around the block. If you arrive at the wrong destination, what is the point of being there?