Finding love is no easy task, and the dating process can often be a lonely, frustrating experience full of rejection and uncertainty. Technology has tried to make the process as painless as possible with the invention of only dating, which lets you search for romance wherever you have an internet connection. Obviously, no system is perfect, and online dating has its potential pitfalls when compared to traditional dating.
Searching
Unless you know a lot of people or meet someone at work, traditional dating would require you to frequently visit bars or other social gatherings in an effort to meet someone new. Engaging in a conversation with a stranger can be awkward and even embarrassing, reducing your changes for success. With online dating, you can browse the personal profiles of potential with no pressure or forced interactions. You have control over when and for how long you browse, dating on your own terms. The drawback is, that browsing through many profiles can prove daunting, and the experience may seem impersonal without the instant attraction and excitement felt when meeting someone new in a traditional dating environment.
Selectivity
Online dating profiles typically provide an individual’s photo along with a variety of pertinent information, including just about everything from career goals to hobbies to personal tastes in movies or music. If you choose to interact with the individual, you’re doing so based on more than mere physical attraction, and the supplied information can also make sparking a conversation less challenging. On the other hand, traditional dating allows you to learn your partner slowly over time, preserving an element of mystery and making future discoveries more meaningful, ultimately keeping your relationship interesting.
Scope
Individuals often turn to online dating because they don’t have enough time to meet people on a regular basis. Online dating greatly increases he number of potential romantic partners, letting you search for dates within the surrounding local area or from across the country. Then again, this greater scope may be a little too much if you go out of your local area. You might be overwhelmed with the amount of people you may be interested in. And meeting someone who lives in another city or another part of the country creates travel and logistical problems, generally not found in traditional dating.
Misrepresentation
While people lie in traditional dating, it is so much easier to misrepresent yourself through online dating. Unscrupulous daters may use fake or outdated profile photos and greatly exaggerate their personal histories in an attempt to lure unsuspecting admirers. When engaging in traditional dating, you at least know you’re dealing with a real person, and personal interaction eliminates any chance for exaggerated physical descriptions or fabricated character traits. You also have the option of asking around and see what friends and family members think of this persons, which isn’t possible with online dating.
Considerations
Online dating provides a layer of protection not found in traditional dating since you don’t have to meet the individual until you are completely comfortable and secure in your interactions. For added personal security in online dating, be careful and avoid sharing personal contact information until you are convinced of the person’s character. Also, if you decide to meet, make the initial date in a public place like a restaurant or cafe before going for something a little more intimate. The same basic rules apply in traditional dating scenarios, especially if the person is someone you met at a bar or someone with no shared social connections.
