If you go into online dating prepared, you can survive. Some situations are easier than others. Make sure you are aware of the type of situation you are walking into, or setting yourself up for...before going forward. Knowledge and awareness is the only way to survive online dating.
You’ve done your homework: researched several sites, randomly browsed their profiles, and checked out their search options. Okay, you’ve settled on one of the sites. You’ve taken the time to put up a great profile, and even included a fairly current photo. You are determined to survive online dating!
Do not join online dating sites desperate to find love. If you do, either you will never find it, or you will be the perfect target for online scammers.
Be open minded to making new friends. Don’t look at every profile as a potential “love interest”. Don’t exclude someone because they’re not your type. Maybe not, but you don’t know who they know...who their friends are...their room mate may be “the one”.
Be honest...if someone is pursuing you and either they are moving too fast or you may have absolutely no interest in the person. Not even as a friend. That is your right, and don’t let anyone take that away from you. You may have to send them a very generic “thanks but no thanks” email: “Thanks for your interest, but I believe someone else would be better suited for you than me. Good luck in your search.” Then end all communications! Don’t be naïve enough to think they will leave you alone...they won’t! If you can deal with the unsolicited responses, you are learning how to survive online dating.
If someone very special has caught your eye, ignore my “friends” lecture, and openly pursue this person. Not too aggressively, most men still can not handle aggressive women. If you’re going to pursue...do it cautiously and gently. If you don’t receive a reply, you might want to assume they are not interested. You see, everyone isn’t polite enough to send a “thanks but no thanks” note.
When you are interested in someone, and it is obvious the feelings aren’t mutual, move on. You have to toughen up if you are going to survive online dating. You have millions of singles to choose from! Someone is waiting to hear from you!
