Tuesday 17 February 2009

I've Been Putting This One Off For A While


I don't know how to start this post so I'll just jump right in.

Back in October, I wrote this post about how I'd considered signing up for and then got really freaked out by the idea of on-line dating.

Well, what I never told you (and I've been feeling guilty about it since, sorry!) is that I eventually did sign up.

I guess I figured I may as well see what the experience was like, and I liked Laura's advice:

"If you do decide to try it at some point in the future, try not to look at signing up for the dating service as equivalent to jumping into a long term relationship, or don't even freak out about whether you're ready for that :) The thing is, it's just a method of bringing two people together. From there, you'll have conversations with someone, and it will take on a life of its own. If you really have a good connection with someone, you'll just be dying to meet them in real life. And until you get that feeling, I don't think you should bother having a first date."

So I signed up.

And the experience was weird. And uncomfortable. And with a few exceptions, I was "matched" with people that I just wasn't interested in getting to know.

And then I felt guilty because I was judging people on a profile and maybe a picture (and I felt even guiltier because I didn't even have a photo of me on there so how was it fair for me to judge people based on their photos) and when my paid subscription came to an end I decided I'd delete my profile and call the experiment closed.

Except, right at the last moment I was matched with a guy who looked pretty cute, and seemed pretty nice. So I signed on for another couple of months to give it one last shot.

So, why, you may ask, am I telling you all this now? Why am I finally confessing to you guys that signed up for (and did not really like) on line dating?

Because this weekend, I met, in real life, the cute guy.

And I thought you deserved to know.

So now you know.

I had a date.

It was good.

He seems nice.

The End.

(For now.)

I still don't really like on line dating though.

But you go ahead and try it if you want.

11 comments:

Dugout Daisy said...

i just started the online thing too, and i agree, it is completely awkward and uncomfortable and i feel like i'm wasting my time and the other guys time... but, i have until march 14th and i'm secretly hoping that someone will be worht it on there. i'm going to post about it for tomorrow.
let us know how the rest of the dates go with this guy.

Anonymous said...

I did the online dating thing because although I had an abundance of friends, they were all gay or women (or both) and that wasn't helping me romantically, being a straight (but not narrow) gal. I found a few duds on there and got disappointed more than once. But in the end, I ended up meeting The Mister online. And that was back in the day when it was really embarrassing to admit you did that.

Now I just look at it as one of the few times I was a trendsetter.

Ms Behaviour said...

As you might have read, I have had some highly interesting online dating experiences. If you have the right attitude (that you're going to meet freaks and weirdos) you can have a good time. However, I think it's a little nuts that you met someone "normal"! That's not supposed to happen!

lexiloo said...

yay! hope it continues well!

dilling said...

you know what? good for you for trying something outside your comfort zone...that's brave. and that is worth embracing.

Victoria said...

Daisy, I'll keep you guys up to date, for sure, but good for you for trying it too! :)(One more month, you never know what you might find!)

Well that's cool Kim. (I mean, not the duds, but finding the Mister!) ;)

EB, I think your stories are hilarious and am glad I don't have any crazy ones myself. Um... yet? Heh

Thanks Lexi, me too!

Dilling, I really hadn't looked at it that way so thank you for pointing that out, you're right! Thanks! :D

Laura said...

Thanks for the link Victoria! Sorry it's been an uncomfortable experience for you. But that's great that you met someone with some potential :) Hope to hear more soon!

Yvonne said...

Good for you on being brave in spite of my horror stories! (Another plus, I've met a few great platonic guy friends. One even washed my car for me the other day!)
(It would kinda make me feel better if you had at least one freak story to tell us about! hehe)

Victoria said...

Laura, thanks for your wise words :) It's certainly been an experience!

Yvonne, I'd rather not have any freak stories to tell! D'oh!

GF Girl said...

Congrats for doing it - I did it and that's how I found you... well sort of - you commented on the blog of one of the guys I met. He and I are still friends, but beyond that I have to say I've not had any positive experiences post - I was actually engaged to someone I met online via mutal friend and well he wasn't what he appeared and alas now I'm soured to it all. That being said Leaha married her online guy who she met only after being coerced into online meeting by me... Good and bad - worth the shot.

Victoria said...

Woah, weird! I mean, weird that you found me through a guy's blog you met on line! Funky.

And, yeah, other than meeting this guy who seems nice enough, I'm not a huge fan. But, probably worth the shot, true.