We have Tinder, Match.com, ChristianMingle, and so many more dating sites to choose from nowadays. Anyone can make a profile in two clicks and start finding other single people around their area. Easy, right? Yet we could literally step out the door and meet someone new face-to-face, instead. There are pros and cons to dating online and meeting someone in person!
When we start to browse online, we automatically have "standards" that we'd prefer for someone to have. In reality, those expectations are NEVER going to happen or get you any closer to your dream match. Nobody can fulfill them! It's a fact. The key is to have little to no standards. Of course, you can have some. Just try to limit them.
Online dating is nice when it comes to having facts about people ready for you to read. If you don't like them, you can browse for someone else. Simple, right? You can chat it up with someone and if you find a quality you don't like, then it's super easy to just say goodbye without any guilt.
The problem with meeting someone in person is that you can't find out anything without directly asking them, which can be a bit awkward! Nobody wants to play 100 questions on the first (and, possibly, second) date. Plus, if you end up not aligning, it's even more awkward to end things in person.
Communication through computers lacks some of the information that you get from face-to-face interaction. As a result, it' s harder to evaluate a potential match online. Some of the cues that build attraction and intimacy (like touching) can't be accomplished through a computer screen. As a result, such computer-mediated communication may have an artificial quality.
Overall, it's important to remember that online dating is best used as a resource to meet individuals for eventual face-to-face dating. Keeping that goal in mind will prevent you from getting stuck on the drawbacks and limitations of dating online. So if you get confused, the best next step is always to move an interaction toward a real date. If you're overwhelmed by access to too many choices, then find a way to narrow them down and find better matches.
There are so many opportunities and options regarding how to meet new people, but I think we can all agree that our eventual goal is to be with someone face-to-face.
