"Don't you have an expectation when you pay $30 to find true love that it won't turn out to be a sex offender?" asked Democratic Rep. John Bradley, according to STLToday, during a hearing in Illinois for the Internet Disclosure and Safety Awareness Act. The Illinois House Judiciary Committee shot down the bill (HB 563) this week which was introduced in February by Bradley. It would have required online dating sites offering services to citizens of the state to disclose whether or not they perform background checks on their members, and aimed to provide a feeling of safety among those users, armed with the knowledge that the other members were not criminals or sex offenders.

This isn't the first time Bradley has introduced the bill, either—it was introduced last year and passed the House, but fell flat in the Senate. He had hoped that the bill's reintroduction this year would finally require dating service providers to disclose whether they provide background checks...

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Single male (red hair, long arms, interests include hanging in trees and grooming) seeks female for long-distance relationship and possibility of meeting up in future to help save species.
Zookeepers in the Netherlands are planning to hook up Dutch and Indonesian orangutans over the Internet and believe the link could at some stage be used as an online dating service where apes could get to know one another and keepers could work out whether they would be compatible mates.

First things first: A romantic dinner for two...

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There is a fairly new dating trend that seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. It is called speed dating. Just what is speed dating? How does it work?

Before we define speed dating, and so as to have a better understanding, lets first try and trace its origins.

The now very popular dating method is said to have actually started years ago in Jewish communities in the Middle East. In the USA, credit goes to Rabbi Yaacov Deyo. The Rabbi intended this dating method as way for Jewish people to meet in areas where they were outnumbered by non-Jews.

Speed dating can be defined as an organized matchmaking event whose purpose is for people to meet other people (potential spouses) in large numbers. This is the beauty of speed dating: everyone is actively seeking a mate.

Couples rotate from station to station every few minutes (about eight minutes) and meet a new potential mate at each station. Each dater takes turns asking the other person at their station questions until the clock expires and then they move onto the next station. Each dater takes notes on each date so they can sort of who they do or do not want to see again after the speed dating session.

The time limit serves a dual purpose. It prevents getting too engrossed in a conversation with one particular person and also prevents getting stuck with someone you don't like.

No phone numbers are exchanged directly. Nor is one allowed to ask another out. This is in order to avoid a face to face rejection. An atmosphere of fun and enjoyment is encouraged. Arguing is prohibited. This is one unique feature about speed dating.

At the end of the event, each participant submits a list of people they would like their contacts given to. The organizer then looks for matches – if two people want to share their contact information, there is a match. Matching is done after the event, to avoid facing rejection.

Those in favor of speed dating claim it is a much better, cheaper and safer method of meeting people than going into a bar. They also point out that it is much more efficient than other dating services, such as online dating, since you meet each person face-to-face and can gather information on them quickly. Also, physical attraction – or chemistry – is much easier to judge in person than it is simply looking at pictures online.

Most speed dating services charge between $25 and $60 per person. The fee normally includes a couple of free drinks or a meal or snacks. Most speed dating sessions have between 50 and 150 participants, half male and half female. Lesbian and gay events do exist also.

Critics of speed dating claim that you are forced to spend your time on “dates” with people you are not attracted to and have no interest in, wasting both your time and money. Of course it’s only a few minutes and if you end up meeting that special at an event, it is well worth it.

Hope this answers the question of what is speed dating, and how it works. If you do decide to give speed dating a try just be sure to follow one simple rule. No matter what happens HAVE FUN!

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Carly's quest in finding a suitable partner for marriage seemed impossible. She found the singles scene at clubs to be uncomfortable and her social circle seemed to consist of more married friends with a shrinking amount of singles.

Although she had heard of internet dating and saw the ads, she had hesitated to take what she imagined was a rather drastic step. What would her experiences be like? How would she find someone online? What were the risks?

If you are in this situation then quite likely you've considered venturing into online dating to meet someone.

Our lives are increasingly dependant on technology as opposed to face-to-face contact. It is not at all surprising that millions have already ventured into online dating as a way to find a relationship rather than waiting for a chance meeting.

But what are some of the findings as researchers spend more time analyzing the behavior of online daters?

In a study reported on CBS News, 15% of Americans with internet access have visited an internet dating site. 27% of them were 18-29 years old. Obviously online dating is a popular pastime.

The same study showed that 33% of unmarried internet users thought that dating online was a safe way to meet people although 34% acknowledged knowing someone who had a bad experience.

In another study reported by BBC News, online dating was seen as a way for women to feel empowered in relationships. The conventional inhibitions that they had in face-to-face relationships were replaced by a more upfront and in-control attitude when given the anonymity of the internet. Could this improve their chances at finding a perfect relationship?

Professor Helen Petrie was quoted in the BBC interview as stating "There are people who lack interpersonal social skills and would find it very difficult to meet people in bars. They may find it easy to meet in an internet room, but they still have the problem of meeting them face to face and if they have gone too far with the internet relationship, they may find that traumatic."

The truth is, many individuals find the anonymity of online dating encourages a certain amount of exaggeration or lying. While some claim that we always hide things at the beginning of a relationship, trying to put our best foot forward, the internet makes it easier to hide such things as facial expressions, income, marital status and even criminal records.

So while you may find, like Carly, that finding a relationship in the 'real' world is difficult - if you are still considering online dating it is wise to use caution and common sense. Be careful what you say about yourself and try to verify as much information as possible before meeting or personally contacting anyone you've met online and never meet them alone.

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The growing popularity of online dating coupled by the anonymity has led to an increase in Internet dating scams. It is terrible enough to rip an already lonely heart - but to rip the heart as well as owner's bank account? Talk of extreme brutality, and yes, heartlessness.

Internet dating scams come in various forms and the perpetrators are always creating new ones. An obvious one is the scam dating site. This is simply a fly-by-night operation, out to sell as many memberships as possible and then disappear without offering service.

Such a scam site will almost certainly cost far less than a typical dating site, while promising to deliver similar offer better service. Well, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

A variation of scam dating sites is...

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