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Online Dating Not For Losers, Weirdos, Or Geeks

Dawg — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:28:41 +0000

Like customs, old beliefs, stereotypes and attitudes die hard. They can tend to linger, sometimes long after they have long been debunked. Sadly, there is a lingering stigma or shame about online dating today, long after it has gained wide acceptance.

Once thought to be the domain of losers, weirdos and geeks, online dating is today an acceptable way of meeting a partner or even a spouse. It is estimated that one in five relationships now begin online. Why then, is there some trace stigma or shame attached to it still? I found an interesting post that re-visits this subject. Here are excerpts:

Online dating was once something that people did in private. But recently when someone told me she met her boyfriend "in line at the bookstore" and I later met him and discovered A.) he wasn't a "bookstore" kind of guy and B.) they actually met on Match.com, I was surprised. Isn't online dating kind of the norm now?
After all this time, I would think online dating would have long since surpassed the stigma it once had of weirdos in basements who pretended to be 6'2" lawyers when they are actually 5'1" and have no jobs at all. I have seen enough marriages come of online dating and now even celebrities (like Carrie Ann Inaba) are doing it like it's the norm.
Or maybe people are lying. Maybe more people are meeting online than are admitting it. So what's up with the stigma? It's 2011, people! Almost everyone I know has gone on at least one online date. See original story

I totally agree. No one should feel even remotely ashamed or embarrassed to say they met their significant other online. Not in the 21st century anyway. Your thoughts welcome (you can leave your comments below).

Online Dating Sites Can End Lonely Nights

New Dating Site For The Ugly, Homeless, Convicts And More

Dawg — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:34:42 +0000

There is a new dating site in… well cyberspace. Developed by a man who once found himself homeless and lonely, this one is not a niche dating site but more of a multi-niche site.

There’s an old adage that says, everyone has a soul mate. Thanks to a new dating site, there’s a way for singles to find the exact kind of person they really want.
“Whether you are looking for an ugly people dating service, wealthy matchmaking or other adult online dating service, we have an online dating community that is perfect for you,” said Aaron Fraser, spokesman and developer of gothamdatingpartners.com. “We offer dating for all walks of life, wealthy people, dating by race, attractiveness, religion, and more.”
Fraser added that gothamdatingpartners.com is the mother site of 11 additional websites that will ultimately lead visitors to a dating portal of their liking, such as prisonhookup.com, lovenotlust.com, whitepeopledate.com, Donsanddivasdating.com, faithfullover.com, wealthypeopledate.com, and more.
What sets this dating service apart from everyone else on the market, Fraser said, is that it offers a $99 lifetime membership, which costs less than a yearly membership at any of the major dating websites.
“That’s $99 bucks for life,” Fraser said.
The launching of the dating sites could prove to have perfect timing.
According to a recent study by The New York Daily News, about one in five people who have used online dating sites have gone on to marry someone they met via the Web. The study also concluded that 94 percent of those who used online dating sites were satisfied enough to go on a second date
Gothamdatingpartners.com, which was developed after Fraser found himself homeless, and without a companion to share his ups and downs with, prides itself on making the first connection, quick and easy.
“It is easy to connect with members of our ugly people dating service, millionaire dating website and other services,” Fraser stressed. “You can send a message or send a card on the profile of the member you want to contact. You can browse free online personals dating profiles and read our online dating guide as a guest.” See original story

Okay, this might appear new to some, but it really isn’t. At least not for most of the niches. Niche dating sites serving virtually all interests including those mentioned above have been around and keep popping up. The difference is that the site above will serve multiple niches under one umbrella. And of course, the $99 lifetime membership fee.

Why Should You Choose an Internet Dating Service?

Dawg — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

How Internet Dating Services Can Help You Find A Date

In the past, relationships were initiated by an introduction from a friend or family member. There was a degree of comfort and security in knowing your date came with a string attached to someone you knew and trusted. However, like all things societal, mores have changed dramatically. As the sexual rules of polite society have changed, so have the inherent risks. These days, internet dating services are the way to go.

Internet Dating Services And Safety Issues

Within the warmth and safety of established, responsible, professional internet dating services, you usually have the option of:

A background check on your prospective date. Many sites automatically include it. Others will let you decide.
Some will do it for a fee, others include it in their membership fees.
A full, current picture of the individual. You'll know exactly what to expect. Your in-shape, twenty-something,
blond, surfer-type, potential Mr. Right won't turn out to be a fifty-something, balding, 250 pound channel-
surfer with one good eye, wearing an electric necktie that says "Kiss me, I'm Irish!"
Some internet dating services even allow you to provide an established time and place for your first meeting.
That provides an even greater measure of safety because the date and place are documented.

Personal Likes, Dislikes, and Personality Features Included for Easier, Better Matching

All respectable, fee-paid internet dating services will include a personal profile for you to complete, for a more
integrated meshing of your likes and dislikes with your Ms Maybe. She'll be sure to know you like camping
and fishing in the nude, and you'll know that she likes her cats sleeping in bed with her. You'll know exactly
where lines are drawn!
Personality traits that are common in Zodiac signs might seem silly to some, but to some people there are some very valid
and accurate personality traits in each Zodiacal sign that can help you avoid tangible problems very soon,
or, sadly, later. It's best to know that she has a tendency to be extremely sensitive before you invite her
over to watch your pet boa feed on white mice.

The benefits of becoming a member of an established, fee-based, or paid-membership dating service, is more than worth the, usually, nominal fee or dues required.

When searching internet dating services, check how long they've been in service. Many sites will offer a free search. You may not be able to contact members, but at least you'll get a feel for the environment. Look for "VeriSign™" and other accredited organizations that vouch for the site's reliability for credit card info safety. You can even go to that organization's site and confirm the dating site's affiliation or membership.

It's better to be safe than to discover you're meeting your neighbor's uncle for a date!

New Site Will Get You A Fun Date About Town

Dawg — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 01:30:08 +0000

The Fast Way To A Fun Date Out On The Town

While it can be fun and a great way to meet someone, online dating has one big weakness. It is oftentimes a slow process; from posting a profile to making a connection and then finally meeting you date in person. A fun date about town is now possible, without going through the heretofore painfully slow online dating process.

Yet, there is another weakness of online dating as it is today. It is quite impersonal. Until you meet your date in person, you can never really tell what he/she is truly like. This puts some of us who are “acquired taste” at a disadvantage. The new dating site changes that too.

Here's how it works: First, you sign up for free at Grouper (JoinGrouper.com), which allows the matchmakers at the site to access your Facebook page (this is how they learn all about you, your preferences, where you like to hang out, etc.). Once you're accepted (Yes, there's a waitlist) and matched with a compatible person, Grouper will give you a date, time and a reserved table at a hot location in the city (usually a trendy speakeasy or lounge). You bring two friends, your match brings two friends, and for $20 a head, you get your first round of drinks on the house and a night full of endless possibilities.
Unlike other dating or social websites, there is no physical Grouper "site," you don't have a profile, and there's no way to check out your match and his friends before you meet them in person. So, how do Guo and his team match you up? "It's kind of our secret sauce," he explains. "It's the combination of a computer plus a human. We use filters such as similarities in age, educational background, and level of attractiveness, but at the end of the day, our community managers make the call." See original story

It appears that the site is a blend between online dating, speed dating and social networking. I like it that you and your friend can bring a friend along and double-date or even group-date. This can help ease the nervousness and even awkwardness of a first date, as well as help one feel safe (you should not be too trusting all the same). Fun is the icing on the cake. But what I like most is the idea of a fun date, without wasting too much time. Unfortunately this dating service is only available in New York at present.

New Online Dating Site Matches Up People Who Look Alike

Dawg — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:39:25 +0000

There are people who believe that happily married couples tend to look alike. Could your soul mate also be your “face mate”? Well, new dating site appears to believe so. FindYourFaceMate.com matches singles not online personality but on “facial compatibility”. They use facial recognition software to find someone who looks like you.

New Yorker Christina Bloom launched the site back in March and started investigating the theory of a "face mate" 20 years ago when she married a man who looked very similar to her.
In the three months it has been up, the site already has almost 25,000 members worldwide. And it's free! According to the Daily Mail, Bloom, 54, said, "I'm not in this for the money. I really believe in the science behind it and I want to help people meet their soul mates. It's really hard to meet people these days and even harder to find that special chemistry."
The theory may work. If you look around at couples there are several happy ones who look like a mirror image of each other. Bloom gives some examples; Prince Charles and Camilla, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Iman and David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and Heidi Klum and Seal.
Kerri Johnson, an assistant psychology professor at UCLA, told GMA that, "There is evidence that general liking improves when people look like you."

Well, I have seen couples who look as unalike as giraffe and a zebra, but who were perfectly happy together. I have also seen couples who might be mistaken for siblings but whose relationship did not last or if it did it was because of other reasons (children, for example).

More New Dating Sites Launched

Dawg — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:16:09 +0000

Niche Dating Sites Trend Continues To Grow

It seems like there is a new dating site being launched every minute. No, it’s not about mega dating services such as Match.com anymore. Niche dating is the current trend. Specialties include ethnicity, country, and even continent among other criteria or interests. Here are some of the latest additions to the niche dating scene (not in any order):

New site helps couples track and improve their relationships
Social networks are notorious for causing relationship woes and dating sites have little to offer existing couples – can a specially designed online service actually help strengthen a couple’s love connection? San Francisco based startup, TheIceBreak, is about to find out. TheIceBreak is the first relationship service designed to help existing couples connect, communicate, and discover new things about their partners.
“Designed as a helpful and fun service for couples, TheIceBreak provides users with recommendations, relationship metrics, and incentives that enable them to improve their relationships over time. Whether you’re newly together, married or somewhere in between, TheIceBreak keeps your love life fresh and fun!”
Having now started its public beta program, TheIceBreak allows users to sign-up as individuals or as couples – both with the goal of improving their established relationship. Users are presented with a set of questions focused on the past week and their satisfaction with various aspects of their relationship: happiness, communication, support, fun, personal time, quality time and sex. These answers are kept private (even from one’s partner) and are intended to help the user gain perspective on how their feelings about their relationship change from week to week and how they compare to others using TheIceBreak. These stats are presented in a number of easy to read charts and percentage breakdowns. See original story
Brand New Dating Website Launches For Single Lesbian and Bi-Sexual Women
Sapphicencounters.com is a new dating site that enables single lesbian and bisexual women in the UK to chat, flirt, make friends, meet and find love or just have fun together.
The site has also launched a blog which discusses relationships and will expand its content to encompass a multitude of topics of interest beyond the realm of lesbian dating. See original story
New African Online Dating Website Announced
The website will cater solely to those meeting people who live in Africa, or people who are from the continent but have relocated to other areas such as Europe and the U.S. At the time of this press release, the website will be tentatively titled AfricanDatingSitesReview.com
InfoUSA1 launched this website to create a resource where people can meet true Africans, or Africans interested in meeting other Africans.
Internet dating, and online match sites, have not just simply grown more and more popular, they now have become a part of mainstream life. However people interested in this specific niche have been under served. InfoUSA1 realized there was a need for a place where African individuals can connect with each other. See original story

I couldn’t help wondering about Egypt being there among the African countries included in the African dating site. You see, while Egypt is geographically located in Africa, it (or should I say she) identifies more with the Middle East than Africa. But this is not a social-political blog.

Men Dating Tips: The Initial Inspection Process Explored

Contributor — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:44:04 +0000

By Andrew Scherer

You've joined an online dating site and now you are all ready to go on your first date. You've talked on the phone and all seems "good to go", so you're off in your car or truck to pick the lucky lady up. Now top on your list is that you don't want the whole thing to be a waste of time and money, and if it is going to be, you want it over as quickly and cheaply, as possible.

So when you arrive to meet your date, for sure you want to give her "an inspection" to make sure that all is as it should be. If something is "amiss", you are completely within your rights to call the whole thing off right then and there. You see, the last thing you need is to get involved with some liar or a trickster. A female that thinks it's okay to play you as a sucker.

Then again take a nice good look at her to make sure that the person in front of you is the same age as the person in her profile photo. Now some sites are using video interviews that they shoot. However, if it's a site that uses submitted photos, it may be one from her "younger years". It's not at all uncommon. If this turns out to be the case then you're within your rights to call the date off right there due to "trickery".

So then if she clears that first primary "screening process", step 2 on your agenda is to make sure that she is "indeed a female" and not an impersonator. Now don't laugh, because female hormone shots can turn a man into an attractive woman, complete with breasts. Think it can't happen to you? Think again because in this day and age of blind Internet dates it happens, and you don't want to find out the hard way.

The parts to check are her hands because while female hormones can completely transform a man's appearance, they can't change the size of the hands and fingers. Now keep in mind that female hormone shots will make a man grow actual female breasts, so don't let that distract you if you have any doubts. In the end though, if you have some suspicions, simply check her driver's license.

What you need to know, is that in the world of dating, nice guys finish last. Also, if you have a high tolerance for tricks and deceit, then you will be enduring far more than your fair share of them. Don't forget that when you join a dating site you enter a target rich environment, so there is absolutely no reason why you should have to put up with a person who does not fit your standards.

Learn more about dating sites. Stop by our site where you can find out all about dating sites uk and find girls in your area.

More Niche Dating Sites Coming Up

Dawg — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:56:29 +0000

The trend toward niche dating continues to grow. All manner of dating sites to suit special interests keep popping up. It is no longer about senior dating, big women dating, and dog lovers dating. Not even lingerie dating and leather or boots on the adult and the more fetish side of… things. Now there are other niche dating sites that even I did not know about.

One of the latest additions to the niche dating world is a site for sports lovers. Here’s a report from BostonHerald.com:

Finding dates with a shared affection for the Bruins [team stats], Red Sox [team stats] or even your favorite PGA player could soon be easier than trolling sports bars looking for love.
MySportsLove.com, an online dating site for sports fans, launches Aug. 15. And as part of their user profile, MySportsLove members will be required to share their favorite sporting experience and what it meant to them. The site will also have a “hot or not” rating feature for user photos and a chat component.
“There’s really no specific dating sites that cater to sports fans,” co-founder Fred Minsker said. “And since we’re in the sports capital of America — with all the championships that we have — we thought why not give it a whirl.”
Eventually, Minsker said, he hopes to partner with sports bars on cross-marketing and host speed-dating events. See the original story

Now, witness this from The New Yorker:

Q Some sites proceed from a simple gimmick. ScientificMatch attempts to pair people according to their DNA, and claims that this approach leads to a higher rate of female orgasms. A site called Ashley Madison notoriously connects cheating spouses. Howaboutwe.com asks only that you complete a sentence that begins “How about we . . .” with a suggestion for a first date, be it a Martini at the Carlyle or a canoe trip on the Gowanus Canal. (Your suggestion should theoretically be a sufficient signal of your taste and imagination, and an impetus for getting off-line as soon as possible. Apparently, a big winner has been a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.) The cutting edge is in mobile and location-based technology, such as Grindr, a smartphone app for gay men that tells subscribers when there are other willing subscribers in their vicinity. Many Internet dating companies, including Grindr, are trying to devise ways to make this kind of thing work for straight people, which means making it work for straight women, who may not need an app to know that they are surrounded by willing straight men. See original story

Are we soon to see a dating site for the bow-legged? (No pun or slight intended).

Niche Dating Growing In Popularity

Dawg — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:35:19 +0000

To say that online dating is popular is stating the obvious. But there appears to be shifting trends. It used to be that if one was internet dating, he/she would be on one of the popular mega dating sites such as Match.com or FriendFinder.com. These sites are still the leaders, with databases running to the millions. After all, they serve people from virtually all walks of life though they also have certain subtle differences. But there is a new trend immerging.

Niche dating is here. And it is popular. In fact, some niche sites have been on the receiving end of criticism, some of it scathing, for being too exclusive or serving superficial and vainglorious interests. Case in point is Beutifulpeople.com. As the name suggests, it is a site for… well, beautiful people. Not too long ago they were all over the news and even got mentioned on Jay Leno’s show. Reason? Around the holiday season, they had kicked out some of their (female) members for having gained weight. Apparently, they had ceased to be beautiful simply because they gained a few pounds. (See our post about Beutiful People).

Speaking of weight, did you know that there are specialty dating sites for big beautiful women dating? For the guys who love them curvaceous, big bum and all, this is the place to go. And if you are a big woman, what better place can you go than a place where you find men seeking out women with extra pounds? And no, these men are not necessarily big (in the fat sense of the word). Some are as athletic as a 100 meter dash Olympic champion. They just love big women.

I found a post about online niche dating that I think is very well-written. Here’s an excerpt:

For a long time, Kim sought a partner in vain in the country's rural areas.

"As a super-brainy girl in the Midwest, I was having trouble meeting a guy who wasn't intimidated," she says.

Being a geek has its problems, she notes. Fortunately, however, she found a dating site for people like her: Geek2Geek.

"I knew immediately my brains and my geeky side would be accepted, even celebrated, by anyone I met here," she says.

Geek2Geek.com is one of the countless US dating websites aimed at a niche.

There is also Ivydate.com, named after the academically elitist Ivy League. It offers to make "outstanding romantic connections a reality for highly driven men and women who value intellectual curiosity, love of learning, drive, and determination." They only welcome, however, those who have studied or worked at elite universities in the United States or Britain.

The site Horseloversconnection.com is not quite so demanding. Even owning a horse is no must, although profile photos often show one. The site's promoters make their intentions clear from the start.

"You are now at a place that brings serious country horse people together," the site says.

The dating industry in the land of opportunity appears to leave no one out, be they bearded men, bicycle-lovers, overweight people or pet fans.

And yet there is more to getting couples together than just special interests or hobbies. There are offers for specific ethnic groups or religious communities. Blacks can look for blacks, whites can seek out whites, Arabs can look for Arabs and Catholics can choose Catholics. See original article.

Right here on this site, we have posted articles about various niche dating services. There is a specialty dating site for virtually every interest or passion you can imagine, from the mild to the wild and anything in between. Is this the future? Time will tell.

5 Innovative Features Provided by Online Dating Sites

Dawg — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:04:24 +0000

By Guest Blogger

Online dating sites have become big business in the past couple of years and there are some sites that are separating themselves from the pack by offering unique features to their members. By creating original and interesting services, dating sites can gain both a larger member base while maintaining their edge in popularity within the dating industry. Let’s face it, the market is saturated with cookie cutter dating sites and it has become survival of the fittest. Dating sites are flexing their muscles to attract new customers. Below we’ll take a look at a variety of features that have made some dating sites profitable and successful.

1. Weeding Out Fake Profiles-One of the major complaints from members was the use of fake dating profiles among a lot of dating sites. Members have been asking for a way for sites to weed out these untruthful and fake profiles. Heartbroker is the first generation of dating sites to implement a more social perspective when viewing a profile. It’s more a self-promotion of sorts by having friends and family to write testimonials and rate them on 5 different personality traits. This introduces a level of trust and security for members and makes them feel more comfortable when signing up and filling out a profile.

2. Free In-Browser Chat and Secure Call Forwarding-One site has created social communication tools easy to use, as well as providing them free of charge to their customers. HintCafe brings to the table a way to chat directly inside your browser. Instead of focusing heavily on video and photo profiles, they want to encourage members to judge more on the quality of personality rather than judging on looks. This is a breath of fresh air for some users. They also utilize secure call forwarding that brings together two individuals without having to share sensitive information such as phone numbers. It is security and sociability tools that are wrapped neatly into one great site.

3. Virtual Speed Dating-If you’re a fan of speed dating, then users will enjoy SprintDates.com. Without leaving your home or spending a lot of time, users can log on at a minutes notice and connect with a lot of people. Certainly not boring, this modern video chat tool gives users the chance to get to know potential matches a little better. It’s a new and improved playable form of video chat which carries conveniences among its many advantages.

4. Color Compatibility-Create a site and the masses will come. Niche sites like LoveColors.com utilize a new way to find members ideal match. They help find users perfect match by comparing their aura colors to one another. They are based in Seattle and claim that you can find love and balance based upon a unique spectrum of aura colors. It’s definitely a different type of dating site and a new way of bringing together fruitful relationships. With such a fun way to find love, visit them now to find out what color category you fall into.

5. Anti-Scam Filter-This tool was launched in June 2011 as a way to protect their free members from identity theft and scammers. OpenDatingService.com has actually pre-programmed an anti-scam script directly into their website. They want their members to understand that they care about the vulnerability of their customers and the need to protect members from unscrupulous people. They also offer blog advice on how to avoid potential scams and feature hassle free dating tips.