It wasn’t very long ago that using an online dating service was considered scandalous. Cheap. Embarrassing. And yes, really desperate. Thankfully times have changed a great deal and online dating is no longer something you hide from your family and friends. Online is now mainstream, and there is more than just anecdotal evidence to prove this.

A major research study conducted at Stanford University recently shows very clearly that online dating is no longer something to hide in the closet, but is in fact quickly becoming the first choice for singles looking to meet other singles like themselves. Going online is not only socially acceptable now, but it is also the preferred way for more and more singles to connect with each other. The Stanford research, conducted by sociologist Michael Rosenfeld, revealed that significant numbers of singles now actively choose to go online rather than go out to offline venues to look for other singles.

According to Rosenfeld’s study, the groups most likely to prefer online dating are lesbians, gays, and heterosexuals who are middle aged. When you stop to think about it for a moment this actually make sense; online dating allows singles to search for a partner in a way that is more anonymous than going out in person, plus it gives singles access to a much larger pool of potential dates than going out in person.

There will always be plenty of people who prefer to meet other singles in traditional offline venues, but if you’re looking for that someone special it might be more productive for you to focus more of your efforts online.

Dating Essentials Desperate, Friends, Social Networking

Don’t think it’s fair that most dating websites focus only on men when they’re talking about who to avoid online? Neither do we. So here are 3 types of women you want to avoid on dating sites – date them at your own risk.

The “I’m Looking for a Friend” Woman

First of all, no self-respecting woman wants to go onto a dating website for friendship. She wants to get married – that’s it. But there’s another possible explanation. If she’s specific about finding a ‘friend’ it can also mean she just wants to hook up with someone. Know what I mean?

The “I’m a Casual Type of Gal” Woman

The woman who posts pictures of herself hiking along the Grand Canyon? Take a closer look. She might profess to being an outdoorsy type of woman who’s ready for an adventure, but she’s still wearing makeup. Contradiction, anyone?

This woman is toting makeup in her hiking gear. And she’s not low maintenance. By any means.

The “I’m So Desperate You Can Smell It” Woman

This woman has listed in her profile all of the typical man things. She loves football, hanging out on the couch, and even gun shows. While there are women like this out there, if she doesn’t have anything girly on her profile, it means she just wants a man, like, NOW. RIGHT NOW.

Of course there are male types to avoid as well. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Personal Profiles Avoid, Desperate, Hook Up, Women

While online dating continues to grow and to mature, it still is getting picked on by society. You may have heard that it’s cheesy, it’s ineffective, and those who find dates online are somehow desperate.

Let’s think about this for a moment.

No one out there thinks twice about finding a job online or about shopping for the perfect belt online – but society still thinks online dating is strange? It doesn’t really make sense anymore.

We are a world that has turned to online dating in order to make our lives easier, not because we are desperate. We have turned to online dating just like the world has turned to social networking sites to interact with people from grade school.

But if you still cling to the idea that online dating is somehow lesser than ‘real ‘dating, you’re probably going to encounter some troubles along the way.

The truth is that online dating still has a bad rep because those people haven’t tried it or they’ve had one bad experience with an online date. But just as with ‘real’ dating, you have your ups and your downs, your good dates and your horror stories.

To get over the stigma of online dating, spend more time in the message boards, not only taking with prospective dates, but also talking with people who are dating others. You are all in this together – and you are on a new frontier of love, exploring and finding out that relationships are possible, even when the landscape and the methods are different.

Dating Essentials Desperate, Embarrassed, Opinion, Society, Stigma