One of the main reasons people avoid online dating is because it seems to be an unsafe method of meeting that special someone.  You don’t get to see anything more than their picture and you can’t be sure anything they say is true.

Consequently, a lot of people are staying off line, but are also staying single.

The idea of background checks has become a popular selling point for sites like True.com.  By screening all of their singles, members of the site feel safer knowing that they are talking to the ‘real’ person they think they are talking to.

Or are they?

There’s a lot of discussion right now as to whether these background checks are actually all that effective.  After all, thieves and con artists thwart them in other situations, why is it so difficult to believe that they can’t slip past them here too?

Some people are crying ‘foul’ for these background checks as they generally are only a cursory check that doesn’t usually spot the liars.

But with potential new legislation making background checks necessary for online dating, is this combination of events setting up the online dating system for a fall?

If this legislation is enacted, more singles might come online, thinking that online dating is safer.  But since the checks are often meaningless, this might actually increase the dangers of getting online – more people = more problems.

In the next few years, this question is going to be something that people consider before searching for love online.  For if the checks in place aren’t really helping, then what’s the benefit to them?

Happy Valentine’s Day?

News & Views, Personal Profiles Background Checks, Profile, Risks, Trust, Truth

When you’re getting ready to create an online dating profile, you need one important thing: a photograph of yourself. Whether you want to admit it or not, these are the things that drive you to certain profiles and that drive you away from others. If you want to stand out among the other singles on your preferred dating website, you need to make sure your profile picture does you justice.

Here are some tips you can use:

Take many pictures – Instead of just taking a few, take dozens of pictures of yourself. This will increase your chances of getting the best shot.

Have you friend take the pictures – While you might just want to take a few candid shots of yourself, sometimes that objective eye of a friend can take a more flattering shot.

Use natural lighting – Instead of taking your picture indoors, try to take it outside or at least by a window where the light is softer.

Wear a dark color, but not black – Try to choose a color that is striking, but not washed out so that you can show off your face in the picture.

Wear some makeup, but try not to overdo it – Women, while you might think that more is more, you can begin to look a little clown-like if you overdo it. This is where that friend will come in handy with their honest opinion.

Smile – If you smile in your profile, it’s like smiling at everyone that’s looking at your picture. Now that’s a good first impression.

Dating Essentials, Personal Profiles First Impressions, Photo, Picture, Profile, Truth

Online dating is one of the few things in the dating world that doesn’t have any rules. You can talk to whomever you want, break up on a whim, and generally just have fun meeting new people. But in all of this fun and freedom, you might want to remember that if you’re serious about meeting someone, you need to learn the rules of wooing – that is, how to flirt with someone you like.

When you’re out on date with someone, flirting is almost too easy. You simply touch their arm, laugh at all their jokes, etc. They know that you’re into them without your having to say it. But when you’re online, things change. You don’t have that face to face time at first, which can limit the ‘woo’ factor that keeps new relationships exciting.

You need to start flirting in the virtual world:

• Compliments still go a long way – By taking the time to notice things about the person you like, you can compliment them honestly to make them blush.
• Pay attention to them – Respond to your emails and make sure you show up for chat times. This shows that you care and that you’re interested in pleasing them.
• Ask questions – While this doesn’t seem like a flirting tip, just watch what happens when you ask someone questions about themselves; they’re going to respond much more favorably to you.

Though you aren’t able to give your ‘date’ a wink or a smile, you can give them a few flirtatious messages that get your point across – that you like them and you want them to like you too.

Flirting Flirting, Fun, Humor, Seduction, Truth