This entry was posted on Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 8:59 pm and is filed under Online Dating. If you like this post, please subscribe to our RSS Feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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November 29, 2007
Some people pay for getting laid. While the moral, legal and religious aspect of this subject is forever debatable, we know that people get paid for this “service” and many others are willing to pay. It’s safe to say that paying for what you normally get free in a naturally loving and caring relationship either indicates perversion or total despair. Or both.
Now, what happens online in, dating websites?
Did you notice that ALL dating communities have the facility of paid subscription, some block your ability to IM and Private Message, others disallow you to upload a photo before you pay… They are kind of creative there. They do it, because they KNOW you will pay for the hope of talking to someone. The owners of such sites realize very well that if you are so beautiful, successful, socially developed and independent, so cute and sweet, such a great lover and interesting conversation that you searched Google for “dating sites”, signed up and have to choose a life-partner from the huge variety of the 100*100 pixel images… you probably will pay these measly 2 dollars for the chance of taking it further. What is 2$ on a way of a love and eternal happiness?!
We could make a similar allegory in real life, where people pay for entering certain pubs, pay for attending certain social events or even buying someone else a drink to “get” a company. The thing is, online it’s slightly different and I will tell you where is the cruelest catch with online dating.
I have signed up in a few dating sites in my life. One of them I actually liked and made friends at, others were a total crap. You are going to assume I am exactly that case of “beautiful, successful, socially developed…” err, no, I am not, as I never marked my profiles as “single” or “looking for someone”. But this is not the point, I signed up already knowing I will not look for anyone. In one of such communities, upon sign up yet before I even got to activate my account, I got a Private Message from one of the members. I could see half of it in my email box, for for reading the rest and replying, I had to log in to my account… however, reading PMs is only enabled for paid subscribers (so reading that half was an “accidental” bonus). The fee was tiny and if I was looking for love, of course I would have paid it, after all, I just signed up and someone already liked my profile. It’s human nature, regardless the visual appearance and status, — people always hope to be liked and loved, and the less attention one gets in his / her life, the easier it is to make one happy with a tiny bit of attention that will convince them they are loved and liked.
Yay, I am popular. Someone loves me… Or not..?
I still did not activate my profile, and during the next few days, got a few more PMs. I was curious how they actually SEE my profile, but they all had paid subscription, which I assume had more options to veiw members profiles. Nevertheless, knowing the rotten ways of advertisig industry, I made a little experiment. The membership is limited strictly to one account, so I cleared the cookies and created one more account, from Indonesian IP address. Uploaded a photo from a free stock (as it was a must requirement) and guess what? Yes, I bet you already guessed. Again, same members were interesting in chatting to me, and yes, again — they liked my profile!
So what, no matter how I log in, what picture I upload and what details I give, they STILL could sense the incredible personality under my clothes, desparatly wishing to get to know me..? Hmm, I must be really special. The thing is, while I am being pathologically skeptical towards anything on the planet, I can only but guess how many poor souls got caught in this hook. How many people paid for their (only) hope of getting laid or for their (only) chance of being loved. For ethical reasons I won’t provide the URL of that website, but believe me, they were not the only ones to think of this dirty and cruel way to attract members.
My advice: DON’T join online dating websites, make friends (if you feel you must) in regular social online communities (chats, myspace, forums, etc), and if you have a common bone, it will eventually get there.
Photo by Rock Faiiry . Photoshop effect by me.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Nice Post! So true. Internet dating sites aren’t for everyone, but I have seen it actually work out for some. The thought of actually subscribing to one of them makes me cringe, but I don’t judge people if they don’t have the time or confidence to leave their homes to meet people. Everyone is different.
I like your blog, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside!
December 7th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
A great post and good information.
December 10th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
This is just one of the many tricks they use to get you to pay for their site. But it’s cruel to prey on people like that.
January 7th, 2008 at 5:36 am
great post, it is very intersting
February 13th, 2008 at 1:46 am
I loved the post but I actually used a dating site to meet my wife and we’ve been married for 7 years now. I know I used it because I’m very shy and it’s hard for me to approach new people.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Greetings,
good post there!
You are right, that webmasters of these sites use fasle promotion and tons of lies, to get you pay a few bucks.
But if the site is free and genuine there is nothing bad in online dating. I’ve tryed it, still doing in from time to time. Actually one of the best girls I know, is a girl that I “met” on such a site (free site).
Anyway, great post!
Im2ortal
April 20th, 2008 at 3:41 am
There are many free sites out there that don’t ask for anything, no false promises and nothing that is promised. Free sites are becoming the major players in the market right now and they are being used for “getting lucky” and for finding love.
iMingle.ca
http://www.imingle.ca
May 10th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
It’s too bad you have had a negative experience and become so discouraged about online dating. It’s true - there are some shady sites out there who are only out to get your money, but there are also very many trustworthy sites.
More and more marriages are coming as a result of people meeting at online dating sites so it works for some people.
Also, you should DEFINTELY provide the URL of the site you are referring to. On my site WebPersonalsOnline.com when I find something like you experienced it goes on the FRONT page of my website so as many people are aware of this as possible. You are not helping your readers by hiding what site you are talking about in your post.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
You seems to have so many experience about online dating, thanks for sharing your knowledge here