Image via Wikipedia

So we finally get chatting on IM, and I learn that he works with two guys I know from the fire department. One of them is a total piece of crap, so I tell the guy that if he’s going to do any checking up on me, to NOT ask that guy. We have a mutual hateship going on, and neither of us has anything good to say about the other. The other kid, I tell him is a sweetheart and he can surely ask him anything he likes.

While we’re chatting, I decided to call up the firehouse and see if the kid’s there, and lo and behold he is. I tell him that I just met this coworker of his online and we’re chatting, and I found out about them working together, yadda yadda… can you see where this colossal dating mistake is about to lead?

Yes… stupid, too honest ME tells new guy that I talked to him. Effing DUH, right? He was all, “You already talked to him? Wow.”

Now, for what it’s worth, I was told he’s a “cool guy” and everything. But it was quite apparent to me that he wasn’t all that thrilled that as soon as I found out we had mutual acquaintances that I made a phone call. We chatted for a little bit longer before he had to go to bed, but this was on Monday. It’s now Thursday, and I’ve yet to hear another word.

Sure, maybe he’s busy, maybe he just likes to go realllllllly slow with things. Who knows? But ladies (and gents), for the love of all things on Earth, if you do some investigating of someone new, do NOT let them know about it! LOL

Hopefully he’ll realize that it was a fluke kind of thing, that I wasn’t trying to find out anything “dirty” on him or whatever, and he’ll give talking to me another shot. Hopefully he’s just been busy. You know I’ll keep y’all posted.

Post from: Blisstree

I made a colossal dating mistake. Learn from me!

Image by d70focus via Flickr

If you could pick one dating site to use, which would it be?

• eHarmony
• Match
• PlentyOfFish
• True
• Great Expectations
• Yahoo! Personals
• None – I think they all suck.

You can also add your own answer if you have another choice for a favorite.

Post from: Blisstree

Sidebar Poll: If you could pick one dating site to use, which would it be?

Image by d70focus via Flickr

1. No photos. Bad photos. Photos only of a car with some figure standing by it that I can’t see. Photos of a man parasailing, with his body a shadow against the summer sun. Worse? A photo of you with another woman, and I don’t care if it’s your sister or cousin. I don’t care if you’ve cut her out of the pic, either. The bottom line guys is that we want to see what you look like, naturally. Don’t try to hide your double chin, don’t shade out your face because your teeth are a little crooked. Don’t show me your dog or your car and NOT show me YOU. Everyone’s got different things they’re attracted to (or not) and all you’re telling me by not having a good, clear, smiling photo of you is that YOU don’t think you’re worth it. If you’re not worth it, how the hell am I going to be?
2. Old profiles. I love it when we’re in the thick of summer and I read, “With the holidays right around the corner…” about as much as I love going to the dentist. It tells me that you’ve had this thing up for quite some time, and haven’t made any effort to keep it up to date. My brain immediately goes to one of two options: a) You’re so busy “dating” so many women that you don’t care to impress me. or b) You’re so busy with your outside life that you don’t even respond to people or care about finding a girlfriend. Tie this in with the above issue (photos that show they were taken or uploaded years ago) and I’m REALLY not going to be interested.
3. Saying the same old, cliche things like “I enjoy long walks on the beach.” We don’t even HAVE real beaches around here, and that line makes you sound like a 70’s television sitcom to me. I want to know the nitty gritty about you, and I want to know what you REALLY like. Don’t think you can appease me by assuming what I like. Besides, what if I’m allergic to sea water? (I have a friend who is allergic to ANYTHING ocean.) I’m supposed to sit there and think, “Gee, this guy clearly loves the beach, and I can’t go. Maybe I should give it a shot anyway?” Nah. Don’t think so.
4. Using “Rather not say,” or “I’ll tell you later.” You know what? If you can’t be transparent about your marital situation, your child situation, whether or not you smoke, drink, or do drugs? I have no choice but to believe that you’ve got some bad crap to hide, and I want NOTHING to do with that. You can’t be honest on an online dating profile, what makes me think you’ll be honest in a relationship?
5. Back to the photos – Shirtless ones. Yuck. Not for nothing, I love a good, muscular body like the next girl, but guys, you look absolutely arrogant and ridiculous when you post every shirtless photo you own of yourself. You know how guys sometimes say that they like when a woman dresses sexy, not slutty? Well unless the kind of girl you’re seeking is the kind who only wants to put out for a night or two, then you need to leave a little to OUR imaginations. Yes, you work out hard. Yes, you’ve got a nice set of abs/pecs/guns/whatever… but I’m looking for something that goes much deeper than that. If you’re not, say so, so that I can be on my way.

So yeah, these are just a few things that annoy me, as a woman looking for a real relationship, about men’s profiles. I’m sure that some of these things don’t bother the hoochies that are looking to dig into a man’s wallet, or his pants, but yeah, these bother me.

Men, what bothers YOU about women’s profiles?

Ladies, can you add anything?

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Post from: Blisstree

5 Things that bug me about men’s online dating profiles.

With the birth of the internet, the complexity of writing and sending letters on parchment, and its seemingly inadequate offering of efficiency and “relationship” experience for the upwardly mobile, is simplified through the use of electronic mail. Moreover, classifieds are made available on the web, thus, making it easier to access such invitations to connect.

Online personals are then introduced and patronised by people looking to find a mate. These same people also find different means to locate prospects, i.e. chat rooms. From this growing internet community, the concept of online dating came into being and somewhat became an accepted form of courtship or mating.

One of the mediums widely used nowadays are the online dating sites like eHarmony or Yahoo Personals. These sites enable users to connect with other online daters without giving out too much personal information. Apart from email exchanges, these people engage in instant messaging or chatting available through ICQ, Messenger Apps from MSN or Yahoo, internet voice calls via services available in most messenger apps, and even make use of video calls, too, via services like Skype.

However, the mate search is no longer limited to online dating sites. Many people are making use of other online waterholes like the ever-popular social networking sites like MySpace.

And for the last 4-5 years, another facet of this technology was introduced and is now branching into the new kind of community. With the introduction of the wireless and mobile technologies, it now caters the tech-savvy individuals. We now have the mobile internet community, individuals who access the web through their mobile phones. Of course, with this trend, social networking and dating sites are trying to better their services to accommodate the current demand of this public.

It now has taken the “penpal” thingie onto a different level. On top of the usual email exchanges, instant messaging and internet voice calls, etc, the concept of connecting through the mobile phone with the use of features available on it are somewhat becoming a real and concrete need.

Online daters now have the option to take their online activities mobile. Web-to-mobile applications are being used to serve their networking needs. Online hook ups can now happen practically anywhere, i.e. on buses, airports, trains or while walking, simply by utilising the SMS or text messaging capabilities of their phones. Communicating with the other person through real-time messaging is a positive step towards real-life connection. They’ve taken the “wait time” out of the equation, hence, making it faster to “get the ball rolling” so to speak. Heehee.

Through all the technology available today, geographical objections aren’t that big of a deal anymore. Communication doesn’t post as a huge problem, too. These two people will feel the distance that separates them less.

It’s quite remarkable on how technology affect how men and women connect, eh? From traditional courtships and other mating rituals, we’ve seen it move on to the internet era and now we’re experiencing the birth of the mobile dating age!

Goodness! Talk about efficiency!

Post from: Blisstree

The Evolution of Long-Distance Dating

It’s true! I’m not kidding. It really is a blog established with connection to the popular online personals and/or dating site.

In fact, it’s hosted by Todd, a site copywriter, though, we can also expect various voices from his colleagues along the way.

The Mia Bella Dating Blog is the off-shoot where we can all trade ideas, thoughts, and insights about this modern phenom called online dating. — Mia Bella

Interesting, eh?

There’s more — “…you can expect us to cover lots of issues that people have with their profile such as, “Where can I find good photos of myself,” “What makes a good headline?” and, “Should I write a long blurb or short one?” We will also discuss more general questions about dating like, “What do women want?” and, “Why are good men so hard to find?”” Todd said.

It’s like a way of going the extra mile for their patrons, eh? I find it totally cool. Apart from learning more about this online personals thingie, particularly for newbies, from someone who we can say is knowledgeable about it, there’s also the opportunity to learn more about dating — online and off.

So, I suggest you go check them out and educate yourselves in Flirt Science and master the Secret Dating Rules For Guys.

I guarantee you a good time!

Post from: Blisstree

The Mia Bella Dating Blog

For the young and single seekers, the normal amount you spend on a dinner and drinks or perhaps a movie, is all that it takes. But what if you’re someone who’s been around the block? I mean, you’ve been married for decades and had children and even grandchildren and now divorced or widowed? Will dinner and movie dates be suficient enough?

I reckon it may be difficult to get into the dating scene again. Heck, it’s hard enough for singles to deal with dating, can you imagine how it must feel like for them?

Well, after reading about a widowed grandmother conned into spending $125,000 on a matchmaking scheme, it left me bewildered. I just can’t believe that someone’s willing to spend that much in her search for a mate.

How did it happen? Well, let me share this bit from the article:

Promised the company of affluent, sophisticated men, Ms Majerik signed on. Initially, she paid Ms Hadida $50,000; subsequent payments took that to $125,000.
– Guardian Unlimited Special Reports

Read the rest of the article to learn more on how the scam got discovered and the events that led up to court plus other bits about Orly the Matchmaker. The $2.1 Million award is an unprecedented amount in the history of dating service cases. Other notable cases cited were the ones involving Match.com, Yahoo Personals, and Great Expectations.

This is some crazy dating news. This should teach these companies not to prey on lonely people.

UPDATE: I’ve recently learned that the case was subsequently dismissed. The dismissal documents can be found at www.rankrover.com/orly .

Post from: Blisstree

The Million Dollar Matchmaking Scam