Online Dating

[Old Soul]

my daughter frequents the web page " Plentyoffish.com Free Online Dating Service & Dating Site

I'll have to check with her and see how it is going, and if she likes this page
I think she does, it is also free

[jaamkie]

I've posted on craigslist once, and answered ads there a few other times- of course it's hit or miss in individual pairings but I've overall had great experiences- the guys I've met in person have all been interesting and fun to talk to, and in particular I met a guy who's freakishly wonderfully similar to me who I probably would never have met any other way (we're both introverted independent computer geeks, but no common friends/places/etc to have ever met without craigslist).

I haven't tried any real dating sites because haven't been that serious in wanting an immediate serious relationship and didn't want to pay for it and mostly just wanted to meet some new guys for dates/conversations first and to let things develop naturally... I very much think you get back what you put out in relationships and meeting people- my posting/replies have been pretty straightforward who I am, not needy not fake, then we exchange a few emails or calls and meet up someplace casual/public and have had really great conversations leading to dating two of the guys (ok there was a third as well- funny coincidence I'd met the guy months ago at a party had a great conversation when he wasn't single so then he answered my ad and we got back in contact and ended up dating, but suppose that doesn't count...).

Anyway I say use craigslist to just meet up with random interesting not-needy people and practice meeting, dating, and just to enjoy dates/conversation, and then if you end up in a relationship out of it that's just a bonus- even if you don't end up a perfect match with dates from online it'll give you confidence and independence to meet/attract women offline as well.

[Rockchick26]

I would say Craigslist is the WORST place to find someone! I've probably replied to about 70 or 80 postings on there,mostly for friendships...and out of all of them,only one person wrote back more than once. I have posted ads on there (for friendship,and also for a concert buddy or someone to sell a concert ticket to) and i honestly dont think i've ever gotten one single reply. So in my experience,Craigslist users are either WAY too picky or are spambots.

[jaamkie]

maybe difference in craigslist experiences has to do with location? I live in a large young techie metro area... the ad I posted got maybe 30 or so replies before I took it down after a few hours to limit things, went out on dates with 3 guys before deciding I liked two of them enough to not carry on with the others just for the sake of time/sanity- but from one ad a few hours I found maybe 10 or so guys I would've happily gone out on a first date with... and my ad I didn't think was particularly boastful or stretching the truth about myself- not like I was meeting guys by advertising myself as a model/phd student or something...

[elai]

plentyoffish.com is a KISS (keep it simple...), hugely popular, free online dating site. It's also quite the internet success story. (Run by one guy in canada, and he makes half a million a month or something close to that obscene just from ads.)

A quote from their front page:
3. Social Dating is all about giving you tools you need to help YOU find someone. Traditional Paid Dating sites care about the exact opposite, raising prices and trying to keep you around longer. If paid dating sites gave you what you wanted they'd go bankrupt.

You have to realize that the major market & users of online dating tend to be middle aged+ due to the social dynamics of that age group. But I tested out for girls in my college age group in my smallish town and I was overwhelmed by the fairly good options. So don't worry :P

Just watch out for myspace angles:
Beware the dreaded “MySpace Angles”! (PICS) | Dating Resource

(Over exposed photos, fatty facial structure, weird angles, headshots only, etc)

[Brien]

I've used okcupid before. It's a weird little website, always changing things up and adding new (and sometimes broken) features. I find it at least interesting and sometimes even useful.

I found (or rather, she found me if I remember correctly) a friend of a friend that I'd only met once before but never got to know. She was just going through her local matches and saw my picture, remembered me and decided to contact me.

This isn't a happily ever after story, but she and I have dated off-and-on again for the past year or so. If it wasn't for okcupid, we probably never would've seen each other after the first time we met in passing.

[sheffy4]

I know I saw at least one poster suggest that you join a club or volunteer somewhere, and I support this. (I didn't finish the rest of the thread, so hopefully I'm not repeating). For you, I would say join a philosophy club! If your school offers philosophy as a major, there is likely to be a club in place where they get together and address philosophical questions. If they don't have one, sign up for a philosophy class, and maybe start your own philosophy club.

Good luck

[openyourize]

bummer you got that response from eharmony, i dont know why people get that message. maybe you can try it again in the future, it might be that you are young and many people your age ARE using myspace and facebook for dating and not taking it too seriously, therefore there arent many mathes available. BUT if you try it again and get some matches I HIGHLY recommend it, I met the greatest greatest greatest man for me from that site!!!!