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Online dating. Who hasn’t thought of doing it? And who hasn’t said no initially to well-meaning friends who suggest doing it, then over the course of time, found themselves folding, and finally, posted a profile? It is likely that most of us will experiment with this dating form at least once in our lifetime. The question then becomes, is online dating a cyber curse or a cyber chance at happily ever after?

We’ve all heard the horror stories of little girls (or boys) being lured to strange places to have unmentionable things happen to him. We’ve heard of the dates from hell. Occasionally, we also hear stories of those who met have Mr. or Ms. Right from one site or another. Which is myth? Which is truth?

I was a former online dater. From my experience, I can honestly say that there is a grain of truth in both. Like with any scenario, there is the potential for good and bad. What you find, sort of depends on you. Nothing can tell you or prepare for what you will find; nevertheless, I shall try.

Why You Should At Least Try It

There can be a multitude of reasons why you ought to try it. I’ll deal with the most pressing one: time. In today’s world of crack-berries and 60 hour work-weeks, who has time to attend social events like the annual black-tie ball or even the weekly jogging group? Previously, such as in the days of Jane Austen, young men and women would gather and exchange witty quips during an evening of dancing and dining. People, well the rich ones anyway, had ballrooms built into their homes. Socializing was big. Then again, the gentry never had to work.

Modern society demands that you work, and work hard. Time to socialize is practically non-existent. Unless you are fine with limiting yourself to either colleagues or whoever happens to be at the bar on Saturday nights, you are stuck in a giant rut with no shovel in sight. You could be lucky, and during a rainy day, Mr. Right shows up with an umbrella at the street corner where you catch his eye enough for him to walk you to work. You give him your number. He calls. Dates ensue and one day he proposes and the two of you live happily ever after. Or, Ms. Right breaks the heel of her shoe in your vicinity and you offer (successfully) to carry her home to joyously discover that she’s not only the girl next door, but in those five to ten minutes of being together, has fallen madly in love with you. If, like me, you’re not THAT lucky (or charming even if umbrella guy or shoe girl does happen to show up), then you need to post that profile. ASAP. If you are like me, it won’t be unusual to find that online dating can be both a cyber curse (dud dates do exist) and also a cyber chance: I found Mr. Right three weeks after posting my profile.