I don't know if we've debated this or not. Oh well.

So, online dating... is it as real as offline dating?

Well, everyone knows this golden law of the internet: You never know who's on the other end. If a heterosexual guy thinks he's talking to a girl, and he finds that he shares many interest with her, and then he finds out its some dude, i'm sure that kills the point of online dating.

I have nothing against online daters. They can do what they want. Bu there's a difference between shared experience in common dating and "talking and getting to know each other" in the alternative.

I have never met an online dater in my life, so I'm not... the most informed about how things work. But I'm sure they can make it "real." I guess shy people will find it easier to talk about themselves online, so the dating thing works both ways.

But personally, I'd rather not do any online dating. I'd rather meet someone in person and spend time with them that way.

By the way, the title for this thread rocks.

ive met someone from the net ...someone my mate vaguely knew ..chatted to him for quite a while and my m8 gave him my address which i werent realy up4...he turned up out the blue 1 night and i did get on with him...saw him for about 6 months and fell pregnant..all was well...tht was until i foud out he had a girlfriend in another town who was also pregant....never again !!

But shit, that stuff can happen in "real life" too. I understand that it's easier to lie (and sorry about what happened to you hiphop), but people have this theory drilled into their heads that you can never know a person online which is completely ridiculous.

So my views on online relationships are as positive as offline ones. However you can meet someone you care for is fine with me. And more and more people agree because more and more people are signing up to online dating websites. I think it gets a lot of unnecessary and retarded flack (YOU CAN'T GET A PERSON IN REAL LIFE), when really it's the same as offline relationships. People lie, people don't lie. It's life, I can lie to someones face really well.

true but people online can make a 'persona' and be wht they lik e2 b..whereas if u meet sum1 in real life u knw who n wht they r ..prob not totaly but more likely to gte the jist of who they r etc

It's true that online dating attracts perverts and whatnot, and it's true that it's much easier to lie online, but I think that online dating works as well as face-to-face dating. Eventually you need to meet them in person anyway, so the real difference is how you meet the person. If you are a pervert trying to rape someone, you could use online dating to do so, but otherwise you would just pluck someone off the streets and rape them, wouldn't you?

Something I've done my share of in the past.

I've met amazing people online, some of my best friends. I think it CAN work. Stress that, CAN work. I've had both sides. I've had online relationships that lasted, like, a month. And then poof, someone in real life showed up. I've had them that have lasted upwards of two-and-a-half years. And then poof, someone in real life showed up. Just like in face-to-face relationships, it makes you question your worth. You feel things, emotions, the exact same way. The only thing that is missing at that point is the physicality, which for some people is a big issue.

I don't think I'd ever do it again. I had the experience, fine, I just don't think it's for me anymore.

I personally prefer real dating over online dating. I am not saying that there is 100% chances that the person you will date will turn out to be a perv. You can always talk to that person on the phone and check if the other person is old or not. Then another option available to clearify your doubt is webcam.

Real dating is preferred because you can meet the partner in person, hold him/her, kiss/hug etc which is not possible in an online dating. It will feel great in the start of online dating but as soon as time passes, you will get bored of it and start searching someone in real life.

Wow I took that the wrong way for a minute. Hah. Now who has the sick mind?

I think that it is better to meet someone face to face, and take it form there.