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What was the particular dating incident or experience that made you want to try online dating?
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Megan, 24, Ann Arbor, Michigan I moved to a new city two years ago where I knew just a handful of people. I had just gotten out of a serious relationship and just graduated from college. I was interested in meeting men who were at similar points in their lives as a young professionals. While I was going out to bars and clubs in an attempt to meet men, I found it really difficult to meet "quality" people with similar interests. I use Yahoo! for email, photo storage, and messaging and figured why not post on their personals site. Immediately upon posting I received numerous emails and Icebreakers from men who genuinely seemed to be on the same page with dating, ready to meet new people. I've widened my circle of friends and gone on some great (and not so great!) dates in the process! |
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John, 35, Chicago, Illinois I decided to try online dating because much of the time bars and clubs are filled with "game faces." Although attractive, many also seem intimidating and uninviting. Online dating allows you to read profiles and actually learn a bit about someone which helps to see beyond that initial "look." |
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Linda, 28, Houston, Texas We first met on a Saturday. Played pool Monday and Tuesday. I was asked to put a phone in my name Wednesday (yeah, right). Thursday, I was begged to co-sign for a truck (did I look gullible?). Friday I received hundreds of messages proclaiming his love (I think he needs psychological help). Saturday, I never heard from him again (thank the Lord). |
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Matthew, 31, Minneapolis, Minnesota There was no particular incident or experience, but seeing my sister marry a great guy she met online simply gave me the incentive to give it a shot for the first time. |
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Julie, 38, Santa Monica, California I had a friend who was trying online dating and he just got me to try it. |
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Mike, 44, La Grange Park, Illinois I tried it because I have certain things that I look for in a woman and Yahoo! Personals has them laid out for you in their profiles. Using it also it cuts way down on time, it's a time saver. |
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Kari, 29, Chicago, Illinois Actually, it was one of my close friends who got me to take a second look at online dating. We decided to meet for drinks and dinner one night -- she brought someone she had met on Yahoo!, and I brought someone I had recently met at a club. After meeting my friend’s date, I was so impressed with his looks, personality, intellect and his overall compatibility with her (much more-so than me and my date!). I decided right then and there to give online dating, specifically Yahoo! Personals, a chance. |
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Daniel, 26, Antioch, California When I was told about Yahoo! Personals one day by a friend, I realized that there are actually normal and interesting people online nowadays. I was always curious about online dating, but at first I thought it was a bit weird. As I started meeting more and more strange people on my Saturday nights at the clubs however, I figured what did I have to lose? The people I meet on Yahoo! Personals tend to be more real than the people I meet elsewhere, not to mention more open to finding true love. |
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Ruth, 49, Kennesaw, Georgia After my divorce, I knew that I needed to get myself back out there. I had no desire to go looking in bars, so felt this would be a great way to meet new people. Not only have I had dates with some great guys, but have made some wonderful new lifetime friends. |
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Greg, 26, Fort Myers, Florida I think it was shortly after I got out of a horrible two-year relationship and was getting back into the bar scene. I realized one night that I was seeing the same crowd at every bar and nightclub I went to and was not ever going to break out of that routine with the people I was meeting. |
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Dawn, 29, Saint Paul, Minnesota The bar scene is tried, tested and very old news! I figured it was time to try something different. In fact, a friend of mine insisted that I try it. She shared her success with online dating with me and was convinced that I would have the same luck! |
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Hugo, 32, Wake Forest, North Carolina Well I owe my whole online dating experiences to a friend of mine who actually set up a profile for me. She insisted that I give it a shot and so I went along with it. I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about it until I started receiving messages. I tweaked up the profile, added more pictures and was hooked. Thanks to her and to Yahoo! Personals I've managed to meet some great people! |
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Doug, 44, Tucson, Arizona There was no one incident. Online, you know that everyone is looking for someone for something. At the grocery store, work, a bar, wherever, you rarely know for sure if people are looking. It can take a lot of effort to find out, and can be embarrassing too! Online, it’s pretty much all there for someone to to see. |
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Amy, 38, Santa Clara, California I had tried a dating service. I went on eleven first dates in seven months -- no second dates. I decided to take matters into my own hands and joined the world of online dating. |
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Ryan, 25, Santa Monica, California When I graduated from college, I moved across the country from the East Coast to California. I didn't know anybody, and online dating turned out to be a great way to meet new people and learn more about the area and fun places to go. You also get to meet people you never would run into in your day to day life. From that standpoint, it makes sense to try it, whether you're new to an area or you've lived there for years. |
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Jessica, 26, Bordentown, New Jersey My first experience with online dating was through a friend who would use it as a "boyfriend shopping" tool. Soon enough, I was tired of just watching and wanted to be an active participant, so I created my profile. |
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Lance, 37, Columbus, Ohio No single incident initiated this approach, but I realized I was wasting a lot of time and money on the wrong type of women. This was a more practical approach. |
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Emily, 23, Henderson, Nevada I decided to try online dating for lack of a better place to meet people. The bar scene is overrated and dating someone you work with can have nasty consequences. I started to think that the only place I could potentially meet someone would be during my weekly trip to Target! There is still somewhat of a stigma surrounding online dating but I truly believe that if I am doing it then other decent people are doing it, too. My experience so far has been very positive and I have met great people. |
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Christopher, 27, Charlotte, North Carolina I actually got interested in online dating because of browsing profiles of people I found to be interesting and attractive. This prompted an interest in online dating for me. |
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Susan, 34, Atlanta, Georgia I realize this answer is cliché but I was tired of the bars and clubs and the lack of quality people you tend to meet there. I figured online dating would be a great alternative and for meeting people I wouldn’t otherwise encounter in my everyday life. |
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Jacob, 26, Houston, Texas I was coming out of my last relationship (nearly five years long) and trying a relaxed approach to putting myself back out on the market. At the same time I was trying to heal some emotional wounds. I truly came out of it a better man and just felt like Yahoo! Personals was a safe way to occupy the strange, new freedom I had while building my self esteem up at the same time by receiving flattering messages from potential dates. |
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Doug, 30, Atlanta, Georgia I wanted to try on line dating because I was in a new city and I just got out of a 3-1/5 year relationship which was also my first gay relationship. I needed some direction on what I should do and my best friend helped me out with this new option which was on line. |
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Aubrey, 22, Wheaton, Illinois Meeting men at bars or other various "singles hangouts" left too much room for only paying attention to someone's physical attributes. Online dating allows you to tailor your searches to really find out the things about a person that would make you two a potential fit. It's not just about their appearance, and in a bar or other setting that is all you can initially go off of. |
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Carl, 35, Foxboro, Massachusetts I saw my friend Dave going out with all kinds of women who actually wanted to meet someone. I though if he can do it, so can I. I would meet one or two women at a time at a bar. Using the Internet would give me many more responses and choices with regard to the women I was meeting. |
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Nina, 22, Chapel Hill, North Carolina I had a slew of bad dating experiences. It always seemed to work at first but when I got to know the person better we just clashed. I wanted to try something new, where I could at least a little about the person's personality, likes and dislikes, etc., before I even make the first move to spark up a conversation. |
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Scott, 43, Cedar Park, Texas I tried online dating on the recommendation of a friend. Being a single parent, I don't get the opportunity to meet ladies in a setting that works for me. Live music settings are a big part of the Austin scene, but there's an intrinsic credibility problem with meeting someone in a bar or a night club. I do meet many people through work, but most professionals don't mix business with their personal lives. So far, I'd rate the experience as surprisingly good. I've met a great diversity of women, and I've found positive things about everyone. |
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Michelle, 32, Rochester, New York I had no particular experience that made me want to try online dating. I just decided that in this new era, it is always fun to try new things and it sounded like a fantastic idea. I tried it and I found that it is an amazing way, especially for busy people, to get to know new people without ever leaving home. I think it is fun and I have not only dated, but I have met good friends and reconnected with old ones. |
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Wes, 30, Bloomington, Minnesota It wasn't necessarily a dating incident or experience that triggered it. It was more the result of my inactivity in the dating arena. My workload at the office has left me little time to meet new people. One day, I simply decided that a more unorthodox venue could improve my dating opportunities. I've received some great responses and have met some wonderful women in the process. |
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Ross, 35, Lawrenceville, Georgia Dating from bars and clubs is so difficult because you really don’t know anything about a person, and sometime it takes a long time to dig any information out. At least online, if you see something about her that you do or don’t like, you can make a decision about her before ever meeting her. It’s just a great way to filter your choices. |
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