Archive for Dating Tidbits

Online dating: showing more efficiency in love searching?

Online dating is also known as Internet dating or net dating service. This is an instance of the so-called dating system that allows individuals, couples or groups to meet up online and probably develop a sexual or romantic relationship.

An online dating service provides un-moderated matchmaking. This is called such because it is being done by means of personal computer use, cell phones and the Internet.

These kinds of services for online dating generally let people to give personal information and also search for other individuals who uses the same criteria like location, gender and age range.

Most online dating sites allow its members to post photos of them and also browse the pictures of other members. Online dating websites sometimes provide additional services like online chat, message boards and webcasts. Websites occasionally let people to be part of for free yet other websites also offer the same online dating service which entail monthly membership fees.

Many sites for online dating are broad-based, with its members coming from a diversity of background, with one goal – to look for various categories of relationships. There are other online dating sites however, which are more particular, according on its member types, desired relationship, location and interests.

The rising trend

Interestingly, a study revealed that United States residents spend about $469.5 million in 2004, for online personals and dating. This is the next largest paid content segment over the web. The study was conducted by OPA or Online Publishers Association as well as comScore Networks.

The Hitwise In. research has also showed that by November 2004, 844 dating and lifestyle sites were established, showing a 38% increase ever since the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, market share has been increasing in domination through few large business services that includes Match.com, Yahoo! Personals, eHarmony and American Singles. By the year 2007, ltos of prominent researches show that the site, Baby Boomer has soared in popularity.

Of late, online dating usually props web camera chats between the members of the dating websites. This provides more convenience. Additionally, the population of online daters has become larger, with sites that have certain demographics to narrow down the group of possible matches.

According to a forecast of an article from 2002 Wired magazine, the idea of love looking over the Internet will get silly, perhaps twenty years starting today. Serendipity will become the inefficient market hallmark. The market of love will become more competent.

Love At First Sight: Is It Possible?

Many people believe in love at first sight. For some people, they may have had experiences with relationships that were based on falling in love when they first met someone. There are differing opinions throughout the world in regards to knowing the person you just met is “the one” and whether or not it is possible. The problem is that there is no direct research or information available to prove or disprove the theory of falling in love instantly. Therefore, it is more of an individual belief and is based on how each person perceives things.

Emotional attachment at first sighting is when you have a very strong, immediate connection to someone as soon as you see them. There does not have to be a single word uttered. You see this person and there is an immediate need to be with them. These feelings do not go away. If you are truly meant to be with someone, there is really no way to get rid of the feelings associated with that.

Although it is called love at first sight, there are some instances where the feelings involved do not actually include love. There will always be some sort of very strong emotional bond however. Whether it is love, longing, or just sexual energy, something is going to exist between you and the other person. This can all be termed love at first sight. It can also be the doorway to a happy, lasting relationship.

There are more and more people that say that their relationships were based on love at first sight. For example, look at the commercials that eHarmony has all over the television right now. These people say that they knew right away that the person they met was the one that they were meant to be with.

Some of these couples have been together for years now and are still very happy in their relationships and committed to each other. The interesting thing about these people is that they initially had first sight through photos of each other on the internet. Many people see this as a very strong testimonial to the fact that love at first sight does indeed exist and is a very strong power.

Emotional bonding when meeting someone can happen anywhere, at any time. You could be walking down the street and see someone that you are immediately emotionally charged about. Perhaps, you are at work and a co-worker, customer, or salesperson walks by. Or, maybe you are browsing profiles on an online dating site. All of these scenarios have the potential for bonding strongly with the special one. There are no set rules about where or how the connection can occur. It is very open and very broad. This is in reality what increases skepticism about the realness of love at first sight.

There have been many books and educational materials published on the topic of love at first sight. While none of these people are experts, they all have their own knowledge to offer. Some of the writers and people, which discuss this topic are people that claim to have had first hand experience with relationships that were based on love at first sight.

Understanding Online Dating

Online dating has gone a long way. During the early and mid-1990s, there are already 16 dating websites listed in Yahoo!. There were already web sites dedicated for sad people to meet and talk. In fact, meeting on the internet became an important factor in the 1998 movie You’ve Got Mail. Some would say that social networking sites were products of early dating sites.

But it was not always smooth sailing for this service. Online dating sites experienced slow growth during 2001 and 2002, but is now fully recovered. It has become one of the most lucrative online businesses, nowadays. According to web measurement firm comScore Media Metrix, about 39 million Americans or 26% of web users have visited dating websites in December 2003. Online dating and relationship is attracting more people since they are less intimidating compared with the normal dates. In fact, in a survey conducted by The Sunday Times, 72 % of women and 52% of men have had online romance.

With a huge following, the revenues are also increasing. In 2001, web users spent a total of $72 million on dating services, according to the Online Publishers Association. In 2002, the figures increased three times, people spent $302 million on personal paid advertising and dating services. Online dating services welcomed the first half of 2003 with a bang. Revenues were already $214.3 million in just six months of that year.

Online dating sites would allow users to search their database for possible love matches. The sites may recommend matches, but the users are still given the choice to communicate with them or look for other possible matches. These sites offer different ways to connect with other users like online chats, internet calls (voice over internet protocol), games, webcasts and message boards. Sites may be free or may require members to pay monthly fees.

The increase of online dating followers can be attributed to different factors.
• Potential choices. There are a lot of members of dating sites and a lot of possible matches. This would give you a bigger opportunity in finding true love.

• Compared with going out on “real” dates, online dating is relatively more inexpensive.

• In a way, online dating sites provide you a great way of learning about other people more intensively without fear of embarrassment of rejection. For shy people, this would help them learn about the other person without fear of being humiliated.

If others consider online dating a great opportunity, others may regard this risky. There are some free sites who would claim their success in online dating, however, these sites would also attract huge numbers of scammers and prevents since they are free. In a study by the University of Texas Health Science Center, women who are up to online dating are vulnerable of stalking, fraud and sexual violence. There are also users who would fall victims to people who would assume a different kind of personality just to attract other people or any response.

Online dating sites are not perfect since they may also encounter some problems. For example, some sites would fail to update their database. They would claim a large number of members when majority are inactive. Others would complain because some profiles are just used as “baits” that are used to attract more members. There are also some sites which use their member’s email address to send spam.

Online dating is all about chance in getting love and relationship. Some would get lucky, while others may be unsuccessful. After all, the game of love is a risky game whether it is online or offline.

Sexy Older Women Dating Younger Men – Cougars Abound

There is a current trend of older women dating younger men.  The popular term for such women is “cougars.”  Celebrity women who have reached a certain age are finding happiness with younger guys.  Demi Moore is perhaps the leading example of this trend as she married Ashton Kutcher who was 15 years her junior.  Madonna was married to Guy Richie (10 years younger) and when she split with him, she hooked up with Alex Rodriguez (15 years younger) and most recently Jesus Luz (28 years younger)

Older women find younger men appealing for several reasons.  Cougars tend to be successful career women.  They have high level executive positions in major firms or own their own businesses.  Many men their own age are threatened by their successes.  Younger men, who were raised in a more egalitarian era, are likely to be supportive of the women in their lives.

Older women dating younger men also point to their partner’s youthful outlook on life.  These men aren’t jaded about things like their older counterparts are.

Then there is the sex.  Women peak sexually in their late 30s and into their 40s while men reach their greatest performance levels at age 19 and then decline.  Many women feel that they missed out on something when they were younger and more inexperienced.  The sexual prowess of a younger man is quite attractive to many women in their 30s and 40s.

But, the older women dating younger men trend works both ways.  Many younger men find dating an older woman to be very rewarding.

Part of the attraction is certainly sexual.  A mature woman knows her body.  She knows what pleases her and she is not afraid to take the lead in the bedroom.  Guys find this confidence to be quite the turn on.

Young men who date financially secure older women are also more likely to be able to chart their own path in terms of a career.  There is less pressure to make money now when a woman can foot some of the bills.  Many men dating cougars have found that they can return to graduate school or start a business – risks that wouldn’t be possible if they were dating women their own age.

Men are also likely to appreciate that older women are more emotionally mature and less needy.  There is quite a bit less drama in a older women dating younger men relationship.  After a fight, an older woman is less likely to call her sister or her best friend to rehash the experience.  She’ll likely go to bed and tell her boyfriend they can discuss it in the morning.

One of the challenges in these cougar relationships is over fertility.  An older women usually either already has children or doesn’t want them.  Many of these relationships break up because the man wants the chance to be a father.  If you can weather that storm, the relationships tend to be unusually strong.

Because of societal trends, the older women dating younger men movement is not likely to go away any time soon.

5 Stages Of Courtship

In any and all courtships, there are five stages of non-verbal communication that occur. No matter what culture, society, or demographics that a person has, they will always follow these stages in their courtship. Let’s take a look at the five stages and what is involved with each one.

The first stage in courtship is getting attention. You want to let people know that you are single and looking. You do this through your posture, movements, facial expressions, clothing, and other forms of communication that are all non-verbal. You are getting attention in a very subtle way.

Your second stage is learning to read body language. After you have gotten attention, you need to start looking for positive signs from those around you. You are looking for who is responding to your signs asking for attention. Who recognizes your non-verbal cues and is in tune enough to show an interest in them? These are all things that you will see in the body language of the people that are around you. This can tell you a lot about whom to move on to the next stage of courtship with.

In the third stage, verbal communication is introduced. Once you know who is interested, you can start talking with them. However, this stage is also mostly centered on non-verbal communication. There are many things that can be implied by simply saying, “Hello” to someone. It is all in body language and tone of voice.

You can get a good understanding of how things are progressing by what is not being said. Pay close attention to the non-verbal signs that people are giving off. If you see cues that are saying the person is definitely interested, it is much easier to approach them and say Hello. It is also much less frightening and awkward this way.

The fourth stage of courtship involves physical touch. This stage can be very subtle and start out completely innocently. There could be an accidental brushing up against someone or an accidental touch. The response that is received is what will determine where this stage goes. If the person is not interested in taking things further, their non-verbal communication will clearly display this. They will give off clear signs that they have no interest in what is going on. There are different time frames for this stage to last. It is different for each individual couple and their unique situations.

The last stage in courtship involves adding intimacy and sex to the relationship. Once again, as with the first four stages, the non-verbal cues should be your guide in moving forward in this stage. Cuddling, gazing, stroking, kissing, holding hands and other ways to show and display affection will all present themselves during this stage.

If you do not see these signs from your partner, then you are not both ready to move into this stage. When people are intimate with each other, their body language will be very clear. However, their voice and tone will change as well. After all, tone of voice and how we speak can go a long way towards letting our partner know how interested we are in them and how much we desire them and the intimacy that is to follow.