Online Dating - Not Just For The Socially Unstable?

Recently I have entered the often formidable world of online dating. In the past this form of dating has been deemed strictly for the fat, ugly, socially inept, psychopaths amongst us but I can assure that this is no more.

I have been on dates with more men in the past 6 months than, well...ever. Granted, not all of these men were fantastically good looking, charming and suave but they beat most of the guys that I meet in a drunken frenzy in a nightclub. I met plenty of guys whose chiselled good looks and fantastic bodies could have happily graced my bed sheets with their company (and sometimes they did) so why were they on these sites? Many of them were the same as me, shockingly it turns out that some men too are looking for 'that special someone' and turns out that the place to do that isn't necessarily your local. A common feature amongst them also tended to be that they came from largely male-orientated jobs such as the army, RAF, navy or fire-fighters which was absolutely fine by me; it certainly didn't hurt their abs anyway.

Meeting the first of these guys was slightly daunting but strangely I felt relatively calm considering the circumstances - it was only after this that my friend pointed out American articles of the Craigslist killer, it was nice of her to hold off.

When I met Richard I was surprised, he was good looking, well dressed and well mannered, the conversation was easy and he even paid. I was shocked to find out that he had been at the same school as me just a few years above me but then living in such a small area this could easily happen. We went on a few dates and had a good time but ultimately there just wasn't that spark and I guess we didn't really fancy each other, it was the most civilised and mutual break up I have had. But this was just the start. Having been on so many dates now that I can't even count, I have only once been disappointed by the look of the guy standing waiting outside the restaurant. I have dated charming, intelligent, good looking guys, guys who I thought were out of my league even - who actually wanted relationships - I was starting to think such a species didn't even exist.

Turns out now that in an ever growing world which is supposedly getting smaller and more interlinked, that people are still craving companionship and finding new ways of doing so. I have heard the rumours too, but I can assure you with first-hand experience, there are plenty of good looking 'normal' people dating online. Every race, religion, colour and creed is using the internet to find love, it’s not just for the over 40s divorcee. I am yet to find 'that special someone' but until I do, the free meals, coffees and cinema trips with wonderfully attractive company will do.