Online Dating: iVillage Community

Looking for advice about online dating? From profile tips to decoding emails to getting through that first face-to-face meeting, compare notes with other online daters right here!

I began online dating 8 months ago. Online dating is a thrilling, frustrating, amazing, confusing, amusing, aggravating, heartbreaking and exciting roller coaster ride. The only people who can really understand the highs and lows of this "meet market" phenomenon are those with the shared experience. When my last online dating relationship ended, I spent more time reading the messages on the Online Dating board, and I realized I was not alone. My issues were universal. I jumped in and started posting. I was overwhelmed by the sense of community and support I found here. This is an amazing board. We're all hopeful romantics and ultimately there is a pay-off in the end. I'm hooked.

-- cheleinsf

I can't believe I started online dating a year ago February! When I first did a search in my area, about 10 "pages" of profiles came up. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw that there were so many men, all in my neighborhood, who were decent looking, hetero, financially sound, active, loved to travel, laughed all the time, seeking friendship-leading-to-LTR. With those numbers, I figured I'd have a boyfriend within a couple of months. Ha!

Then I took a look at what they were looking for. Never in my wildest dreams did I figure that my age would work against me (I was only 45), that men actually dislike flesh on a woman, that I should have "no baggage" (I mean, hello?, I've lived a life, you know?), that I would be able to fly off to Timbuktu with a day's notice, that I would be financially, emotionally and spiritually independent (which makes me wonder what I would need them for?).

I don't think I could keep a positive attitude about online dating (OLD) without the advice I've read on the Online Dating board.

-- amjay45