If anyone had suggested I try internet dating, I would have given them a look of disdain, that would have spoken volumes. I had been in a long term relationship, and had been out of the dating game for awhile. Still, having heard from a friend or two that they?d taken that route, I openly told them how crazy I thought it was. Trying to get to know someone face to face was difficult enough , much less hidden behind a computer screen. They could be talking to just about anybody, I warned. They would have a profile, a picture/s, and the exchange of conversation via e-mail,or IM. It seemed more an opportunity for fantasy rather than reality.

Well I eventually ended my long term relationship, and found myself back in the world of dating once again. I had forgotten what it felt like to be single. In addition the big 40 was around the corner. When I was younger dating had been fun and exciting for me. I had done so with relative ease. Now it seemed a foreign concept to me. I had not expected to be doing the dating thing at this particular stage of my life, but here I was...

I work on line so I was always getting dating site invitations, and one day , as a lark I decided to try it. After all this was the perfect way to get my feet wet,(I convinced myself) or at least my big toe. I didn?t tell any of my friends of course, for all the obvious reasons. The site I chose offered a 30 day trial, just enough time to see what this whole on line dating thing was all about. I put together what I thought was a pretty good profile, that expressed who I was without going into the deeper parts of myself, and I also posted a picture.(You get more responses that way)

I was extremely flattered by the amount of mail I found I?d received the following day, and so my journey began in the "Art of the Internet Dating Dance". lol. It took a long time for me to feel at ease with the whole process. I actually felt like I was on a first date the first time a potential suitor instant messaged me. lol. I would eventually get the hang of it, and found myself chatting to more than a few gentleman over the period of a year. I had several long distance connections in my first few attempts, which made it easy for me to take things slowly. However after awhile , you begin to want more than that. I eventually did date; taking all the procautions I felt I should. The internet, was to me, a bit riskier than the regular dating scene.

Just like in the normal channels of dating you have those who have less than honorable motives. There trying to make a "different" kind of connection. I still have not found that special guy I'm looking for on or off the internet, but I'm checking out all avenues by which I might meet that special someone. However, on line of late, I've been experiencing a large amount of extremely handsome fake pictures presented to me, a collection of very horny guys, and a strange amount of young male admirers(flattering, but not my speed).

I am definitely considering cutting this experience short, and exclusively going back to meeting men the old fashioned way. You know, unnecessary supermarket trips, clubbing, church mixers, or when all else fails, coffee(I don't drink it) at Starbucks. At the end of all this, it still boils down to finding what works for you; and if that's internet dating, then have at it. Just make sure to always use sound judgement, and good safety measures when chatting on line, or meeting in person. It's very easy to get caught up when were dealing with affairs of the heart, but remember not everyone is on line with good intentions...

Faith McDermott is an aspiring writer, and the current webmaster for We Can-2 (http://www.wecan.internetbasedfamily.com) A site for women to network together to find information/resources to improve themselves, and each other.