Dating is something people have been involved in for centuries. Although the format of dating, its rules and etiquette have undergone numerous transformations, still the aim stays the same – to get to know each other better and figure out whether this person could be the one. We all know that a dating stage is inevitable since there is no other way you can build a relationship. That is why people date.
Today, the Internet has become a big facilitator in joining singles. With a variety of online dating websites and online dating apps, you can find your love or at least a candidate for dating without even going outside. While several decades online dating was generally frowned upon and was available only to those who had access to the Internet, today virtually everyone can go online and use the Web to find their love. It’s no longer considered improper.
To Each His Own
We must admit that we live in two worlds – the real one and the virtual one. And we tend to be better versions of ourselves when we are in the online world. Many people feel more comfortable doing things and communicating with other people via social networks and messaging apps that have become a part of our daily lives. At the same time, psychologists say that real-life interactions are more beneficial to our mental health. Meeting people at online dating sites is a perfect option for busy and shy personalities. For the former, it means they can use it whenever they have time for it while the latter enjoy the comfort of indirect communication. Some people use dating services just for fun. Others go there with a clear purpose in mind – to start a relationship.
Why do people resort to online dating? First of all, it’s a good way to become more experienced in dealing with the opposite sex. However, usually, people go online after they go through a series of unsuccessful offline dating experiences. Secondly, it provides more opportunities or offers a wider choice if you wish. It’s worth mentioning that the generation of Millennials can’t imagine their lives without dating sites and apps.
If you want to know what kind of dating is more effective, you should first get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Also, you should remember that sooner or later online dating (if it gets serious) grows into real-life dating. So, these two ways of building the relationships are interconnected. Now, check out the pros and cons.
Pros of Offline Dating
Mutual friends
Your friends can really influence your dating life. For example, your buddy can set you up on a date with his girlfriend’s female friend. It can be an arranged date or he can introduce you to her during a get-together. Also, if two people meet and then on their first date they find out they have friends in common, they immediately feel safer and closer. Their friends are like an invisible link between them. If you just met, you can be sure you’ll see each other during a group meeting.
Instant chemistry
In comparison with online meetings and dating, traditional dating is more efficient in terms of determining whether there is a spark between you two. Nothing can be more expressive than the body language and eyes. When you chat online, you can only see the profile of your date and assess how interesting the person is. You use only your eyes for perceiving your interlocutor. The situation is different with offline dating. Here, you use all your sensations and it helps you decide whether this is a romantic or platonic feeling already after a first date or even during your initial meeting.
A real picture
Since people tend to enhance their online image, the way a person represents oneself in a profile can be different from who he or she really is. No matter how hard you try to seem better on a regular date, your true nature will reveal itself sooner or later. This is a major source of disillusionment when you meet a person online and start dating offline right away without a pre-dating series of chats. An obvious advantage of traditional dating is the opportunity to understand what kind of person you are dealing with almost at first sight.
An option for sociable people
For some people, dating in person is the only possible option. They don’t like to spend time at the screen and typing messages in chats. They simply like to talk and enjoy a real-life communication.
Cons of Offline Dating
It’s time-consuming
If you choose in favor of regular dating, you should realize that it requires a good chunk of time. In order to find someone for dating, you should leave your home or office at first and go to some public places such as bars, cafes, or parks. Those who have busy schedules often find it quite uncomfortable.
It’s stressful
When it comes to approaching girls, the most urgent question for most guys is how to find a date offline and the hardest part is to strike up a conversation. You don’t know whether a girl is in the right mood or whether she is single. So, a certain amount of embarrassment is unavoidable. Additionally, it’s always a problem to choose the right pickup line. Also, if you approach a girl in a public place, other people are the witnesses of your attempts.
The choice is small
Where can you find potential dates? Usually, we are tied to our social circles, so we look for possible candidates among our friends, their friends, and colleagues. Basically, your choice is limited to the city you live.
It’s a kind of blind dating
Well, blind dating is a separate kind of dating. However, it resembles traditional dating. Unlike online dating, you don’t have some basic information about your date and her goals before you embark on dating. That is why it takes some time to get to know your date better and find out whether you are compatible.
First impressions based on appearance
When we meet new people, the first thing we pay attention to is their looks. Men often focus on woman’s appearance and begin to be interested in their personal qualities only after that initial euphoria wears off. At dating sites, you first read your date’s profile (well, first you look at her profile photos) and correspond with the aim to establish the things you have in common.
Advantages of Online Dating
Convenience. While in real life you necessarily need to meet with your date at some romantic place and go out regularly, everything is much easier with Internet dating. You can meet women whenever you want. You can access your account from different devices and correspond with your online dates while commuting to work or during your lunch.
No stress. Online dating is a great way for shy guys to meet girls. Not only shy people benefit from it. Sometimes it’s difficult to get your thoughts together talking with a stranger. Online chats give you an opportunity to think about the questions you’d like to ask your date and give you some time to come up with a reply.
Wider choice. First, you have more potential dates to choose from. How many girls can you meet during your regular day? At a dating site, you can interact with dozens of them. Second, your date can be from a different city or country and nothing can prevent you from corresponding with her.
Compatible matches. It’s easy to get lost in the variety of candidates for dating. Just for this purpose, dating sites feature advanced search. You enter search criteria and the system shows you the most compatible matches.
Disadvantages of Online Dating
Dishonesty. The online environment always implies a certain level of risk. You can’t be sure that everything that a person writes in his/her profile is true. Also, some register at these sites just to have fun. Moreover, some people use dating sites for unlawful purposes. Here we speak about online dating scams.
Hard choice. It’s difficult to focus on one person when you know that there are many others and even better. It makes you write to new a new woman hoping that she will turn out to be an even better match.
Pickiness. Since you know there are so many good candidates in the pool, you let yourself be picky. Why should you compromise? However, when you limit your search criteria, you diminish your chances to find a good partner.
Cost. If you use paid dating sites, you pay almost for every click. Offline dating has an obvious advantage over online acquaintances since you meet people in real life for free.
There always will be opponents and advocates of online/offline dating. There can’t be a universal option because people are different. As you can see, both kinds have their pros and cons. The best option is to combine them. Start online to get to know your date’s personality and continue offline to develop your relationship.
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