Meeting people at your local café or movie theatre can be a hassle at times. I mean, you’ve got a lot of questions like “What profession might he have?” or “Is she single?”, so it seems much easier to set up a dating profile online. Looking at the pros and cons of meeting people through different platforms, I’ll allow you to decide for yourself which strategy is better: meeting people in person or through dating websites.
Biography
I’ve already mentioned this one, but this is pretty important: a person’s biography might just give you a glance at what the person’s hobbies, beliefs and career before you “swipe right.” Dating websites also often have a personality quiz you can take which automatically shows people with similar interests.
Pros:
Knowing that you have mutual interests can be important in starting a relationship as you’ll have more topics to talk about and more places to go where you’ll both have a good time. Their career also takes a large toll on their life, like how many hours they might spend away (e.g. doctors need to be on call at any time), so it can be important to know these details beforehand.
Cons:
Discussing your interests and careers are fun topics to have on your first date; knowing everything about one another before you meet isn’t just a little awkward, but it’s also kind of boring.
Distance
Before you get into a relationship, it’s not only important to know what they like and what they do, but also whether you’re getting into a long-distance relationship. That may not be something you’re eager to commit to. Remember that meeting someone at your local coffee shop doesn’t assure you that they live in the same area; they could be travelling from out of town.
Pros:
Meeting singles in your area is a desensitized slogan at this point. You’ve seen it on ads and posters almost everywhere you go, but hey, isn’t it a good point? How easy is it to find someone who’s available and a convenient drive away without getting turned down or finding out they’re too far? Dating websites like Tinder and OKCupid automatically search for people who might catch your interest that are also a reasonable distance from you.
Cons:
Who says that the guy or girl you’re looking for is going to be within your area? Sometimes (and I mean this in the most literal of terms), you need to expand your horizons. There are over seven billion people in the world; there’s a good chance that the perfect one for you isn’t within the 50 km radius.
Cost
When signing up to a website, you have to remember that there are certain terms and conditions that you have to consider and know that sometimes it’s going to cost you. Just last year, the dating industry was worth $2.4 billion dollars, and the revenue’s been increasing by a steady 5% annually.
Pros:
They say that beauty costs and evidently, so does love. Getting into a relationship comes with a lot of commitment, so it’s also understandable to know that finding one will also charge you. After all, can you really put a price on love?
Cons:
Well, it depends: how much are you willing to spend on a dating website? Two of the chief subscription websites are eHarmony and Match, both requiring hefty monthly payments; Match costs $56 (CAD) monthly while eHarmony costs $80 (CAD). Maybe you can’t put a price on love, but it sure would be cheaper meeting someone down the street!
Safety
Not only will dating websites cost you monthly, but also, what effect will it have on your safety? When you were young, you probably heard your parents say to you, “Don’t talk to strangers” or “Don’t trust everything you read on the internet.” You may be old enough now to be eligible for a dating website, but don’t think that their advice has long expired. Remember that online, not everything you read is true, and that people can create or alter themselves the way that they want to be seen.
Pros:
Meeting someone online helps you get a brief insight of how the person’s attitude or personality may be. Did they start off with a sweet compliment or a quick “ASL?” Did they treat you with respect or did they act coldly? Sometimes, people online aren’t willing to waste time pretending to be someone they’re not because they can hide behind their screen or log off at anytime. This also makes them easier to turn down.
Cons:
Putting your information online doesn’t come with a guarantee of privacy, no matter what the dating websites might say to convince you otherwise. Whatever you say or do online will always be traceable. For example, Avid Life Media is a Canadian organization that runs a popular website “Ashley Madison”, which was caught in a scandal last July. Over 37 million users’ information was released, including their credit card information and personal, intimate details by a group of hackers called “Impact Team”. This is proof that you should think twice before you trust the website’s 100% privacy guarantee.
Have you decided your preference yet? If not, don’t worry because I’ve got one final detail that will make or break your decision on whether or not you are willing to keep/make a dating profile and perhaps it’s the simplest reason of all.
Breaking Tradition
Signing up for a dating website is the modern way of finding a relationship in a clear and easy way. It may be breaking the tradition of meeting someone in person kept up for millennia but as technology advances, this evolvement is to be expected in all our traditional views and exercises.
Pros:
Hiding behind the screen helps take away the tension of admitting to someone that you find him or her attractive in person. I mean, have you ever asked for a person’s number in real life? It’s terrifying! You can’t hide your blush as you await their answer, and it’s also extremely awkward if they say no. Also, setting up a website you can check on the go is extremely convenient for people who have a busy schedule and don’t have time to be out looking for a relationship.
Cons:
Finding a relationship online takes away the tension, but it also takes away the chemistry. You’d be lucky to find a fairy-tale in which prince charming swiped right for his “Tinderella.” Though it can be risky at times, finding someone in real life before examining them through social media can be romantic and passionate.
Looking at the pros and cons of finding love online may help sort out these complicated scenarios, but the best way for knowing which way you’d like to go is experiencing love through both scenarios. If you are willing to sign up, remember to be considerate of the risks and costs that comes with these platforms, and if not be mindful of the tension that comes with meeting someone outside the internet.
