Internet dating 101

The first thing anyone who is not familiar with using dating websites like Plenty of Fish or OkCupid should know is that it is reminiscent of a meat market.  People look at your profile and judge you based on a few pictures, and some sample phrases about your likes and dislikes.  It's through this tiny little page about yourself that people make the decision as to whether you are worth talking to via e-mail or messaging.

Let's be honest here, no one is going to write anything negative about themselves in the short blurbs, so they are incredibly misleading.  Even when someone writes the truth about themselves, you can't get an accurate description of what the person is like just through those pictures and words alone.  That being said, I am very guilty of what I like to call "sneak judging."

Sneak judging is where you go to someone's profile, take a look at their pictures, and what they have to say about themselves, and simply move on.  What causes me to move on is pretty simple:

• Horrible language -- including but not limited to poor spelling, bad punctuation, improper grammar and "cute" internet speak (omg, lol, how r u, etc).
• Age -- Yes, I understand that in this day and age (no pun intended) age isn't as big of an issue as it was years past.  Still, if I see a 40 year old who still lives at home with Mom & Dad, I skip to another profile as fast as my keyboard will allow me.
• Awkward and disturbing photos -- Pictures of men cuddling with cats who are their "best friend" and photos of a guy with his shirt off and pants half falling off is usually a tell-tale sign for trouble.  No dice.
• Bizarre "likes and dislikes" -- Examples include men who claim the most important thing in their life is sex, BSDM, Pepto Bismol or their cat.

Needless to say, I can be very fussy.  But consider this:  I am looking for the possible Mr. Violet.  I'm looking for someone who could possibly be the father of my children.  If I'm not willing to be fussy, then I'll end up settling, and for those of you who know me in the "real" world, we all know that did not go over very well.

So, throughout our time together, oh Blog-readers, be prepared as I share the hillarity I experience via these portals.  And to all you men out there who stumble across this:  beware, I may be mocking you.

-Violet