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What’s a Date? According to Webster’s Dictionary, a “date” is a social engagement between two persons where the couple gets to know each other and which often has a romantic character. There are significant differences in people from different cultures when it comes to relationships and naturally, this leads to a diversity in the rules and practices of dating.

Despite these differences, people all over the world actually have been found to have similar values, wants, desires, needs and go about getting them in comparable ways. So the actual act of “dating” has both similarities differences across the cultural divide.

Dating Begins at Different Ages
A teenager in Brazil will start dating as early as 13 or 14, while in Vietnam dating does not begin until around the age of 20. Russia also believes later is better. “You must have education first, and then you marry,” was the way one student from Russia put it. In Russia and Mexico, even in the 21st century, a boy must get permission from the girl’s parents before he is able to date her. In Brazil and Germany, this is not required.

Dating is not allowed at all in some countries such as Kuwait and Iran. In these states, the girl goes out with her parents and the guy goes out with his. They sit at different tables and with access to today’s modern gadgets, the couple texts each other from across the room. In several very religious cultures, marriages are arranged by the parents for the children. Sometimes, the bride sees the groom for the first time under the bridal canopy. And the concept of a “dowry” where the bride’s family brings hefty gifts to the wedding has never gone out of date and is still used to this day.

Modern Cultures
Of course, the freest and easiest dating scene can be found in the modern western countries-America, the UK and certainly the Scandinavian countries. Here can be found many dating variations and affiliation styles. Building a new relationship commences with meeting the other person-at a party, on line at the bank, at the checkout counter of the supermarket, through a friend, relation, business acquaintance, enrolling in an online dating service or slipping on the ice and being picked up by a total stranger. It can turn out to be quite romantic indeed.

The very act of dating has many variations. It can be as simple as sipping a cup of coffee at the local cafe or as elaborate as an expensive 4-course dinner and front row seats at a hit Broadway extravaganza. Dates can take place at sports events, classical music performances or ballet recitals. A walk in the park is old fashioned and sweet and can lead to deep conversations and closeness while discos and parties can eliminate conversation altogether.

So How will it End?
No matter how short or long it is, a date must come to an end some time. The way a date draws to a close is usually indicative of whether the relationship will continue. Many dates are ended with a wave of the hand and no commitment whatsoever. Others offer no clear indication by submitting to a peck on the cheek. And, of course, many dates top off the evening with a romp in bed.

This article was written by Darren Gladstone, UK Marketing Director of date.co.uk, part of the Spark Networks
online dating group. date.co.uk provides a safe a friendly meeting place for
UK singles and offers features including unique ‘Click’, Photo Albums and payment by mobile phone.

People are using the computer more and more to network with other people and they make friends all over the world. Friendships range from short and fleeting, a few conversations here and there to long lasting, firm friendships that last a lifetime. Communication is the main component of friendships and relationships and when communication is lacking, friendships - and relationships - die.

Social networking on websites like Facebook and MySpace has opened up the door for people to meet from all over the world. While fast friendships are formed through these social networks, they are not the best place to find someone you could be interested in dating.

Many people use social networks exactly for that purpose, but unless you are consistent in your communications on the site, you will find that the friendship or budding relationship will not last. Additionally, social networks tend to be a bit more specialized in their topics. Social forums and other websites usually attract people who have a lot of the same interests. For example, there are many social networking sites that are centered on favoured football teams, like Liverpool or Portsmouth. People who frequent these sites go there to talk about football games, players, and other things that relate to the team. Are these people here looking for a romantic relationship? Not usually.

People who frequent these social networking sites usually use them to also keep in touch with friends. Many Facebook accounts and MySpace pages are made by people to share their lives with their friends and family, allowing them to put up pictures of their family members and other information. Social networks are for socializing, not really designed for the personal communications that romantic relationships entail.

What if you meet someone in your social network that you develop a crush on only to find out that they are not interested in looking for someone to date? Many people do not discuss their personal lives on social networks so if you should happen to meet someone that you develop a crush on that is married or in a relationship already and you express these feelings to them, who is going to feel foolish?

The answer? You are, and when the other person rebukes you - hopefully gently - you may find that the social network you once enjoyed so much has been tainted. More than likely you will permanently leave the network and other friends you have made there. If you really want to date online, then the best way to go about it is by using a reputable online dating website. Online dating websites are designed for you to meet people who are looking for a romantic relationship and are not there just to socialize. They are set up to protect you and your personal information while you meet and get to know someone you are interested in.

You and everyone else that uses an online dating service are screened by the site and placed in areas that you designate so that you meet people who you want to meet safely, discreetly, and confidentially.
When you use an online dating site, you will also be able to see pictures of the people you want to meet. They have their own profiles that allow them more freedom to post personal information they feel is pertinent to meeting a ‘date’. It also offers you a safe place to chat online, and if anything happens that sets off your red flags you can report the other person and have them monitored in necessary.

Best of all, if the other person gets a few strikes against them, they will politely be asked to leave and you can move on to someone else - assuming you have not been jaded by the experience.

Many of the well known online dating sites offer people from other countries to use services, hooking you up with someone from the country you live in. You cannot be guaranteed that you are speaking to someone else from the United Kingdom when you participate in conversations on social networking site. It would be a bit of a drag if you and someone you meet on a social networking site wind up being on the opposite ends of the world.

Online dating sites are paid services and you can meet people interested in dating on them. That is what they are designed for and you know that if someone approaches you in an effort to get to know you, they are hoping that you are their romantic match every time. Social networks simply cannot provide you with that assurance.

This article was written by Darren Gladstone, UK Marketing Director of date.co.uk, part of the Spark Networks online dating group. date.co.uk provides a safe a friendly meeting place for UK singles and offers features including unique ‘Click’, Photo Albums and payment by mobile phone.

New Year’s Resolution, 2009 is just around the corner and it is time for you to formulate a new outlook on dating. Make a resolution not to fall back on your old ways and be prepared to give your best effort to meet your match. Here is a list of tips and ideas for successful dating. Remember, with the right tools and a positive attitude, you can find the relationship you are dreaming about.

Write it Down…Be Happy

By now you have a pretty clear image of what you want in a mate. Try writing it all down so you can analyze it more carefully. It is important to find common ground right on the very first date or the whole relationship will fizzle quickly. Make sure you are both on the same page when it comes to values and beliefs. Have realistic expectations of your partner.

No one is perfect

Being confident and showing that you are happy with your life is of key importance, especially on a first date. You wouldn’t want to sit across from a miserable person so why would someone else? Think about your best attribute - intellect, humor, kindness - and focus on it for awhile. Walk into the room with a smile on your face. Scientists have found that smiling actually makes you feel happier.

Be Your Own Person

The worse thing you can do is to constantly compare yourself to other people. Dating is hit or miss and rejection - on either side - is inevitable. Relationships can be flamed by the tiniest spark. But not every person is going to be a successful fit with you. It doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you. It just means you haven’t found the right match. Decide that you are going to have a great time even if this isn’t “the one.”

When you return home, review the date in your mind and find the successes of the evening - a joke that elicited a laugh … a story that showed tremendous incite … a brilliant theory. Make sure you do the same on the next date. Also review all that went wrong during the date - the too loud laugh, the knocked over glass of wine … Promise yourself you won’t do THAT again ever.

Continue Your Search

Think positively and don’t give up. If this date didn’t pan out, keep trying. The key to successful dating is to take advantage of every opportunity. Widen your social network and let your friends and family know you’re dating. Online dating is a great way to quickly improve your chances of dating success because the profiles reveal so much about the person. You can also get to know the person over the phone or online without having to first meet face to face.

This article was written by Darren Gladstone, UK Marketing Director of date.co.uk, part of the Spark Networks
online dating group. date.co.uk provides a safe a friendly meeting place for
UK singles and offers features including unique ‘Click’, Photo Albums and payment by mobile phone.

In North America, online dating has become both a growing phenomenon and an integral part of culture. It has also taken on the world. Millions of participants from all around the globe express satisfaction, as well as amazement, over the many benefits that this child of technological advancement offers. Traditional dating has taken a backseat as many people try out modern dating settings, and dating in the age of the Internet has overcome the initial social stigma and is now enjoying mainstream acceptance. Agreeably and understandably, online dating also has its string of disadvantages but they are far outweighed by its advantages, which this article readily presents to you.

One of the most die-hard criticisms that online dating has received from pessimists is its supposed failure to form “chemistry” among two people who engage in only two-dimensional interactions. On the contrary, many online daters have provided testimonials on how lasting chemistry has more chances of happening in online dating because of the typical long courtship stage that involves serious communication. Moreover, even three-dimensional interactions, which take place in live dates, do not also guarantee instant chemistry, especially because shallow physical attraction precedes more important aspects in a strong relationship, including intellectual and emotional compatibility. In relation to this, daters no longer have to worry about bad hair days, pimples or zits, receding hairline, and other physical attributes that may prove fatal on a first live date.

Another benefit of online dating involves distance problems. A reliable Internet connection can be counted on to tear down geographical barriers and open a whole new world of travel, learning, and adventure to those who are willing to be swept away by the wonders of technology. Long-distance relationships can be effectively formed and can even be expected to thrive as interest and attraction develop further. Aside from geographical barriers, social class and gender are also overcome by the fact that everyone in online dating is in the same place to achieve the same purpose - to find a relationship, whether friendship, love, or just sexual encounters.

People who engage in online dating usually have a common goal: to find their perfect match. You can do this easily, thanks to sorting functions, search engines, match tools, profiles, and personality tests available in almost all dating websites. There are even specialist services that can find matches through specific information. For example, if you want a vegetarian doctor who has blue eyes and in the early thirties, you could type in this description and search and match features can give you the person you’re looking for in an instant. This definitely beats the hassle of going through a number of blind dates.

Finally, online dating is so much cheaper than going out on a live date. All you really need is a computer, an Internet connection, computer accessories (such as headphones and a webcam), and minimal membership fees (if you decide to subscribe to a particular dating website after enjoying a free trial period). You can get connected any time, night or day. You don’t have to shell out anything for a drink at the bar, a night at the movies, and/or a romantic dinner.

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Online dating is a form of dating that has been around for as long as the Internet has. The explosion of dating services on the worldwide web has created a new and fun way for people to meet, especially people who are lonely and are on the lookout for true love. Online dating has made millions of people happy for over a decade now and it is clearly here to stay. In fact, the number of people getting hooked on dating services has increased significantly in recent years. It is no secret that online dating has its share of disadvantages, but they are easily outweighed by the tempting advantages. However, in order to maximize full enjoyment of dating someone over the Internet, it’s best to employ strategies that continuously prove effective.

The first thing you need to think about is how to safeguard your privacy. No matter what advertisements for dating websites say about the efficiency of their security systems, nothing beats your own cautiousness. Never, ever give out personal information to prospective dates, no matter how attracted you are to them and no matter how nice and harmless they seem. Many participants of online dating have fallen victims to invasion of privacy because of their leniency and instant trust. Just like what you normally do on a “real” date, take the time to know someone over the Internet and, instead of giving out your personal details, simply decide to meet face to face.

When it comes to meeting face to face, what you should remember is to bring a friend to act as chaperon or, if you wish, spy on you from afar and make sure no harm comes your way. To be fair, you can also ask your date to bring a friend or chaperon. Again, many participants of online dating have experienced trouble - some even ended in fatal encounters - because of too much trust. The Internet affords psychopaths anonymity, which they can take advantage of to put others in serious danger. Of course, it goes without saying that public places are your best options to hold first-ever meetings or “eye ball.”

In online dating, you can score a date through your profile. Unlike in a “real” date, you don’t have to go through awkward flirting. Your profile can speak for you. Thus, your profile should include interesting bits of trivia about you, such as your interests, a list or description of your physical attributes (if you wish), hobbies, job, and your preferences in a partner. But your profile need not - and should not - contain any personal and compromising details. You don’t have to type in your email address and any other means of contacting you. If you wish, you can even be vague in your profile to create an aura of mystery and pique the interest of some participants of dating via the web.

Finally, make sure you log in and out of a dating website properly. This is especially important if you’re sharing computers, such as when you use a computer in a computer shop. If you leave your account open, you are attracting malicious minds to meddle with your affairs. Remember these tips and you can have a fun and safe time in the world of online dating.

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Online dating is perhaps the modern world’s most popular form of dating, with hundreds of millions of people getting more and more hooked every year. Personal ads first started in the 1720s. A lonely spinster in Manchester, England named Helen Morrison placed a lonely hearts ad in the local newspaper. Her little strategy earned her the ire of the town mayor, who sent her to an asylum. Over the centuries, personal ads became accepted and were generally placed in newspapers and magazines. In this age of the Internet, personal ads take the form of profiles, which lonely hearts place in dating websites to attract potential partners. But while online dating remains popular, it has not become less prone to threats. In order to fully enjoy the benefits of online dating, the following paragraphs provide tips you can count on.

Some people visit dating websites with a particular idea of the kind of dating service they want. This is a good thing because not all dating websites are created in the same way. In the same way that different bars or clubs attract different kinds of people, so is one dating website designed to suit the taste and needs of a certain group of people. You,ll figure out which dating website is perfect for you after you’ve read the profiles of members in all the dating websites you visit. It’s best to stick to those dating websites that more likely to house members that have more in common with you. This way, you can improve your chances of landing in a match made in heaven - or cyberspace, if you may.

It would do you good to avoid window-shopping. There are thousands upon thousands of possible matches for you, based on the profiles of dating website members. Because searches are likely to come back with heavy results, some people fall into the habit of collecting profiles in their folder for favorite pages. However, they rarely get to write to all the persons who own these profiles. In online dating, it’s wise to be bold. When you see someone you think fits your idea of a perfect date, send this person a personal message or email right away. You don’t have to write long letters. A simple introduction will do. Your profile will provide this someone with the information he or she needs to know.

This leads us to the next tip: create an interesting profile. Your profile serves as the first impression of yourself that you will leave other people. Being interesting doesn’t mean having to lie. On the contrary, you need to say a lot about yourself so that prospective dates can have a better clue about who you are and whether or not you make a good match for them. Include witty anecdotes about yourself, your interests, hobbies, and what you’re looking for. Of course, leave out important and privacy-threatening personal details, such as your social security number, address, and contact number.

Last but not the least, be a gracious member of dating websites. As in the “real” world, you are likely to face rejection in online dating. Chalk it up to experience and move on at once. Life is too short. With the Internet, the dating world is at your feet - or rather, at the tip of your fingers.

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Any relationship - be it just friendship or romantic - is started usually by two people meeting who share the same interests. While they say opposites attract, having some mutual interests while still retaining a few individual ones gives you a way to connect on a different level. It allows you to remain an individual while still being a couple.

Sometimes you find that something that interests your significant other could actually interest you.
Here’s an example. You meet someone who is very interested in rugby, yet you know nothing about the game and you have always thought it was a bit barbaric. You agree to a go to a game on a ‘date’ to see if it changes your mind and while you are there, your ‘date’ explains the concept of the game as it goes on. You find yourself becoming intrigued and by the end of the game you are yelling as loud as your ‘date’. You have now connected with your ‘date’ on another level and discovered that you have another interest to share.

Being able to connect on this level offers you plenty of activities to enjoy together. As you share these experiences, you grow closer to one another and the affection between you grows more and more. It gives you things to talk and laugh about and it helps build up trust between two people as they get to know each other on a deeper level. You are happy, enjoying yourselves, and creating memories that you will be able to share later in the relationship.

If you are already in a relationship, sharing interests helps strengthen the bond you already share. Does this mean that you and your significant other have to share everything that the other likes? No. Having your own interests helps you retain your individual identity - that additional part of you that the other person finds just as intriguing.

By being able to pursue individual interests or just enjoying a night on the town with the girls or the guys gives you additional things to talk about. Being interested in your lover’s day and activities is sharing an interest.

There are other ways to make sure that your budding romance continues to grow if you only share one or two interests. Sit down and find an activity that the two of you could learn to do together that you both will enjoy. Take golf or tennis lessons together. Join a spa. Take dance lessons. Yes, it may take a few tries to find something that peaks both your interests, but it will be well worth the effort in the long run.

When you share interests you develop a bond. Both of you are responsible to make sure that bond sticks. Being stuck in the same routine over and over again can cause you to drift apart - whether you’re already married, in a serious relationship, or just starting one. Sharing one interest can burgeon to sharing more, which is why opposites can make a relationship work.

One thing many couples forget is how to have fun together. You start out having a good time, laughing and sharing everything, talking for hours and teasing each other playfully after activities that you share. As relationships go on, the stress of everyday life can intrude and it can put a damper on the direction your relationship goes. This is why having shared interests is so important.

Developing shared interests can help keep the relationship fresh and stop it from stagnating. Having fun together could be as simple as being part of a group activity and then sharing your feelings about it or laughing at the antics of your classmates in the privacy of your home. Sharing interests and having fun could be as complicated as learning how to ski together.

No matter how you start out your relationship and how many interests you share, one ‘interest’ that you should both share is respect for the other person. If you enjoy jazz and they like country, respect that. This is a facet of their individuality that you will love as much as the part that shares your interests. Without respect - and communication - a relationship will stagger and fall to the wayside before it can start. As long as there is respect, good communication, and shared interests between two people, a relationship can go far.

This article was written by Darren Gladstone, UK Marketing Director of date.co.uk, part of the Spark Networks
online dating group. date.co.uk provides a safe a friendly meeting place for
UK singles and offers features including unique ‘Click’, Photo Albums and payment by mobile phone.

Marriage Rates Go Down…Everywhere in the Western world, marriage rates have been in rapid decline since 1970. In the United States, the rate of women between 15 and 44 marrying in a given year dropped from 73.5 per thousand in 1960 to 49.7 per thousand in 2000. And in the UK, the rate dropped from 7.8 per thousand in 1971 to 4.0 in 2004. What happened? It would seem that men and women had gone into hiding and only to emerge on very special occasions.

Marriage Rates Go Up…

But lo and behold! The holy act of matrimony has become de rigueur and marriage rates are creeping up. In fact, the marriage rate in the UK in 2005 rounded out at 4.25 per thousand, up from 4.0 the previous year.
As for divorce rates, in 2002, 45.8 % of marriages in the United States ended in divorce; the rate in the UK for the same period was 42.6 %. But here too, the picture is rosier. According to the UK Office of National Statistics, the provisional divorce rate in England and Wales fell for the second consecutive year in 2006 to the lowest in 22 years, with only 12.2 divorces per one thousand men and women, a drop of 7% compared to the 2005 figure of 13.1.

So what does this all mean? Well, no matter how you look at it, if there are more marriages and fewer divorces, it leaves less eligible partners to choose from. On the other hand, the new stats indicate that couples are coming together more and actually staying that way. So what is one to do?

Online Dating Meets the Needs

Enter online dating services and the virtual way to meet a mate. What can be better than finding a date from the comfort of your own home? Any time of the day, 7 days a week, thousands of potential mates await your very click. It saves time and effort and the chances of finding the “right” one are greater than going out on blind dates or wasting an evening at a singles “get-together”. Having to get all dressed up just to end the evening in failure is certainly a drag and most people reach the point of just not wanting to bother with the whole ordeal.

Other Benefits

The benefits of online dating are great. Obviously, the ability to choose from thousands of members is of paramount importance. There are thousands of online dating services and each one has tens of thousands of members! You can take your time, make your choice. Chat with many people at once. You can even “date” several people at the same time and it’s legit! And since you are in total control, you can walk away from the situation whenever you want. How simple and convenient!

How Do You Begin?

Generally, most online dating services require a prospective member to provide personal information before he or she can search the service provider’s database for other individuals, using criteria they designate such as age range, gender and location. Most sites allow members to upload photos of them and browse the photos of others. Some online dating services offer additional services, such as webcasts, online chat and message boards. Many provide audio capabilities so you can actually hear the other person. Other online dating services offer only online chat.

Most virtual dating services are free for registering, but require a monthly fee to maintain the account. Some online dating services are broad-based and have members from a variety of backgrounds, seeking different types of relationships. Others are more specific, limiting the type of members, interests, locations or relationships desired. So go ahead. Keep the statistics up-click on, meet and marry!

This article was written by Darren Gladstone, UK Marketing Director of date.co.uk, part of the Spark Networks
online dating group. date.co.uk provides a safe a friendly meeting place for
UK singles and offers features including unique ‘Click’, Photo Albums and payment by mobile phone.

Statistics show that the number of women not married today is far greater than it ever has been. No real reason has been offered for this phenomenon and it wouldn’t make anyone feel any better knowing the reasons women remain romantically unattached. Maybe singlehood is simply a sign of our modern existence, with women putting on airs and remaining aloof. However, I contend that deep down in every female’s heart lies a yearning for a deep, meaningful relationship.

Go to Your Computer
So how does a woman go about finding the love of her life? Rules for effective dating can be found everywhere. Dating books and articles in girlie magazines are replete with tips for leading you to romance and to the love, partnership or soul mate you dream about. But the best place to look for advice on finding your man is the Internet. It can provide the largest potential pool of dating prospects in the shortest period of time. It is necessary, however, to use this means effectively. Can you think of any major company that does not use the internet technology to market itself? They use it because it works. Market yourself like they do. Present the best possible product (you) to the largest possible targeted audience (the kind of men you are looking for). A business’s profit is money. Yours can be the beginning or expansion of dating, the end of loneliness and the beginning of love and romance.

Tips for the Screen
A crucial element in using this medium is the photograph. A picture is worth a thousand words and even more so when on the small screen. It is the hook that makes a man want to learn more about you. Your photograph is the stimulus that gets a man to take a closer look. It has to be appealing in some way, but it must be an honest one that reflects the real you. Most men are more influenced, at least initially, by your likeness than by what you write, although the right kind person is probably also going to be very interested in what you feel and have to say after you have gotten his attention.

The Photograph
It is very important that your photograph be recent or that it at least still looks like you. Do not put up a likeness of yourself with an old boyfriend or former husband, your cat or dog, or a group shot. Just you. That’s what a man is really interested in. Be sure the shot is clear, not fuzzy, not too dark and not taken from very far away. Not too light either. Try to be a little creative, personal. A headshot is good for the first shot. No sunglasses, hats and scarves. Men want to see your hair and the shape of your head. If you wear eyeglasses, you might consider contacts. They can make a great difference in someone’s appearance.

Appearance
Some women are naturally attractive and that provides an obvious edge in the photo department. With a few changes in some areas, anyone can have an enhanced appeal that will prove attractive. Someone who is nicely dressed, whether it is in sportswear, a bathing suit or evening wear always looks better to a man. A fine wardrobe will not only make you look better, it helps give you a lift and bolsters confidence. Don’t look like a frumpy, loose fitting woman in her 40’s. But don’t try to put on a teeny bobber’s tiny skirts either. Be classy and upbeat but not overdone. Try different colors, but stay away from loud patterns. Try a stylish hairdo, something that highlights your face. A natural color is always best. And use only as much makeup as is necessary to bring out your features. And don’t forget to smile!

This article was written by Darren Gladstone, UK Marketing Director of date.co.uk, part of the Spark Networks
online dating group. date.co.uk provides a safe a friendly meeting place for
UK singles and offers features including unique ‘Click’, Photo Albums and payment by mobile phone.

With the economy of the United Kingdom going through a difficult time, there are less and less single people making their way to the clubs as frequently as they used to.

Money is tight, you have to work more to get paid more, and fewer singles are hooking up. London, one of the largest cities in the United Kingdom, is teeming with eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, but most of them are not hooking up. What is wrong with all of these people? Nothing, actually.

Social networking today is harder than it was just twenty years ago. Many relationship analysts will blame the Internet, computers in general, video games, and other things for the decline in singles going out and meeting new people.

People who are naturally solitary and private tend to steer clear of social situations where they feel uncomfortable. You can always tell who these loners are at a club. They are the ones sitting alone at a table looking forlorn while their friends have a good time.

Does this mean that they are ’strange’? No. It means that they are shy and do not handle crowds well. They are not socially inept and there is nothing wrong with them. They just have their own way of handling their own love life and for these people - and anyone else whose busy schedule keeps them from experiencing dating in the old fashioned way - online dating is an option that could actually help them find love.

In this computer age, many people who work full time jobs simply don’t have the time to play the dating game. Yet they are looking for someone to fill the void in their lives that work, friends, and family cannot. When standard courtship cannot be done, looking into a reputable online dating service is a safe way for people to start to connect.

These services allow you to speak to others in a safe and controlled environment and unlike social networking sites, these sites screen the individual members and assure you that the other members on the site are there looking for someone just like you are.

You have to be careful, however, not to just limit yourself to a ‘taste’ of someone and then just move on. To find love you have to give someone more than just five or ten minutes of your time.

This speed dating method allows you only a glimpse of what someone is like and while you may hit it off with them in those five minutes, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment. Additionally, people look for certain things when speed dating and if the person they are speaking to does not meet that criteria, then they are tossed by the wayside when they could’ve been the right one.

Many singles today are also very picky about whom they date and they look for almost impossible virtues in the prospective men and women they are interested in. People looking for a ‘man like dad’ or a ‘woman like mom’ are not seeing their potential dates for who they are and what they offer on their own merits.

Once again, people who do not measure up to expectations are set aide and not given a proper chance at possibly falling in love. And the person pushing them aside are truly gypping themselves as well.

A good online dating service can help you look for people who share the same interests that you do or who meet some if not all of the things you are looking for in a man or woman. It can also narrow down the field to people in the area you live, eliminating long tube rides to get to the other side of the city - unless you don’t mind traveling a bit. You may have to go through a few profiles and conversations until you find someone that you might be interested in getting to know.

As long as you make a valiant effort, don’t set the bar too high, and have a good time, you’ll be able to hook up with someone and actually find love. You can be useful without being embarrassed when dating online, and when you finally get to meet face to face, you will find yourself more relaxed and in control.

This article was written by Darren Gladstone, UK Marketing Director of date.co.uk, part of the Spark Networks online dating group. date.co.uk provides a safe a friendly meeting place for UK singles and offers features including unique ‘Click’, Photo Albums and payment by mobile phone.