Interweb Lover

You've hit the point of no return, where it's either date George the slobbering maniac from mail services or hunt in an unconventional place for a mate.

Now some of you may pick George... George needs love too right?

And some of you, may pick unconventional. You've tried the kick ball leagues and the morning jogs and the basket weaving class on Tuesday nights, but you're still having no luck.

A big debate among my friends right now is the internet dating services.

Do them? Don't do them?

A recent study suggests that 20% of today's relationships started via the internet. I personally think that figure would double if you take into account people who meet briefly, swap emails or IM names and then continue to allow relationships to bloom online, before they re-meet in person months or years later.

Why do we do it? Why do people engage in the internet relationship?

Well for starters it's like an all you can eat buffet. You build a profile and then you can feast on the profiles of others. If one's ugly or disgusting you pass them on for the next one until you find your very own McSteamy or McDreamy... or McVet if you're into that.

Second you can hide behind your invented persona until you finally meet them. You don't have to worry about whether or not you smile too large, because unless you're skype-ing they can't see you while they're chatting. You can say what you want, how you want to, and you don't have to be afraid of wondering if your breath stinks... or if you put on too much perfume... things that really don't matter.

Internet relationships are not a substitute for dating however. Dating exclusively via the interweb is a detriment to your health as an adult seeking love, because at the end of the day, no matter how much you want to hug them, you can't. You can't kiss them good night or hold their hand, and the vital part of physical chemistry lacks because you're not physically with them.

I'm not saying don't date via the internet. I highly recommend giving internet dating a go. You might not meet prince charming, but you could make solid contacts for trips around the world. Internet dating works. It's proven. Many thousands of people have met and fallen in love via the internet. What I'm saying is that it isn't a substitute for physical dating. So go ahead, hunt down some potentials on Plenty-of-fish, but make sure that you meet them in person before you accept any proposals of marriage.