Tips for dating online the second time around - Courier-Post
Boomers need to follow a few rules
Scott Valdez, who owns VirtualDatingAssistants.com, a dating concierge service for all ages, said stretching the comfort zone is the first hurdle for older newbies who grew up with different notions about privacy and are trying to adjust to tell-all life online.
"Posting a profile with pictures for other members on the site to see is not negotiable," he said. "And you've also got to be willing to proactively contact people without letting it bruise your ego when they don't respond."
His other tips:
See what's inside a site before you open your wallet. "Matchmaking sites like eHarmony and Chemistry aside, virtually all online dating sites make it extremely easy to take a peek inside and peruse the profiles that are already there before you pay."
Avoid an avalanche of adjectives. "When you write your profile, avoid using a long laundry list of adjectives to describe yourself. Instead, figure out a way to illustrate that you possess those qualities without making direct statements like "I am adventurous and spontaneous.' "
Don't be a pen pal. "Online dating is about weeding through the masses to find a few good bets, so focus on your local matches first and don't take too long to move things to in-person so you can test the chemistry. As long as you're getting together at a public place, meeting a potential love interest online is no more dangerous than meeting him or her at the grocery store."
Keep the first date simple. "Online, all you've got is text and a few photos that could have easily been taken in the previous decade. So don't get stuck in a four-course meal with someone you've never met. Keep it short and sweet. A single cup of coffee. There will be plenty of time for a real first date if the chemistry is there."
Scott Valdez, who owns VirtualDatingAssistants.com, a dating concierge service for all ages, said stretching the comfort zone is the first hurdle for older newbies who grew up with different notions about privacy and are trying to adjust to tell-all life online.
"Posting a profile with pictures for other members on the site to see is not negotiable," he said. "And you've also got to be willing to proactively contact people without letting it bruise your ego when they don't respond."
His other tips:
See what's inside a site before you open your wallet. "Matchmaking sites like eHarmony and Chemistry aside, virtually all online dating sites make it extremely easy to take a peek inside and peruse the profiles that are already there before you pay."
Avoid an avalanche of adjectives. "When you write your profile, avoid using a long laundry list of adjectives to describe yourself. Instead, figure out a way to illustrate that you possess those qualities without making direct statements like "I am adventurous and spontaneous.' "
Don't be a pen pal. "Online dating is about weeding through the masses to find a few good bets, so focus on your local matches first and don't take too long to move things to in-person so you can test the chemistry. As long as you're getting together at a public place, meeting a potential love interest online is no more dangerous than meeting him or her at the grocery store."
Keep the first date simple. "Online, all you've got is text and a few photos that could have easily been taken in the previous decade. So don't get stuck in a four-course meal with someone you've never met. Keep it short and sweet. A single cup of coffee. There will be plenty of time for a real first date if the chemistry is there."
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