Can You Find "The One for You" in Cyberspace?
 
Yes! Why Not!
by Paul Mauchline

Can you find "the one for you" in Cyberspace? Yes... Why Not? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Go for it! Check out the online dating services, join one, write an ad, and see who comes your way. The worst-case scenario is that maybe you will not meet Mr. or Ms. Wonderful right off the bat, but you may meet some new friends in exotic locales, as well as improve your writing skills.
 
Seriously now, millions and millions of people are using the Internet each and every day. People are connecting with one another. Loving relationships are forming every second of every day, 365 days a year. Who is to say that you could not be one of those people who finds "the one for you" right here on the Internet?
 
Some of you may think personal ads are for losers: After all, you must be desperate to try to meet someone this way, right? WRONG! If they did not work, you would not see the number of ads that you do. Personal ads are everywhere: in countless websites, telephone introduction systems, and in nearly every newspaper in the world. Just look at your daily newspaper: in major cities it is not uncommon to see more than one full page, plus telephone voice ads and messaging. You will be amazed to find pages of ads at your fingertips from people seeking the same thing that you do: friendship and love.
 
Many professional men and women place these ads. Personal ads, in all forms, are ideal for people whose lifestyle does not give them the opportunity to meet new people and engage in social interaction. Technology today has strapped many of us to our desks at work, where all we seem to do is respond to voicemail or e-mail. It's not uncommon in the workplace to have communicated with someone for several years without ever having met that person. For many of us, our lifestyle prevents us from meeting other single people. Quite possibly, you are not meeting the type of person you want to meet from within your own social circle. Placing an ad opens up the opportunity to meet others who are in a similar situation and are having difficulty, for whatever reason, meeting people who are available for dating or a relationship.
 
I personally believe in the singles sites approach to personal ads. Compared to other forms of ads that are not Internet based, this medium is more versatile, much quicker, and more spontaneous. It allows you to write your own ad, post a picture, and even add audio if you so desire. When you wish to contact another person, it allows you to send a message to his or her mailbox, or instant message another person who is online for a live "conversation."
 
Whether you choose online ads, written ads, or telephone ads, these mediums provide the potential to get to know someone gradually over time, first by e-mail or letter, then through telephone conversations, and eventually by meeting one another face to face. It is less harsh than a blind date, because you have already gotten to know one another before you meet in person. If your lifestyle is preventing you from meeting new people, a personal ad on the web, or in the newspaper, may be just the ticket you need to meet "the one for you." Copyright © 2000-2001. All rights reserved. Paul Mauchline