4 Online Dating Myths That Are Holding You Back

Is it just me, or are friends really bad at selling online dating?

First they say "Oh, you should totally try it! Online dating is a great way to meet people!" Then they follow it up with "This one time, this awful thing happened to me..."

They get you all pumped up about online dating only to tear you right back down again with a horror story of a fake profile, creepy message, or incredibly awkward date. And now we've got a constant barrage of warnings coming from the media to contend with (Scams! Con men! Catfish!), too.

With that cloud of negativity hanging in the air, it's a wonder anyone ever ventures to dip a toe in the Internet dating pool. I can't even remember what finally convinced me to do it - I'd just had enough of the crazy rumors and wasn't going to let anything scare me out of it.

I'm glad I took the plunge, because it turns out that there are a lot of totally bogus myths out there, and online dating is actually a lot of fun. If MythBusters tackled online dating, this is what the episode would say:

1. Online dating is not just for 'old people' who are divorced and lonely. Not even close. Online dating these days is an indispensable tool for meeting people from all walks of life. Young, old, middle aged...single, separated, divorced, attached...everyone is logging on to meet romantic partners, casual hookups, and new friends.
2. Online dating isn't just for weirdoes, either. Yeah, you might encounter a weirdo or two (just think of it as added entertainment value when you do), but most of the men and women on dating sites aren't. It's easier than you think to identify the nuttier profiles, and if you look hard enough you might even find someone who's the same kind of weird as you.
3. People who date online aren't just after sex. Maybe you are, and that's ok. There are plenty of sites that cater to casual encounters. But if you're not, don't let those sites scare you away. There are also plenty of people online who are looking for love and long-term relationships. Just be sure to choose a site that's designed for what you're looking for.
4. Meeting someone online isn't embarrassing. Was it cozy beneath that rock you've been living under? It's 2013, and we're totally over the online dating stigma. In fact, I have friends who lied and said they met online because they were too embarrassed by how they actually met (shh...don't tell them I told you). How's that for a switcheroo?

And this is what it looks like when you blow up a computer, because no MythBusters episode is complete without an explosion.