5 Red Flags for Online Dating – According to Guys

Are the women you're meeting through your online dating sites not exactly relationship material? If you're dating and not finding what you want, it could be that you're missing some signs that the women you choose aren't right for you. Likely, either they aren't being honest or you both have different goals.

Following are five signs that the woman you're considering dating might not be a good fit.

Missing photos. If a woman doesn't upload pictures to her profile, then she might be trying to hide something (like another relationship), or it might even be a fake profile. If you've been requesting pictures and she keeps dodging the question, or sends you a glamour shot only through email (without actually posting), then chances are you're being led astray. Consider women who are more upfront about who they are.

Lists of what she doesn't want. If a woman has a laundry list of what she does and doesn't want in a man ("no cheaters/ liars/ players/ manipulators/ addicts etc."), then she likely hasn't gotten over the last man who treated her badly. She's basically screaming that she's not ready for a relationship and she's not going to trust you. Steer clear.

Wide age ranges. If a twenty-something woman is looking for guys in their forties or fifties, this is a sign that she's likely not ready for a serious relationship. Many young women test the waters, and it could be if she prefers to date older men that she's looking for a sugar daddy - someone to take care of her financially and/or emotionally. I'm all for expanding those filters and trying to date a wider range of people, but if she's actively looking for dates who are that much older, likely there's something else at play than just normal attraction.

Flakiness. Many women who online date get more emails from men than they respond to - this is normal. But let's say you've been emailing a woman back and forth or both of you expressed interest in meeting, but then she suddenly disappears or she constantly makes excuses and cancels plans at the last minute. This is not considerate behavior, and likely she's not all that interested or she's too busy to make dating a priority in her life. Either way, you don't want to wait around until she has some free time to meet you. Cut your losses and move on.

Unrealistic expectations. If a woman dares you in her profile to "act like a real man" or is looking for "someone to sweep her off her feet," then watch out. Likely she has some unrealistic expectations about who she wants, and will often be critical or judgmental on a date. We are all human, and we all have faults. It's important to start a date with more of an open mind, so there's a chance for a real connection to be made.