Casting a Critical Eye
- Thursday, December 08 2011 @ 09:30 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,403
We’ve all encountered dry spells in online dating. Just like the dating world in general, there will inevitably be periods of time in which there simply don’t appear to be any compatible people posting their profiles. Or perhaps there are a few possibilities, but they haven’t responded to your first-contact emails.
Thus, when an email shows up in your inbox, it’s a relief. You’re excited. The dry spell is broken! And the last thing you want to be is... critical.
However, there’s nothing wrong with critical thinking when reading a profile, or an email. Not only is it a basic line of defense in safety - pay attention to those red flags and warnings going off in your gut - it can simply save you time and effort that might otherwise wind up wasted.
For example, take the email filled to the brim with compliments - compliments which are, upon further examination, completely generic. Has this person even indicated they’ve actually read your profile? If not, why are they sending an email that is most likely copied and pasted? At best, they’re lazy. At worst, they could be trying to pull some sort of scam.
It can be difficult to cast a critical eye. After all, you’re part of the online dating world; you know how nerve-wracking it can be to contact someone new, and how much it stings when you’re rejected. However, it can be helpful to remember two things: first, that you’ve put time and effort into your own profile and emails - why shouldn’t you expect the same respect from others? Secondly, you’re not looking to hand out rewards or make the world fair; you’re simply looking for a compatible partner. Dating someone who isn’t compatible is ultimately a waste of time for the both of you.
Finding the right person ultimately means walking a fine line, one that involves keeping an open mind for potential matches as well as staying assertive about what you want and need. It can be tempting to veer off-course, particularly when the opportunities have been slim for some time; still, staying true to yourself will help you find the right match for you all the faster.
Thus, when an email shows up in your inbox, it’s a relief. You’re excited. The dry spell is broken! And the last thing you want to be is... critical.
However, there’s nothing wrong with critical thinking when reading a profile, or an email. Not only is it a basic line of defense in safety - pay attention to those red flags and warnings going off in your gut - it can simply save you time and effort that might otherwise wind up wasted.
For example, take the email filled to the brim with compliments - compliments which are, upon further examination, completely generic. Has this person even indicated they’ve actually read your profile? If not, why are they sending an email that is most likely copied and pasted? At best, they’re lazy. At worst, they could be trying to pull some sort of scam.
It can be difficult to cast a critical eye. After all, you’re part of the online dating world; you know how nerve-wracking it can be to contact someone new, and how much it stings when you’re rejected. However, it can be helpful to remember two things: first, that you’ve put time and effort into your own profile and emails - why shouldn’t you expect the same respect from others? Secondly, you’re not looking to hand out rewards or make the world fair; you’re simply looking for a compatible partner. Dating someone who isn’t compatible is ultimately a waste of time for the both of you.
Finding the right person ultimately means walking a fine line, one that involves keeping an open mind for potential matches as well as staying assertive about what you want and need. It can be tempting to veer off-course, particularly when the opportunities have been slim for some time; still, staying true to yourself will help you find the right match for you all the faster.
Subscribe
