In Defense Of Craigslist Dating

Man Cave Daily says Craigslist is "The Internet's Dating Dungeon." Ok... it's not exactly eHarmony or Match.com...but does it really deserve "dungeon?" Those are pretty harsh words for a site that most of us use in one way or another and would probably be lost without.

Why such a negative take on such a popular site?

Well, for starters, Man Cave Daily thinks Craigslist is only for people who fit this description: "impoverished underachiever with little-to-no self discipline." As a Craigslist user who lives in Manhattan (and therefore isn't impoverished), and whose sole career is freelancing (and therefore isn't lacking in self-discipline), and who regularly travels the world with the living she makes from freelancing (and therefore isn't an underachiever), I object!

I may be using Craigslist to find work or sublet my apartment, and not for dating, but I think the point still stands. Everyone should feel free to enjoy Craigslist and all the wonders - high-brow and low-brow alike - it has to offer.

MCD calls the Craigslist dating scene "freewheeling." I have to agree there. Where we don't agree is the merit of that freewheeling scene. MCD thinks Craigslist personals offer "freedom from the constraints of conventional morality, general propriety or truth" and "allow one to do things that would result in a ban from conventional dating sites."

Newsflash, MCD: People lie and lose track of decency on traditional dating sites, too. And there are some shockingly normal people on Craigslist.

MCD goes on to paint a bleak picture of Craigslist users who are looking for low-key fun and casual hookups, to which I emphatically say: "Who cares?" Let consenting adults who aren't out to hurt themselves or anyone else do whatever they want. If "whatever they want" involves meeting people on Craigslist for "immediate, unambiguous gratification," so be it. More power to them. I hope they have a mind-blowingly good time.

And then MCD throws out this little gem: "Craigslist Personals is governed by shame, need and shameful needs. Face it: if you were suitable for any other dating site, you'd have gone there. You end up on CL because you're too poor or too perverted for mainstream sites." Oh, and you're also "freakishly desperate."

Absolutely not, MCD! That kind of sex-negativity is making the world a nasty, judgmental, and much less fun place.

If you know what you want, and you know a traditional dating site isn't going to help you get it, I say embrace the Craigslist personal. Viva la Craigslist revolucion!

To find out more on how to find personal relationships on this site, please read our Craigslist review.