And why did they start using it in the first place? Was it the simplicity of the design? Was it because it was free? I know that so many use it now because of the volume of users, but it had to get its start because of certain key factors.

I have been a member of this site for over a year and a half. I got two dates. both horrible.

Most men and women are just using the site to post thier dating furstations. Very few are serious.

I live in a small town and my first date was with an atractive woman that lived about 3 miles away. And the pickings are slim unless you go to Dallas. So I thought she would want to give it a try.

At the age of 45, her words 'i don't know what I want romantically' Also she said that we would never be more than just friends if that much.

I notice her profile is off POE.

Check out the POE forums and about one in eight give their reason(s) for leaving.

Lack of dates is the main reason.

And the people are unusually mean on the forums. At least this site is mostly civil.

I find Plenty of Fish tends to be more for the college crowd. it's also a little to wild west for me, a lot of people like to shoot each other down, as mentioned by Firebird. After about a month, I left and went back to Match, I had more luck with them.

I used it when I was in Toronto and got into going to their events. That seemed a bit more okay. Until I met the man with breast implants who insisted he was heterosexual.. OMG!!
shudder..
I left soon after to come out West and thought I'd give it a shot again. No dates and I once read a 17 page post of horror stories about first dates (most were with other members of that site) and I left pronto. I won't be going back.

I like this site.. I'm trying to find something that'll really help me finally get a decent date.