You know... I have lurked on this forum for over a year. And every time I look, there are always a few new posts by some guys saying that so-and-so-dot-com dating site is a dream come true. There has to be something fishy about that... because if that site solved all our dating problems, why do new ones keep popping up only to disappear when people try them and find out they really have nothing new to offer? The guys who run those sites should just tell us the truth, they're just trying to become the next Bill Gates, so they create a site and try to lure people to it, by posting on boards like this one. They don't care if any of us get married and live happily ever after or die alone. I don't know where I'm going to look to find a woman I'd want to settle down with... but it isn't going to be at any of those cookie-cutter online dating sites. I got wise to them and you other guys should too.

Such a skeptic!

I don't really 'do' online dating. I find women enough to keep anyone busy just about everywhere I go. However - I got 'suckered' to a site called singlesnet.com while perusing craigslist ads (one of my favorite forms of entertainment). Thought oh, what the heck - I'll sign up for free.

I have been dating a woman I met on there for a year. I dated another one that I met there as well, but just once - she wanted an exclusive, long-term relationship, and I prefer 'dating around' at this point. Real people - really nice women both of them. In fact, the only real problem with singlesnet is that it's NOT very well known. I didn't pay for either of those contacts - they were paid members, so I could send them e-mails, and receive e-mails from them. But if I was seriously looking - I'd pay the fee there.

I have a friend that found true love on match.com. Well... the guy IS married - but claims to be separated, and in love with her. They have been dating for a year.

I have another friend - she has dated at least 10 men she found on match.com.

I am 'exploring' matchmaker.com right now - but so far it seems useless unless you pay the fees. Unfortunately - it is beginning to appear that you will STILL be unable to contact most of the women on there - because they probably aren't paid, either. Matchmaker does NOT indicate who is a paid member and who is not. So it MIGHT be a real waste of money - if the person you are interested in isn't a paid member.

I did FIND one non-paying member on singlesnet - she was local, and there were hints in her photos that told me where she worked. So I just went and said hello - and explained why she might want to change pictures.

So... it IS possible.

bill