Halloween

Confession: Despite being the ripe, not-that-old age of 26, I'm still a sucker for Halloween. There's something I just can't help loving about a holiday that encourages dressing up and eating candy. And then there's my very favorite part of the Halloween season: the scares.

From the horror movies to the haunted houses, something in me demands to be scared and loves every second of it. But there are a few times terror is not on my to-do list, and online dating is definitely one of them. Fright on a first date? No thanks.

It seems obvious, but humanity is a strange and wonderful thing and...well...it turns out not everyone feels the same way I do. There are those who want their romance to come with a side of scares, and there are dating sites that cater to their special need for fear.

Normally the type of scares we talk about come October are the ones that involve zombies and werewolves and candy-craving kids hopped up on too much sugar, but around here we're more concerned with a different kind of fright.

Over the last 8 years, I've spent a lot of time reading, writing, and occasionally even following online dating advice. And whew...there is some scary, scary stuff out there. Plenty of people get it right, but let's be honest – plenty more get it wrong, so wrong it's almost scary how bad it is.

I spend most of my time on the good advice, but Halloween puts me in the mood for being horrified so today we're taking a detour to Terrortown. All of the advice you're about to read? Don't follow it, unless you want to be an urban legend singles tell to scare each other off online dating.

The horror-filled days of Halloween may only come once a year, but that doesn't mean fright fanatics can't get their creep on all year round. There are some seriously scary online dating sites (and I'm not just talking about Craigslist ax murderers). Check out these ridiculously specific niche online dating sites designed for your inner horror movie enthusiast:

Halloween is without a doubt one of my favorite holidays. I look forward to October every year - the costumes, the decorations, the haunted houses, the pumpkin patches, the apple cider - everything about the season gets me excited, but there's nothing I look forward to more than the horror movies. Some are so terrifying that I can't bring myself to walk down a dark hallway to go to the bathroom. Some provide short jolts of fear and embarrassed giggles afterwards. Others are so campy that they are transformed into low-budget raunchy comedy flicks. In any form, I can't shake my love for horror films.

In celebration of the Halloween season, let's take a look at another kind of scary story: online dating horror stories.

We're entering holiday season, which in my opinion is the best time to meet people and increase your dating prospects. With all the parties, dinners, and networking events, you're missing out if you turn down invitations. Halloween especially is a great time to mix things up in your love life if it's grown a little stale with endless coffee dates. There's something to be said for scary movies and dark nights.

So, if you're thinking of doing something off the beaten path on your next date, try some of these Halloween ideas:

Local haunted houses and tours. The fun of Halloween is getting scared and clinging to someone next to you...a perfect date situation (if you're attracted to each other)! Check your local paper or events listings for any places in your area. In L.A. where I live, Hollywood tours are a favorite-lots of legends of stars and mobsters meeting grisly ends, their ghosts lurking around to make an appearance on Halloween. Take a date that interests you and show her your bravery (or lack thereof).

Halloween is quickly approaching. While most associate the holiday with small children, holes cut in sheets and lots of candy, it can be a fun holiday for adults as well. In fact, a costume party is a seasonal venue that can be just perfect for meeting someone new. Don’t pass up those party invitations just because you might not have a date - indeed, you might even want to consider throwing a party of your own!

First and foremost, a costume party provides you with something that many desperately scramble for: an opener. Everyone is wearing a costume, and everyone is talking about their own. A costume can be cute, funny, scary, or amazing - and you can walk right up and tell someone your thoughts without worrying that it’s inappropriate. Hopefully a conversation will start about it; if not, there’s plenty of other holiday fodder to choose from, like the decorations, activities, or even the costumes of others.

A funny thing can happen at costume parties: some people, hidden behind a mask or immersed in a character, can feel less inhibited. They might be more outgoing than usual, more willing to approach and be approached. Sure, parties might also have other contributors, like alcohol, but the costume effect is purely a psychological one. Perhaps you might feel more bold dressed as someone else. Perhaps the person you’re interested in is feeling equally daring.