Online Dating

I received an email from Relationship.com. They are changing their name to ChristianMingle.com to make it easier for people to realize what type of single Relationship.com is trying to attract.

For the last year or so Relationships.com has been the most visited Christian dating site according to Hitwise. Hitwise is a company that keeps track of how many people visit web sites and then ranks them accordingly.

I guess this means I'll have to update my review of Relationship.com to reflect the new name change. I should have another look at this dating site anyways since it's been a while and I like to review each site at least once every 6 months.

Here is an interesting article for Fathers Day on dating online, for all the Dad's out there.

It seems that the preferred method of dating for single Dads is online dating. The article states, "Three-quarters of respondents said that online dating was the easiest way for single parents to meet others. Two-thirds said that online dating was a safer way to date. ". This makes sense for both single Moms and Dads, since our children make an already busy day much busier and not many people will then have time to meet people, except online.

Single Parents sites are slowly starting to take off, we have reviewed a few of them here:

I first saw this article mentioned on Online Personals Watch.

Perfectmatch.com sent out a press release today announcing that it has teamed up with NBC to launch a TV dating special called "Science of Love: A Modern Dating Experiment". This show is scheduled to air on Monday, June 25th, 2007 at 10:00 pm ET. It should be an interesting show to watch for all of us online dating enthusiasts. Science of Love takes a look at the following question:

Can science make a better love connections than instinct?

For the contestant, NFL football player Adam Johnson chooses a candidate for his first of two dates based on his own experiences and instincts. Perfectmatch.com's Duet Total Compatibility System is then used to make a match for the second date. From here the show follow's Adam on his dates and to the ultimate conclusion where he picks which date works out the best for him.

3 Ball Productions is producing "Science of Love". Other shows they have produced includes "The Biggest Loser", another widely popular show on NBC.

I saw this article called "Dating websites rebuked for promoting sex trade" on China Daily reporting that 12 dating websites are accused of being a cover for prostitution. No personals sites are named but apparently they are very graphic and lists pricing and contact information of the prostitutes.

I thought this article was relevant to our reviews site since I just added a second Asian dating site called Asia FriendFinder. The Asian dating services I have reviewed here are in no way involved in this type of thing.

The relatively new site, eHarmony Labs is now offering couples in a serious relationship of at least 3 months a web tool to perform a relationship check-up. Once the check-up is complete you will be offered relationship advice based on your answers.

The check-up consists of 60 questions and is designed to be taken consecutively by each person in the relationship. The questions will take approx 40 minutes to complete. After reviewing the test I found that eHarmony has taken this task as seriously as their profile matching system for singles. They ask in-depth and thought provoking questions that make you look at you and your partners relationship. Even if your relationship is not in trouble there is a good amount of information to learn about your partner from the check-up.

For more information or to take the "eHarmony Relationship Check-Up", head over to eHarmony Labs.

Online dating has opened the door to a whole new dating experience. People who choose online dating have not failed at the dating scene by rejecting conventional methods; they are just exploring their options. With today's technology and the world at your finger tips, there are virtually millions of different people all over the globe to choose from. You can browse pictures, flirt, and develop a friendship or even a romance by using an online dating service. When creating a profile once meant you had to place an ad in the newspaper and wait for a phone call, today's methods of dating uses the World Wide Web to bring thousands of couples together who would otherwise never even have met.

Here are a few suggestions for a positive online dating experience.

Find out what the other person is looking for. You want to at least start on the same page. If you're looking for love and definitely see children in your future and they are against having kids, then perhaps this relationship may have some difficulties from the start. Once you get over the easy questions, start asking questions that will give you more than just a three word answer. Ask about their goals, dreams, interest, and hobbies. This gives them the opportunity to give you more in-depth answers, a way to develop ongoing conversation, and also a way to find some common ground.

Having similar beliefs and values of course makes any relationship go smoother, but don't judge the other person negatively if their beliefs and values are slightly different from yours. The world is a big place, and not everyone is going to believe everything equally. Knowing and understanding this will make you more flexible and understanding of others.

Online dating provides you with the ability to remain anonymous and shop around until you find the right person that catches your eye. You can take your time and develop online communications with someone before taking that next step. The goal of online dating is the same as dating by conventional methods. Enjoy each other's company and get to know each other as friends and companions. But don't throw common sense out the window when meeting someone for the first time after long talks on the computer or phone. It is still wise for your first encounter to be at a very public place. Stay level headed and remain safe when it comes to giving out your personal information. Don't exchange personal information about yourself too soon just because they asked or sent you theirs. After all, one of the greatest benefits to online dating is conversation with strangers without the worry of someone following you home.