Thinking of Meeting, Some Advice

You have been mailing someone a while, finding it has been going well, and are feeling that the next logical step is to meet face to face.  There are a few things you should consider before taking that final step to meeting.

Make Sure You Are Ready

Online dating allows you to come to a decision on meeting gradually; the pace is controlled by you.  Anyone too pushy or over eager might actually stall the process or blow their chances completely.  Please remember that there is never any obligation to meet anyone at all.

Talk on The Phone First

Ask the person telephone in the first instance.  You can use a phone box for extra security just in case you are not as impressed with the person’s communication or social skills as you might have first thought.

Meet In A Safe Place

Meet your date in a populated place and make your way there yourself, and do not allow your date to pick you up from home.  Tell a friend or relative where you are going and give them the phone number and name of your date and a time you intent to return home.

Stay Where You Planned

If your date suggests you move on to another venue, either tactfully decline, or inform the person you had confided in of the new location.  Never allow that first date to take you somewhere that is a ‘surprise’.

Know Your Area

Only go for a first date in an area you know well.  Never leave your comfort zone and always be aware of taxi ranks, public transport times or other means of getting home safely.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

Ireland’s Love Affair with Online Dating

Dating in Ireland has much of the same issues for dating in any small country.  The cities are highly populated and host a thriving nightlife and social scene.  But many parts of Ireland are rural and isolated and the chances of meeting Mr or Mrs Right are slim.  In days gone by, the role of the matchmaker was very important in Irish society.

Today, that role is played increasingly by online match making agencies such as Parship.  With Parship, dating is simple, safe and easy to arrange.  Parship specialises in making connections between people looking for serious relationships.  A recent survey of Irish women conducted by Parship online dating agency reported that 93 per cent considered good communications important in a relationship.  This is interesting because the unique way that Parship operates ensures communication between couples is excellent.  It is far easier to develop a real connection with someone online over time through thoughtful and considered messages, than on a one-off chance encounter struggling to hear yourselves over the noise of loud music in a club.  Parship reduces the element of chance in our hunt for ‘the one’ by using its famous compatibility matching techniques.

Irish dating sites are experiencing a surge in members, as online dating becomes the most efficient and cost-effective way of meeting potential partners.  When money is tight, going out to bars and clubs on a frequent basis is not affordable.  Dating in Ireland is just as fun as it always used to be, and it is happening more online than ever before.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

What Is So Good About Online Dating?

Convenience

The convenience of online dating plays an important role for many.  From the comfort of your own home, wearing your pyjamas and looking truly terrible, if you like, you can meet potential dates.  If you are not a fan of noisy nightclubs or partying into the early hours in search of someone special, online dating is the way forward.

It Works

You will read thousands of personal testimonials confirming that online dating works for people, and it is not simply the marketing guys at the online dating agencies who say this.  Frequently, the chemistry that starts first online continues when you meet in person.

You Don’t Need Much

There is not a lot of equipment required for online dating, only a computer and an internet connection.  If you are reading this, you probably have that covered.  Other items such as a webcam or microphone might be useful later on, but are by no means essential.

Rejection Comes Easier

Being rejected is never pleasant, but online dating cushions you from the brutal nature of face to face rejection.  The embarrassment of being turned down is easier to take online and often as you are corresponding with several people simultaneously, it often does not seem to carry the same significance.

It Is Anonymous

You can be totally anonymous and discreet.  With all the millions of profiles out there in the online dating world, it is highly unlikely you will recognise anybody you know.  There are sites which permit you to show your photo only to invited individuals if you prefer.

Horses for Courses

No matter what type of character you are and what tastes you have, there is an online dating site to suit you.  Whether you are a country lover, a Christian, a single parent, looking for a casual fling or lasting relationship, there is a dating site for you.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

Find the Love of Your Life with Online Dating

Relationships can be difficult, and if you have suddenly found yourself single again, it does not mean the end of the world.  Gay and lesbians sometimes find it tougher to get back out into the dating world, but if you go online you just might be surprised at how many compatible people you can find.  Parship specialises in gay and lesbian dating and has the tools you need to form a lasting relationship. 

Sign up and find out how easy it is to create a profile.  Before you fill out your profile, you will be asked to fill out a scientific questionnaire that will identify your personality and character traits.  Once you enter the criteria based on your idea of a perfect partner you can complete your profile. The compatibility matching utilises 30 personality characteristics that will recommend partners who will compliment and fulfil your wants and needs.  Parship values your privacy, and each profile is checked making sure that they are a real person who is looking for a lasting relationship. Once you go live, you can search through approved profiles contacting other members who you click with.

Get back out there and start dating.  Fill out the gay Parship scientific questionnaire and you will be amazed at how many potential partners will be smiling at you online and sending you private messages.  You will be matched with other gay or lesbians who share the same interests, personality traits and hobbies that you do.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

Long Distance Love Online

It was not all that long ago that courting someone from the next town was considered a little out of the ordinary.  Before international travel and mass communications, people did not travel far from where they were born.

What a difference fifty years can make.  With modern technology it is possible to meet and fall in love with someone over the internet.  And increasingly, that someone could live on the opposite side of the world.

If you have fallen for a person who happens to live overseas and you plan to visit them, here is some dating advice to remember.  Of course, it is an exciting time, but do not allow your eagerness to find love cloud your judgement.  Above all, you must remain safe.

Firstly, do not arrange to stay at the home of your online companion.  Stay in a hotel.  If this is beyond your means financially, then do not go.  On your first visit never stay at the other person’s home and do not get into any private vehicles with them.  When you first arrive at the airport, take a taxi to your hotel.

You can reveal the location of your hotel to the other person only once you have established their intentions are good and their motivations trustworthy.  Keep a friend or family member informed of your whereabouts at all times with regular texts and emails.  Let them know the details of when, where and who you are meeting.

This may all seem a little over the top, but if the other person is truly genuine they will show understanding and will not make you feel awkward.  When you are confident with your new partner, you can gradually drop your guard and begin to relax and enjoy yourselves, but it is sensible to follow these precautions at the beginning, just to be on the safe side.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

Dating People For Whom English is a Second Language

Irish dating sites reflect the diversity of modern Ireland.  While you will find your typical boy/girl next door posting their profiles on these sites, there are also thousands of profiles posted by people who have moved to Ireland from abroad and who are interested in meeting people.  In many cases, these individuals will have learned English as their second – or perhaps even third – language.  While all of the normal dating rules still apply, there are a few additional things to consider when dating someone who is not a native English speaker.

The most important thing when arranging a date with someone who is not a native English speaker is to make sure that the time and place is confirmed in writing, either by text or email.  If it is done verbally over the phone, the chances of a mix up are greatly increased. 

Ideally, you should listen as much as possible at the start of your date.  When you hear your date speak, you will quickly get a feel for how fluent they are in English, and can then adapt your own word choices accordingly.  In many cases, individuals for whom English is a second language will have a limited vocabulary.  It is a good idea to use a mirroring technique and do your best to adapt the words that you use to the level of English that your date is speaking. 

Another important thing to do is look at your date when you are speaking to them; their facial expressions can give you a good idea whether or not that they understand what you are saying.  If they don’t seem to be following you, slow down.  English speakers tend to speak too quickly.

Most of all, remember not to make any cultural assumptions.  Somebody from Malaysia may have grown up with English as their first language, while somebody from Germany may be really struggling to understand even a basic conversation.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

Follow Your Instinct with New Dates

In all our relationships, we employ instinct and common sense to decide if we trust someone or not.  When you encounter a person online, all you know about them is that which they choose to reveal.  The very nature of online communication encourages the confessional part of our personalities and perhaps sometimes we say too much and forget ourselves.  Love usually takes time to develop and it can take a while for relationships to build and trust to form, so be wary of online companions displaying the following behaviours.

If at an early stage in your relationship, someone declares their love for you, be very cautious.

Beware of someone requesting money.  Never agree to send money to someone you have met online.  Scams are very rare, but they do happen.  Do not allow yourself to be a victim.

If someone is evasive and avoids questions about themselves, ask yourself ‘Why?’  Especially if they are demanding a lot of information from you, consider what their motives might be.  Ask them questions so you can form some kind of picture of who they really are, keeping a lookout for inconsistencies in information.  If you have real concerns then report them to the customer care department of the online dating agency.

If there is a real spark between you and a genuine connection, this will drive your choice to meet up with each other.  However, if communication remains restricted to emails, texts and occasional online chats, then perhaps your online relationship is destined to stall and it is better to move on to other matches with greater potential.

By following this dating advice, you will ensure that your online dating experience is a positive one.  Why do you think so many people now go online to meet their partners?  Because it works – just remember to trust your instincts.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

First DateTips

One of the benefits of online dating is discovering details about a potential partner by studying their online profile.  Encountering someone in a bar in the conventional manner would not tell you about their background, their hobbies, if they are vegetarian or prefer men with big laughs.  With agencies such as Parship, dating success is far more likely because you get to know someone online first.

If you have successfully made contact with someone through online dating, and you think you may be compatible, the next logical step is to meet.  This may be nerve-racking, so here are some tips to help things along.

Location is everything

For first meetings always rendezvous in a public place.  This is a sensible safety precaution and you should decline any invitations to meet with people who refuse this suggestion.  A short meeting in a cafe for a coffee or snack can work well.  Then, if you are getting on well, it is straightforward to extend the date by moving on somewhere else.  Equally, if things are going poorly, it is easier to finish your coffee and make your excuses quickly.

Behave Naturally

Of course, you want to create a good impression, but any act you put on you have to be able to sustain.  Be yourself and act naturally.  Keep conversation upbeat, positive and honest.  Avoid discussing previous partners.

Look Right

Be sensible and dress accordingly.  If you are going to the opera, dress up.  Going bowling?  Dress down.  Clean teeth, hair and fingernails are minimum personal hygiene requirements.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment

Online Dating: The Numbers Say it All

The statistics when it comes to online dating are staggering, and the numbers speak for themselves: by some estimates, one in five relationships in the US is the result of people meeting each other online.  Many of these relationships have been brought about as the result of people using online dating sites, and this phenomenon is not restricted to the United States.  Throughout the UK and the rest of Europe, tens of thousands of people a month are signing up with online dating sites and looking for potential partners.

One of the more reputable online dating sites, Parship Ireland, claims to have brought tens of thousands of couples from all around the world together.  They claim that their compatibility matching method results in such a high success rate that almost 40 per cent of their Premium Members have met a long-term partner on their dating site.  And it is not just the dating sites which are quoting mind-boggling numbers; a recent study by Oxford University found that one-third of all adults who use the internet have visited an online dating site.

There are now dozens of UK and Irish dating sites, and the membership of these sites is growing at unprecedented rates.  The choice is staggering and deciding which one to join can be quite challenging.  The first thing an individual needs to decide is whether they are looking to meet people for a bit of flirting and fun, or whether they are looking for a serious, long-term relationship.  They should also decide if they might be interested in the additional services offered by sites like Parship such as dating advice, a phone number on which a relationship adviser can be reached, and a continually updated dating blog.  Other factors that will affect the choice of an online dating site are things such as the age, education, profession, and sexual orientation of the individual.

Posted in Dating Tips, Online Dating by Simon | Add a Comment