Dating, v. 1.5

I am not some text in a box.

I am not a picture, a series of questions answered, or a "what are you looking for" multiple-choice survey.

I am a real live person.

I have decided that I want to meet real live people.

I declare myself free of online dating.

Until tonight, I must admit, I had profiles on several online dating services. (They are now all gone.) At first, I told myself I'd never do such a thing. And then I did just one. And then another. And then a third.

They became important to me. I'd want to see if I got email. They became a reason to get on the computer.

Through them, I met several friends. Friends. I like the friends I met. Hi friends! Several of you read this. :-)

In the area of finding a girlfriend, they have been completely unsuccessful after several months. Instead of producing any worthwhile product for me, they produced just hours of wasted time examining what amounts to the world's largest "mail-order bride" catalog in disguise. They produced not a single person I would actually consider going out with.

Because that's what online dating services are full of: people I would never go out with.

So why did I use them in the first place? Laziness, really. It seemed so easy. "Just type some text in this box and never worry again about having to do anything to find a companion!"

Unfortunately, for me, at my age, that's a lie. I do have to do something to get a girlfriend. I have to go out and live life!

There's nothing wrong with me! I don't need to hide behind a computer screen to mask any problem I have, and hope that I can somehow snag somebody despite my terrible inadequacy. No! In fact, I am a fully capable young person with a million people to go out and meet in real life!

When it comes to finding somebody, is it always easy? No!

But what's really important is finding somebody worthwhile, and nothing else matters.

-Max