Below are stories that visitors to this site have chosen to share concerning the experiences that they have had meeting, flirting, and falling in love over the internet. It has been surprising to me to see the wide differences in ages, experiences, and advice left here. I hope that you can benefit from those experiences, because everyone that has been kind enough to share has left a part of themselves here to help you see what they have faced and what you could be facing should you chose to go the route that they did. That's not always easy, as I'm sure you know.

 

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Name:

 

Email:

 

Age:

18

Dated-online-before:

Flirted some, if that counts

Would-recommend-dating-online:

It depends on the circumstances

Story

I met a guy on the net. He lived on the opposite side of the country to me, but I was planning to move there in a year so we continued chatting, in the hope everything would go great and we'd end up meeting. Things went absolutely fabulously for 3 months. He had bought me gifts and sent them to me, but then something terrible happened. He had an accident and I was unaware of what was happening. I had grown so close to him and chatted to him everyday. The accident made him stay away for a week and I had no idea what was happening and I felt so helpless. It interrupted my life because I was very upset and my friends had thought I was stupid for getting so attached to someone I had me on the net. And I began to regret ever meeting him because if I had never met him, I would never have become so attached, I had rearranged my life so that I could make time to chat to him and I truly loved him. When he did come back he was a little distant at the beginning because the accident had caused some physical damage, but it didn't matter to me. So after a while I managed to convince him that I didn't care what the accident had done and we went back to chatting like normal. However, the effects of the accident didn't go away and we became separated for a while again. Its hard to imagine that you can get so attached to a person you haven't even met before, but it does happen. It was the happiest time of my life being with him, but now that its over it has left a huge gap in my heart and I don't think I will ever feel the same as how I did when I was with him.

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Name:

kdkenn

Email:

kdkenn@excite.com

Age:

35

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

It depends on the circumstances

Story

I had been divorced for seven years and I realized that if I wanted a relationship, I would have to do something, because just sitting and waiting for Mister Right wasn't getting me anywhere. I signed up for an internet dating service and traded e-mail with several men. I met two for casual dates, but no sparks. One day I got a fabulous e-mail from a guy in St. Petersburg, Russia. It said I was so beautiful and why did I need an introduction service and things like that. Naturally I was flattered and intrigued. He gave me his phone number in that first email. I wrote back and he sent me pictures. I was somewhat nervous about calling him, but I did. One of the first things he asked me was when I could come to Russia. Needless to say, I was rather surprised. One doesn't think of going to Russia on the spur of the moment. We wrote and talked on the phone for a couple of months and I went to Russia this summer. Things went wonderfully and we are planning to get married as soon as he can come to America. I am still amazed that it started online, and that we found each other. I think we were very lucky. But I also think that sometimes you have to break a lot of eggs to make an omelet. The first guy you meet online is not necessarily the right one, as I learned. But for me, the whole thing turned out to be a positive experience.

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Name:

hipnosis99

Email:

hipnosis99@aol.com

Age:

18

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

It depends on the circumstances

Story

when u share your self with someone on line it wont be easy its a lot of hard work and patience I am still in this relationship and its going good but we have some troubles all I want to say is that be prepared for a lot of things and don't say I love you to fast that that you in deep heartache I went though this a few times!!

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Name:

Angelbaby5kn

Email:

 

Age:

39

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

Yes

Story

About a year ago I started chatting with this guy who belonged to the same on line club I did. We talked every night on line, soon we started talking on the phone. One thing led to another and he paid for me to go visit him in New Mexico. We spend New Years together and I am not saying it was easy to just come a visit someone you really do not know, I was a nervous wreck for days. After 2 weeks he came back to Oregon with me and met my family. Well to make the story short and sweet we got married on March 17 of this year and are doing well. It is not always easy to blend 2 families and when you up root one of them it is even more work. So far so good, It can work but it takes time and love. Good luck to any one who takes the leap. KIM

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Name:

Suzie

Email:

 

Age:

46

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

It depends on the circumstances

Story

I guess I am writing this as therapy - to try to learn to live again & maybe even trust again - one day. I have been divorced for over 5 years now & only had one friendship during that time. It was never a satisfactory friendship & when I gave up on it began to look for new ways of meeting someone - to fill the void in my life. I started by joining some on-line personal sites & developed my first friendship with a nice guy. We eventually met for a date & although we both said we had a good time with each other & he said we would do it again sometime - his lack of immediate commitment made me realise that I was not going to be the love of his life. Well he never asked me out for another date - although we still keep in contact on-line, I guess you could say we are just friends. After that I began looking again for someone and contacted a man one night. He wasn't supposed to be a 'match' for me - but we chatted on-line that night & exchanged email addresses. After exchanging a few emails - we started talking on ICQ every night, slowly building up a friendship & getting to know each other. About after 4 weeks of this style of communication I was ready to move on to the next step of talking on the phone. It was better than on-line chat & we found ourselves developing quite a bond with each other. We never got personal or flirted - just good honest communication about everyday life. After about 2 weeks of phone & on-line communication - I decided I was ready to meet him. After all - I thought if I don't meet him soon, we may drift apart. I thought that after initial communication that a friendship would need to survive on shared experiences. We met and had an immediate attraction to each other. I will spare you of the personal details - but we got quite involved very quickly. And within a week we were planning to have a holiday together. He had come to my home & I went to his. Everything seemed to be going like a dream. For the first time in my life I let my guard down & let my heart rule my head. Against my initial first instinct I let it happen & was just as much to blame as he. Just only 2 days of 'being together' in total bliss - he tells me he is scared of getting involved in a relationship & could not go on. I was devastated. I knew that I was not 'in love' with him - but had let my guard down enough to develop some very real affection for him. I am now only 4 days from this horrible experience - the worst in my life. I spent the first day running - wanting to find some place to curl up in - lick my wounds & I have never cried so much in my life. But the craziest thing is - I still want him. I spoke to him on the phone yesterday & asked him some questions about how he felt about us. He said that he still cared for me deeply but was just too scared to start getting so serious. I said to him - that I would have always been happy to have 'just dated', and if that is the way he feels - why cant we go back to that? He said he would think about it & let me know in a week. I have some doubts about him needing a week to decide - but am giving him the benefit of the doubt. I hope he decides to give 'us' another chance - we had something special going between us. Or maybe it was all one-sided (my way) I guess I will find out in a week. So my message to anyone reading this - before they start internet dating is: to take it slowly - just because you think you know someone really well on-line you still need to develop the friendship slowly - just like any other friendship. Slow is the go!

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Name:

Suzie

Email:

 

Age:

46

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

It depends on the circumstances

Story

I guess I am writing this as therapy - to try to learn to live again & maybe even trust again - one day. I have been divorced for over 5 years now & only had one friendship during that time. It was never a satisfactory friendship & when I gave up on it began to look for new ways of meeting someone - to fill the void in my life. I started by joining some on-line personal sites & developed my first friendship with a nice guy. We eventually met for a date & although we both said we had a good time with each other & he said we would do it again sometime - his lack of immediate commitment made me realise that I was not going to be the love of his life. Well he never asked me out for another date - although we still keep in contact on-line, I guess you could say we are just friends. After that I began looking again for someone and contacted a man one night. He wasn't supposed to be a 'match' for me - but we chatted on-line that night & exchanged email addresses. After exchanging a few emails - we started talking on ICQ every night, slowly building up a friendship & getting to know each other. About after 4 weeks of this style of communication I was ready to move on to the next step of talking on the phone. It was better than on-line chat & we found ourselves developing quite a bond with each other. We never got personal or flirted - just good honest communication about everyday life. After about 2 weeks of phone & on-line communication - I decided I was ready to meet him. After all - I thought if I don't meet him soon, we may drift apart. I thought that after initial communication that a friendship would need to survive on shared experiences. We met and had an immediate attraction to each other. I will spare you of the personal details - but we got quite involved very quickly. And within a week we were planning to have a holiday together. He had come to my home & I went to his. Everything seemed to be going like a dream. For the first time in my life I let my guard down & let my heart rule my head. Against my initial first instinct I let it happen & was just as much to blame as he. Just only 2 days of 'being together' in total bliss - he tells me he is scared of getting involved in a relationship & could not go on. I was devastated. I knew that I was not 'in love' with him - but had let my guard down enough to develop some very real affection for him. I am now only 4 days from this horrible experience - the worst in my life. I spent the first day running - wanting to find some place to curl up in - lick my wounds & I have never cried so much in my life. But the craziest thing is - I still want him. I spoke to him on the phone yesterday & asked him some questions about how he felt about us. He said that he still cared for me deeply but was just too scared to start getting so serious. I said to him - that I would have always been happy to have 'just dated', and if that is the way he feels - why cant we go back to that? He said he would think about it & let me know in a week. I have some doubts about him needing a week to decide - but am giving him the benefit of the doubt. I hope he decides to give 'us' another chance - we had something special going between us. Or maybe it was all one-sided (my way) I guess I will find out in a week. So my message to anyone reading this - before they start internet dating is: to take it slowly - just because you think you know someone really well on-line you still need to develop the friendship slowly - just like any other friendship. Slow is the go!

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Name:

Diana

Email:

 

Age:

22

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

Yes

Story

My husband Bill & I met online through our internet websites - he signed my guestbook and from that point we began e-mailing each other. We discovered we had a lot in common and that we only lived about 40 minutes away from each other....so we began calling one another on the phone and soon the relationship progressed to our first meeting. It was the first day of the rest of my life. He is now my husband (2 years later) and we couldn't be happier. We were married on February 18, 2000 and we now enjoy being a family. 

Name:

menthe

Email:

rather not

Age:

24

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

No

Story

I've been chatting on and off for three years, and I've met many people from the Internet. Made a few friends, dated, and even tried a few relationships too. A couple of my good times have been do to meeting people off the Internet but it can be dangerous. At my Niece stage, I thought that by meeting people, and because I'm good looking that I'd attract all kinds of females, and be popular. Well it worked. As a matter of fact that next day after a Web Party Bash, most of the chatters were whispering me, wanting my attention. I felt good, I felt wanted, women were asking me to go out on a date. The good things about chatting is that if you don't have an outside life, it's perfectly ok to chat. Hell, it even improves your typing skills. LoL.

Downside to Chatting... #1 It's addicting. I would be at work wondering who was Online, who was E-mailing me, and at lunch time I'd drive all the way home to see who was online. #2 Drama. People are going to talk about you whether you like it or not. Just ignore it or report the harassment to the Chat Personal.. #3. Dating. It's always nice in the beginning but most of the time your partner is Already married, has a man, or is a chat addict herself so she's giving more time to the keyboard than you, things you do not know about the person still. #4. VENEREAL DISEASES.... its #4 but it soon will be #1. Researchers have now found that approximately 15% of all chatters have a form of VENEREAL DISEASE. this includes HIV.

That should be a good enough reason in itself not to meet anyone , or date online. People are typing, not facing individuals, so therefore it is easier to lie to someone when asked if they do have a disease. They simply say NO...

THINK AHEAD AND DON'T BE A STATISTIC. I'm speaking from experience.. Not a day goes by that I don't reminisce and think I've might have caught something from the few women I've met over the Internet

Be careful. its a crazy world...Chat and have fun...But always ALWAYS KEEP IT AT A PROFESSIONAL CHAT LEVEL....

Name:

Fire

Email:

 

Age:

22

Dated-online-before:

Yes

Would-recommend-dating-online:

It depends on the circumstances

Story

I first started chatting about two years ago. And I have met allot of interesting people. I met a guy off of a chat site that I often go to and we began emailing and icqing each other a lot. Just as friends. As time passed...we evolved into an online romance that for a time was great. So we sent the little email cards and romantic emails. Well we decided to meet in person... picked a spot and met. We clicked pretty well... and had a pretty good time just talking. Well after the meeting...he started talking to me less and less... and I later found out that he had a girlfriend on the side and more than likely just wanted sex. I learned a lesson from this. Not only did my feelings get hurt... but I learned that people on the internet can have two different lives.

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