Online dating: How long should you do it?
On average, popular online daters receive around 10 messages a month from prospective matches.
(Even more if they add a free photo or expand their profiles ...) Sound like a lot? Although you've only talked to eight or nine men so far, I'd bet that there were at least twice as many more who emailed you without receiving a response. (It's good email etiquette to respond at least with a polite "no thanks," although I have to acknowledge that just like in the offline world, not every guy who makes his move deserves your attention.) The lesson here is that each message you ignore represents an unexplored opportunity to find your Mr. Right.
You'll need to rub elbows with a few Mr. Not-So-Rights while you search for your special guy.
And that makes sense, doesn't it? Think about how many guys you've met offline — and how many of them you considered dateable. Proportionally few, right? Dating is a game of perseverance, SM; the search for someone special takes time and determination, not to mention lively participation in your own romantic endeavors. Take advantage of custom searching tools that let you specify your ideal match's age, height and other physical and behavioral characteristics; and Match.com's exclusive personality matching helps you take some of the guess work out of online dating.
76 percent of Match.com subscribers surveyed say they prefer to meet potential romantic partners as friends first.
So "success" is relative, and every online connection you pursue is packed with possibilities. If you pursue connections with matches that initially develop based on friendly compatibility rather than steamy romantic exchanges or over-the-top chemistry, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by the ultimate outcome.
But what you really want to know is how long it takes the average online dater to meet Mr. Right. [Drum roll, please ….] And the answer is — there is no answer!
But then what did you expect? You may as well ask how many times you'll have to belly up to the bar before Mr. Right sends you a drink or how many trips you'll take down the produce aisle before you find your perfect squeeze.
The Internet, like any other venue, is a way to meet people — to see and be seen by like-minded singles looking for anything from friendship to a walk down the aisle. And there's no magic number you can assign to how long you'll want to use it. Even the Internet has to obey the laws of love, which means you'll find Mr. Right when the time is … right.
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