As many of you have probably already read about, I decided to try online dating again after being out of the dating pool for about 12 years. We also try to keep it fair over here, so if you haven’t already been following along, be sure to check out Rafe’s experience online dating as well. Rafe and I have been friends since we were teens and I can attest, he is a catch, ladies, not some random online pervert. So if he hits you up, I recommend writing back. Anyway, back to me. 😉

Why I Shut Down My Online Dating Profiles

I started my online dating profiles around the end of August or early September. I used 2 sites. One netted me over 400 messages and the other got me like 5. After literally hundreds of guys contacting me in total, I got very discouraged with the whole thing and shut down both online dating profiles a few days ago. I have actually been trying to decide what exactly to write. The first post was funny but, overall, the experience hasn’t been all that fun for me if I’m being honest. The whole experience has been crazy and, I have to admit, I am not 100% sure I would ever do it again. Maybe one day. We’ll see.

So, here is my experience for those of you considering online dating. It stunk. So much suck. Most of the guys I met were after sex. And they didn’t mind letting me know it. Some came out with it really fast, like first line in the first message to me fast. Some were more chill about it and waited until we had talked a few days to spring it on me. And a few even waited until we met {Of the 400+ who contacted me, I met like 10 guys in real life} to let me know they were interested in sex. Look, I am cool with whatever 2 consenting adults want to do but come on people. There are women on there just looking for sex, too. Hit one of them up. That is just not my style at all.

So, there were a few really nice guys that I met and I would like to say thanks to these guys for making my online dating experience nice in many ways, too.

Tim The Toolman – This guy is so very cool. Like me, he loves to travel and he is full of interesting stories. He just got up one day and went to the Outer Banks. With basically no plan. And he had one heck of a time, meeting new people, camping out, just living life. Pretty much all the stuff I wish I had the nerve to do but the planning side of me freaks out about. Unfortunately, I don’t think we “liked” each other but I really would love to be great friends with this guy. He is awesome and probably my absolute favorite person, personality wise, that I met on the dating site.

The Carpenter – I went out with this guy a couple of times. There was no love connection there either, though I kind of wish there were. He’s a really sweet guy. And he is definitely my kind of funny. He was also a gentleman and many of the other guys online could stand to learn a thing or two from him about how to talk to and behave around a woman. Just my humble opinion.

The Paramedic – This guy I actually like[d]. So much. We went out a couple of times and it hasn’t worked out for us so far for a variety of reasons but we still talk. He has a fabulous personality, is really smart and and funny and also has lots and lots of great stories to tell. I find him very intriguing. Oh, and he’s hot, too. So freaking hot. So, we shall see what, if anything, happens with this situation.

I would also like to send a shout out to that one special guy who will remain nameless for being a particular type of asshat. He knows who he is. And he knows what he did. Jerk face.

Which leads me to taking a break from online dating. It’s, honestly, just too much to deal with. Too many people writing me and my trying to get through all of the crap was particularly stressful. If you are a woman who is not REALLY sure of herself and who doesn’t have a REALLY crazy high self esteem, I gotta say, I recommend steering clear. Altogether. I have no idea how people use these dating sites for months or even years. One month in and I was ready to literally tear my hair out. I don’t need this crap. And you don’t either.

Having said that, I also don’t know of a better way to meet people, unless you have a job outside the home. Traditionally, I have dated people that I worked with [when I wasn’t dating someone I met online] or that I went to school with. I really just don’t know how to meet people. Now that I work from home, meeting new people has become a particular challenge. And when I do get out of the house, it’s generally to travel off somewhere, so that just won’t work either. So there are my challenges to try to overcome if I am going to find someone to date.

So, I am going to just take some time to work on me. Perhaps if I work on myself some, I might have that almost arrogant level of self esteem {just kidding, sort of} needed to navigate the online dating world as a woman without becoming jaded. Who knows, I might venture on there again one day and share my funny/horror stories with you again. Until then, I think Rafe is still in the game, so I can’t wait to see what he shares next.

Are You Using Online Dating Apps?

If you are using online dating apps, I would love to hear your stories. Have you had a good experience or a bad experience? Or maybe it’s been really weird. Feel free to share your stories in the comments below. Also, know where I can meet some nice, non-sex crazed guys? 😛