Meeting Gays Is Easy: Tips for Online Dating

The internet has given us so much: online porn, youtube, youporn, facebook, and of course … online dating.  Look, I know there’s a certain amount of stigma to online dating … there’s this feeling of failure that you couldn’t cut it meeting people out in the real world so you had to resort to your computer.  But let’s face it … people are online.  We don’t have the same sort of social functions that we used to, and we spend much of our time on the internet.  So use it to your advantage and go out there and find your Mr. or Ms. Right.

Also, if you do not have the luxury of living somewhere like New York City or Los Angeles where there are literally hundreds of thousands of gay people to choose from, going online is a great way to meet other gay people.  Unlike at bars and clubs, everyone online has their gender preferences openly displayed.

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Find a site that’s right for you. There are so many websites out there and they all cater to different things.  There are sites for people based on religion, interests, activities, geographic locations, etc.  Obviously there are sites specific to gays and lesbians, but then there are also sites such as OkCupid or Match.com that cater to all people equally (not like that evil eHarmony!)  Make sure you choose a site that fits you and your personality … you don’t want to go fishing in the wrong pond!

• Take the time to make a killer profile. This is your “first impression” and it’s your one chance to show the online dating community how great you are.  Put some effort into your writing so that you can really showcase your personality.  Only post the very best pictures of yourself.  Have a friend who is a photographer?  Ask him or her to take some professional level pictures of you.  Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.

• Don’t misrepresent yourself. Sure, we all wish we were taller, thinner, younger, sportier, whatever.  Don’t lie on your profile.  This will only lead to bad things … like your date being really disappointed with the real you.  If you feel that you need to lie, maybe this is a sign that you need to do a little re-vamp work on yourself to make yourself a better person.

• Be safe! It doesn’t matter how many e-mails you’ve exchanged or how many hours you’ve spent IMing.  You do NOT know this person.  First dates should always take place in public, where there are plenty of people around.  Tell a friend where you are going, and have them give you an “emergency escape call” about an hour into your date.  This way you can leave politely if it’s not going well.