Mandy's Blog 1

Ex: 1.7

2007-07-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

1. Focus Question- for or opposed to online dating
If opposed, would you ever consider online dating?

2. Purpose- to inform my readers that online dating has it's positives, if opposed, and to be careful if for but, to take a chance, a risk, b/c something wonderful may come of it if so.

3. I didn't like the idea of online dating until I fell in love with someone from the internet .
I was always skeptical, but never turned completely against the idea.
My personal experience, is in my story inside of my research paper!

Ex. 4.3

2007-07-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

1.a) How do you view online dating? Do you see the good or the bad? What do you think of when you hear of someone else dating someone off of the internet? You may smile and nod, or shrug your shoulders and brush it off like no big thing.

b.) When asked someone what they think of online dating, you may get the responses of "You really should be more cautious. Don't you know that everything you have ever lived for could be taken away from you within the blink of an eye? People aren't always who they may appear to be. They're probably making everything up that they tell you so that they seem oh so perfect. They're probaby the complete opposite of what you think that they are. Children and even adults are abducted each and every single day, and you're most likely the next in line. What you are doing is a very dangerous act, and the outcome of what seems innocent could turn out deadly".

2.)b, is what i have decided upon for my research paper, with a little more revision, i think it's great!

3.)what do you think my paper is going to be about?
-online dating
b) central question trying to be answered?
-would you (I), consider online dating
c.)thesis?
-trying to stress that online dating isn't that bad
d.) characterize my tone?
-casual, and personal experiences- more like a conversation
(asked Laura Moffitt)

online dating research Websites/Interview(s)

2007-07-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Stefanie Banks
Charles McCauley
& Laura Moffitt
- all three were who I had interviewed. I wanted to know what they felt towards online dating on a personal level. I wanted to know why they felt the way(s) that they did, and why they thought others thought the way that they did towards online dating. & also, any additional advice that they had to offer to someone who was considering dating someone else from online.

Ben Wallace
- Who I am dating, and the story of him & I.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/
http://www.msnbc.com/ ... (Dateline) "To Catch A Predator" -television program, to show viewers of the dangers of predators on the internet.

http://www.myspace.com/- a place where friend's come together. You don't have to know the people you interact with. You create your very own personal profile, stating as much or as little information about yourself that you want to enclose. You can browse other myspace members from all walks of life- all around the world.
*(This is the website where I had met Ben from.)*

http://www.facebook.com/- a place where friend's come together. Facebook is focused in your network (your area of where you live). & the schools that you go to/ went to/ etc.

Websites that you have to Pay $ for, to become a member w/a profile;
http://www.match.com/
http://www.eharmony.com/
(Great Expectations):
http://www.ge-dating.com/
www.atlge.com/cosmo.htm

Where I found Statistics & Online Dating Tips:
http://www.datingrelationshipsonline.com/
http://www.theinternetdatingguide.com/
http://www.datingmatchmakers.com/

struggles of research

2007-07-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

I wish that this research paper would have been our final paper for the semester. Working full time and having to do all research was a huge struggle and challange for me. I did the best of what I could do of all that I was knowledgable of doing, and what was learned, with the little bit of time that I was able to use towards time put forth this paper. This was really hard for me to do because, not being a good paper writer made things difficult. It was honestly, pretty stressfull.

Now that I have done this paper, I hope that the next won't be so difficult for me to place together and understand.

research...

2007-07-24T07:29:00.001-07:00

This paper is a lot harder than I had anticipated. I tried to make the paper easy to understand and read without getting way too personal. (in super great detail, towards the end of my paper), but detailed enough so that the reader had a vivid picture of what was / is taking place.

The easy part was when I am explaining my own self and Ben - experience. I am living it, and so it's easy to tell my own story to others. Do they grasp what I am saying? I hope so.

I wrote this paper the best that I could, with me being as comfortable with it as possible, while trying to understand and follow all of the guidelines. Writing papers is not an easy thing for me to do by far. So, this has been an ultimate challenge for me this summer. Those who have read it so far, liked it and I feel that it's a good paper.

I had trouble w/my research only because it seemed that a lot of what is offered is repeated by other sources. It seems that the statistics are more than similar, and they don't really give more information from the next, of what I had been searching for.

Dateline is a good example, and fit well into my paper. I watch that show frequently, and it has really good advice. Good advice towards the negatives of internet useage/dating though vs. all positive aspects of it. I think that it's a good source for "PARENTS" to watch, to open their eyes of what could happen to their children, and from that they could use it to teach and educate their kids of the dangers of predators.

All in all, I liked this topic that i had chosen, due to the fact that I can personally relate to what was researched, and I learned a few things from it.
1. More people that I talked to /all interviewed have positive outlooks/views, yet are aware of the negative(s)
2. Tips - good / bad were offered throughout the webpages searched, and I took a few into consideration. ie: what to do / what not to do (then again, most of us would just do what we are going to do in the first place, regardless of what has to be offered.

My main focus was to inform my reader(s) that, if you're aware, cautious and responsible then online dating isn't a bad thing.
thesis: When used with caution and responsibility, online dating can be benefitial. If a person is of adequate age and is aware of possible dangers then tehre is no reason to disregard online dating as another form of dating communication.

Research Paper On(Love)Line

2007-07-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

On(LOVE)Line

Online dating can be a very controversial subject; when asked, most people would say, “You should really be more cautious. People aren’t always who they may appear to be. They are probably making everything they tell you up so that they seem oh so perfect. They’re probably the complete opposite of what you think that they are. Children and even adults are abducted each and every single day, and you’re most likely the next in line. What you are doing is a very dangerous act, and the outcome of what seems innocent could turn out deadly”.
A lot of people that I have known and have met don’t seem to have a positive outlook on the idea of an online relationship. From what I know and have gathered a lot of that negativity comes from being uneducated of the matter, and what the media has to say. The information that the media provides is, in fact, good advice. However, most of this advice is focused on young adolescence who are victims of older predators. On the other hand, I am grown, mature, and aware of the circumstances of online predators. I take my time to pay attention to what information that the person that I am interested in tells me. If I feel for any reason un at ease, then I end the conversation without any hesitation. The people who look down upon online dating more than others are those who are uneducated on the subject; meaning, those who have never been exposed nor have experienced the world of online dating. They’re the one’s who will warn you that everything about it is horrible and scary due to them too scared of taking the risk themselves.
In my research, I have found a variety of negative outlooks like: Dateline or people’s opinions in general. Recently, I had come across a Dateline episode titled, “To Catch a Predator”. In this particular episode, a man claiming to be a young girl used himself as a decoy to catch online predators. He found, or let himself be found by older men looking specifically for a young girl. After their brief and suspicious online conversation, a meeting would be arranged. When these men came to meet their young “date”, they would be ambushed by the Dateline TV host and crew. When questioned about their actions, they had various answers, but the conclusion was the same, they came for a “good time”. In conclusion, the episode was meant to show how dangerous online dating can be for young girls. However, all of us are not young girls, and, yes, a young girl can be in danger when talking to people online. A parents responsibility is to make sure their children are safe from predators and to educate their children about the dangers of online dating. Even though a parent cannot watch their children at all hours, this is a serious issue that does need to be addressed. If for some reason you would happen to come across someone who makes you feel uncomfortable talking to online, such as threatened, you can contact technical support for security measures. In the beginning of any type of internet site, such as a chat room or dating website, you have to agree to the terms of agreement. If that agreement is broken, your profile will be eliminated from use.
Children are at risk in many aspects of life, and need to be aware of what they are getting themselves into. For a responsible adult, this may not be an issue; although adults may face some risks when talking online, it is not nearly as risky as it would be for a young adult. The media may portray online dating as a dangerous act in which predators are everywhere, but these cases are based on negative stories that affected the adolescent population. Rarely ever has a story been told about a grown individual that was victimized by an online predator. Online predators know what to look for when choosing their victims, and young, possibly neglected girls who need someone to talk to, is a prime target. As long as there is the internet there will be people using it for negative
endeavors. As a society, it is good to know these things, but parents should know what is going on in their child’s life, and if their son or daughter is speaking with a predator and planning a meeting, there is a problem with the relationship between child and their parent. Online dating should not be categorized as a negative thing based on these cases and accusations.
I don’t see much of a difference between an online relationship and a relationship that forms from those who place personal ads in the local Sunday newspaper. A relationship that occurs through the web is just as safe and or dangerous as one of a blind date, newspaper ad or someone you meet in person to decide to date. When used with caution and responsibility, online dating can be beneficial. If a person is of adequate age and is aware of possible dangers then there is no reason to disregard online dating as another form of dating communication. Online dating provides a vast variety of people from all walks of life, and can help an individual find what they are looking for or a way to communicate and make friends. In my personal experiences, I have found many friends and an occasional “fling” online. There are so many more online dating networks than there used to be. A few of many are those that you can either pay for, which can get pretty expensive, or those that are free of charge. Such examples of free online services would be, www.myspace.com or www.facebook.com. They aren’t promoted as dating websites, but many people have networked and a relationship has occurred from it. On these websites, I have found old classmates; new friends and past relationships have accumulated. Websites that charge you a fee to create a profile for other singles to view are www.ge-dating.com (Great Expectations). One person stated “It’s important that people chose their own dates.” (Great Expectations) and www.match.com.
Have you ever wondered if you were just another one added to the list of statistics? Well, I have. According to a survey by the Sunday Times “email relationships can be far more intimate than normal dating”. Also, out of men and women, the women are more likely to finding a potential online lover. Out of 100, 72% of those women, 52% of men admitted to finding love online. In this particular study, which I found interesting, 33% led to an actual date, out of all of the online relationships surveyed.
I haven’t found anyone relatively to my age that uses online hosted websites in which you pay for to meet their matches. In my personal experienced that I have encountered, I have come to the realization that online dating isn’t as bad as some would like to believe. With my interviews that I have conducted, and in my own personal experiences, online dating is as healthy as any other form of relationship. I wanted to find out what other people’s experiences of online dating was, and figured why not, by digging in deeper by getting more personal. In the three interviews conducted, each has been involved in an online dating experience. All of which are for the idea of dating someone online. I first spoke with Laura Moffit.using the same questions that I had asked all of my subjects. When talking with her, the most interesting information that she had provided from her own personal experience was, “I am for the initial idea of online dating. I have dated a few people that I had met from the internet. Just be sure to careful, and if you need someone such as a friend to escort you, then to do so. From my history of online dating, I am always aware and cautious. I get to know them more by talking to them on the phone. I tell my parents and friends where I will be going”. When I had asked Laura why do you think that online dating is looked down upon? Laura replied, “There are people you cannot trust and they can take advantage of you. Not all people do good things”.
I really wanted to talk with a man to gather his perspective on what his views and ideas of online dating was considered. Talking with Charles, I sensed a man who wanted what anyone else wants, and that’s the need to be wanted. “I have been in a few different relationships that were formed online, and are for the idea. The advice to give from myself to any other would be to talk with someone a lot before meeting them. If they are misleading you, then they will be inconsistent in the information that they give to you. If I were to break up with my current partner, I will probably go to the internet to meet people. (I wanted to know why he thought the reasons why some portray a negative view of online dating). In Charles defense, he mentions “because of the lack of face-to-face contact. It seems to me that the more technology we get, the more socially isolated we get. That’s why I like to meet people as soon as I feel that they are trustworthy or not bullshitting me”.
“Because I have dated numerous guys online I feel pretty much aware and confident in what I am looking for in another person”, Stefanie casually says. “I know that this may sound silly, but do a freaking back round check on the person. You never know what kind of people you may come across and meet. Be weary of online dating services like E-harmony and others similar. They do not always pan out and you sometimes end up wasting your money. If you are too shy, busy, or some other reason that does not allow you to physically go out into the viscous dating world, then go for it! Just be sure that you know what you are getting yourself into. It could be a good or a bad experience, just be prepared. When you fill out the personality section on the dating service, be sure to be completely honest. You don’t want to waste any of your time. People probably look down on dating someone online because it is something new, and people are always weary about new things. Once again, people lie. They say they are someone else, and they end up being an axe murderer or something like that.
To lessen the confusion of online dating etiquette, following these guidelines can help make things go more smoothly for yourself. According to www.abcnews.go.com, they mentioned some tips of dos and don’ts of hooking up online. They mention what you do before your date, during your first date, and list a few things of what if things don’t work out and what you could do to get out of the date or relationship. Some of the things listed are as follows; “Do provide details about yourself, but don’t go overboard in revealing personal information about yourself”. “Do show off a special talent, but don’t try something that you might not be able to pull off”. This website also talks about some of the things that you might want to assemble before your initial first date, such as, exchanging photographs so that you know what the person that you are going to meet looks like. Lastly, they talk about breaking up with someone who you have met online. One thing that is stated is, “Don’t break up over e-mail, even if you met that way. Do break up in person”.
Never have I ever fallen in love before and never would I have imagined finding the one I fell in love with online. It happened and this is how my story goes. Ben and I met through the website www.myspace.com which offers you to create your very own personal web profile for others to see. You can offer as much or as little information about yourself that you want others to view. I found Ben by browsing users under that option given by no specific location. I was not looking to find someone to fall in love with. I was only browsing to search for new friends. I thought that Ben was very handsome, from first sight from the pictures that I seen. I viewed his profile and noticed how much we had in common from what had appeared. We were the same age, and had most of the same interests. Ben and I only started out as friends. I sent him a friend’s request and he sent me an email that read “You are really pretty and you seem like a very nice girl. Are you actually going to talk to e or do you just want another number to add to your list of friends?” In response I told him that I was a real person and that I would talk to him on a normal basis. An email from here and there had turned into a phone call here and there. From random phone calls, I had gathered from getting to know him that I had more of an interest in him than more than a friend basis. We talked about almost everything that could ever be discussed. We learned so much about each other’s personalities just by communicating via telephone and e-mail. By the things that he had told me, by the tone in his voice when what he said was spoken, I could tell that Ben was genuine and sincere. I didn’t doubt that he was anything remotely bad, or scary to fear.
I enjoyed his phone calls and would get excited to se his name on my caller id when my phone would ring. From one phone call to the next, his southern Texas accent tended to grow on me.
As conversations progressed from minutes into hours, we have both become connected to one another in so many more ways than one. Ben and I had talked about one day meeting each other in person. I remember the phone conversation where he had mentioned of driving to St. Louis, Mo for us to meet. I blew the subject off because I did not want to get my hopes up in case the meeting wouldn’t have actually happened. I was holding my guard, and keeping my emotions and feelings safe. I quickly changed the subject to something less important. I look back on that now, and have realized that by me changing subjects was actually due to me being shy and nervous. Later on that week, Ben had mentioned coming down again and asked me if I had Sunday off of work for him and I to meet and hangout. I caved in and told him that I wasn’t working that Sunday. Ben had told me that he had the day off as well, and that he was planning on driving down for us to meet, and for me to reserve a hotel room for us to stay at during his visit. My heart began to race and my palms became sweaty. That weekend, Ben came down on a late Friday evening, early Saturday morning.
I had planned ahead, and told my friend’s exactly what I was doing, where I was going. I had told four of my friends my plans and had them all on call in case of an emergency. As time came close to Ben’s arrival, I began to get more nervous as the minutes ticked by. My bags were packed, the hotel was reserved and I was on my way driving to meet Ben in person. When I pulled up to where Ben was parked, my stomach had butterflies, my palms sweating, my heart beating heavily, an instant smile appeared as my eyes met with his. I fell instantly in love with Ben from first sight. The weekend went more than wonderful. I showed Ben all over St. Louis by going out to dinner, sight seeing in Forrest Park, and going into the arch. Ben didn’t meet any of my family or friend’s during his first visit. Saying goodbye to Ben was not as easy as I thought that it would be. Ben and I grew together by getting to know one another, having fun and hanging out that weekend on a more personal level. Our daily phone calls to one another began as once a day to a few times a day which led to an expensive phone bill. After he had been back at home for a few days, we began to realize that we really liked each other and missed one another. We began to talk about Ben moving here to St. Louis to be with me, with each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. We have talked about him transferring colleges, and him finding a job and an apartment for him and I to be together, more than on the phone and on the internet.
Ben then started to talk about a second trip to come and see me. This time, I, without hesitation agreed to an official meet. We both knew now, what we were expecting from one another. This time it would feel like the right thing to do. This time I wanted Ben to meet my friends and my family. I wanted to show him off, to show my friends and family that this is the guy that I want to be with. Ben arrived on a Friday afternoon. He left on a Monday afternoon, so this time we can spend more time together. We were busy doing activities, such as Six Flags, a concert, dinner and movie. My family met Ben and fell in love with him as well. My father invited him into our family, whenever it is that Ben is ready. My friends met Ben as well, and we all had a great time. They all really enjoyed his company, as well as him enjoying himself with them.
Ben went back home, and has been there since only a week ago. Since then, we have become even closer. I suppose what they say is true when I quote “Distance makes the heart grow fonder”. I fell in love with a total stranger that I had met on the internet that now is not only my boyfriend, but someone who I also consider my best friend. We are planning another meet in the near future. What’s going on right now is that we are still on a daily phone conversation basis, frequent e-mails and plans to one day soon be together, in an in person relationship. We are determined to make the best of what we have now, and what we plan for our future together. This experience has brought us close and a loving relationship has occurred from it.
I want to thank www.myspace.com for the opportunity that we have been given to meet one another. Without it, I would have never met Ben.
There has been a lot of controversy about online dating. Some people have negative views, and may warn others to stay away from online dating. Some cases may involve online predators or bad romantic outcomes. Each individual has his or her own opinion on the subject, as do I. Dating is a complicated and complex subject, in which there will be a down side to the up side. Online dating is the same. With all the bad media hype, it is only natural for people to assume negative things about the subject. Once someone has experienced the online dating world, he or she can only really know what it is like. From my interviews with fellow online daters and from my personal experience, I have come to the conclusion that it is not all that bad if the individual is responsible with his or her actions. When used with caution and responsibility, online dating can be beneficial. If a person is of adequate age and is aware of possible dangers then there is no reason to disregard online dating as another form of dating communication.
Every person is responsible for their own choices, and if they choose to date online, that is their right to do so and they must deal with whatever consequences come their way. An individual needs to use his or her best judgment and follow their intuition.
It won’t lead you astray. The one’s who are for online dating and relationships would agree with me when I say that everything happens for a reason. You have to start out with those baby steps of getting to know one another. Just like any other relationship, it can be a bit nerve wrecking in aspects of being shy and nervous at the beginning and very rewarding in the end. Positive things may come out of the experience, if willing to take a chance.

Excercise 5.3

2007-07-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

1.) Is what you have read, easy to comprehend?

2.) How well structured is my paper?

3.) Does everything seem to be in order?

4.) Is my main point/thesis easily read and understood?

5.) What could be done to make my paper more vivid?

6.) What could be different to make things more interresting?

(Book Work):
-Directing the Reader's Response
1.) The main question/thesis of my paper is: "When used with caution and responsibility, online dating can be beneficial. If a person of adequate age adn is aware of possible dangers then there is no reason to disregard online dating as another form of dating communication."

2.) The main point of my paper is to inform people that dating someone from the internet isn't such a bad thing after all. To be aware of all that goes on, to use your best judgement, and have fun. Online dating is another form of dating just like any other form(s) of dating go.

3.) Most convincing: To me, the entire paper is convincing, considering that I'm living it. I would say that the interviews and my personal story about Ben and I would be considered most.
- If not, then what all websites have to mention. Listed are all of what I've looked up, and the facts, opinions, tips and advice are all there clearly to read.

Least convincing: *People are going to have their own opinions, and they may disregard the entire paper. They can take my story and soak that in, or leave it where they finished reading.

4.) Most interresting: (To myself) would be this experience that I have gone through, and will continue to be involved in. I think that if I wasn't dating Ben, then I would have still met someone else online, and date them. (My personal story- interrests myself most.)

Excercises 5.1 & 5.2

2007-07-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

5.1
I cut my paper into two sections. One of those being the written words of my very own voice and the other of my sources. I've come to the conclusion that I need much more than what I have provided thusfar. I'm lacking many sources, and I've even noticed now that I have used the same sources more than once, and didn't catch it until just now. I have more work ahead of me than what is shown. I need a much longer introduction and a conclusion. I want to dig deep into what's been said and get into more detail about each paragraph. Possibly combine a few and make my paper run more smoothly.

5.2
My thesis is: Online dating is just as safe and / or dangerous as it is to date someone face-to-face, blind date, etc.
-I want to get through to my readers that with the bad, there's always good! Meaning; if you just take a risk at what you may think is scary, you could be surprised at what the outcome "could" be.
1. Why do people look so down upon online dating?
2. What are the good outcomes of an online relationship? - benefits
3. Why am I dating someone online?
4. What is so great about online dating- what's the big buzz???

* Sources that I want to find, are those more detailed in the information that I am trying to seek, such as what is stated above. I just want to dig a lot deeper and find out more information to better support my paper.

2007-07-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

Online Dating: (Research Paper Outline)
10+ pages

Introduction (pgs. 1-2)
- (+ thesis statement : added somewhere in there)
- I want this to be 1-3 paragraphs, 1 page

1st Paragraph or So- (pgs. 2/3- 7)
- I wouldn't mind this being how Ben & I met, what webpage/site I had met him on, how and when it came about. (possibly?)
-ADDED: my interviews that I have composed, mixing it into my stories, and facts of their information as well as my own.

Next few pages (pgs. 7-9)
- Here, I want to talk about the media and how if they would talk more about the positive aspects of what myspace, and other webpages then more people probably wouldn't be as opposed to online dating. and the difference between pedifiles and such, vs those looking for love, online.
- would also like to talk about the age groups, and what they are interrested in- which love websites, chatrooms, etc.
-where they go to meet people online?

Conclusion/Thesis (pgs. 9-10+)
-Here, I want to close out my paper with a smooth landing. I want to conclude what had been said in my closing paragraph, and talk about how an online relationship and an in -person relationship are more similar than some may think. All relationships take hard work, and I want to prove this to my readers.

2007-07-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Thesis Statement(s):

a.) Meeting someone off of the inernet is just as dangerous and/or as safe as it would be to meet them in person on a blind date.

b.) Online dating isn't as dangerous as it's speculated to be.

c.) If the media would point out the good of Online Dating and Relationships, then more people would be more acceptable of the idea.

2007-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Voice:
I want to use my own voice. I hate reading papers that are boring and dry chuckfull of information that is thrown in your face. I want to write such as how I speak, in a laid back tone. As if I'm explaining something to a friend of mine, or telling a story.

2007-07-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

Online Dating- In class Interview Reflection(s)

Janelle had asked me more questions than I had thought on my own. Her questions have helped me to open my eyes to what was already said, and researched. I will take her questions to further my research, and opinions that I will put into my paper. I find this excersize to be very benefitial for my own relationship, and for my paper as stated earlier. I think this really helps, and should be used in further classes that you will teach. It broadens the horizon of what's been said, thought of, researched and reviewed.

2007-07-08T16:35:00.001-07:00

ONLINE DATING STATISTICS"
(WEBSOURCE 1)

http://www.onlinedatingmagazine.com/mediacenter/onlinedatingfacts.html

Online Dating Magazine estimates that more than 20 million people visit at least one online dating service a month. (Online Dating Magazine - 2007)

- 31% of adults in America say they know someone who has used an online dating service. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project Report: Online Dating, March 2006)

- In 2003 it was estimated that three million people paid for an online dating service listing. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- In the first half of 2003, consumers spent over $214 million for online dating services. This number is 76 percent higher than the same time last year. (Source: Online Publishers Association)

- On average, those paying for online dating services spend a total of $239 per year. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- It is estimated that the financial growth of online dating will reach $642 million in 2008. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- As of February 2005, 33% fewer consumers are browsing online personals today than one year ago, causing the industry growth to slow considerably. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- Consumers spent $214.3 million on personals and dating content during the first half of 2003, up 76 percent from the same period in 2002. (Source: Online Publishers Association).

Return to Online Dating Magazine Media Center

More in-depth facts and statistics available to reporters. Click here.
Information assembled by Online Dating Magazine.

Print Page | Email Page | Bookmark Page |
Privacy Statement | Code of Ethics Statement
Bookmark Online Dating Magazine at Del.icio.us

> View Online Dating Magazine Singles Travel Adventures <

Online Dating | News | Columns | Features | Dating Services | Niche Dating
Online Dating Directory | Cartoons | Quick Tip Articles | Online Dating Industry
Industry History | Service Reviews | Reader Reviews | Reader Letters
Self Improvement | Experiences | Newsletter | Interviews | Top 10 Lists
STD Info Center | About Us | Advertise | Sponsor
Media Center | FAQ | Search | Contact

(WEBSOURCE 2)

By Meredith Broussard
www.failedrelationships.com
http://msn.match.com/msn/article.aspx?articleid=5288

1. 44 percent of adult Americans are single, according to U.S. Census figures. This means there are over 100 million unattached folks out there. So, if you've ever worried, "There's nobody out there for me," know that there's hope!

2. Statistically, the find-someone odds favor guys: There are 86 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried women, although in some regions the gender ratio favors women, especially out west. Paradise, Nevada, a suburb 10 miles from Las Vegas, has 118 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried women. Other cities where gals got it good include Austin, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Tempe, Arizona; and Sunnyvale and Santa Ana, California. A coincidental bonus for women thinking of relocating: All of these cities are sunny and warm.

3. The best place for single people on the prowl is New York, where 50 percent of state residents are unmarried, and Washington, D.C., where a whopping 70 percent of the population is single. The worst places are Idaho, where 60 percent of people are married; and Utah, where 59 percent of people are married.

4. Think you'll find love while perched on a barstool? Think again. Only 9 percent of women and 2 percent of men say they've found a relationship at a bar or club—blame it on the beer goggles. So if you're lonely and looking, you're better off hitting on cuties at Starbucks.

5. Got someone hot in your sights and want to reveal your interest? Fifty-one percent of people use flattery, according to the book Are You Normal About Sex, Love, and Relationships? Or, try touching them, a tactic used by 25 percent of single folk. Still another 23 percent utilize the schoolyard approach and send the word out through a friend.

6. If you're into online dating, you're hardly alone: 40 million Americans use online dating services; that's about 40 percent of our entire U.S. single-people pool. So if you haven't tried it yet, maybe it's time to dive in!

7. Profiles and photos go together great. Online, being bashful will get you nowhere. Women and men who post their photos receive more than twice as many emails as those without photos, according to a study published by economists at MIT and University of Chicago. And a Match.com survey revealed that profiles with photos had 15 times the response rate as those without. Some numbers!

8. On a date, first impressions do count: Men take only 15 minutes to decide if a woman is worth a second date. For women, the clock isn't ticking quite so fast—they ponder whether to get together again for an hour or so.

9. The number one problem for couples in America? Disagreements about money, according to a poll by the University of Denver. So, don't write off a date just because you two bickered over the dinner bill; everyone clashes over cash.

10. If you're feeling like your relationship is hitting the skids and want to bail, the painful face-to-face approach might not be necessary: An estimated 48 percent of online daters report that their breakups have happened over email. Call it rude or just plain convenient, but it happens a lot.

Meredith Broussard is the editor of an upcoming anthology, The Encyclopedia of Exes: 26 Stories by Men of Love Gone Wrong. Her website is www.failedrelationships.com.

(WEBSOURCE 3)
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=306397

Question

Subject: Dating Statistics
Category: Relationships and Society > Romance
Asked by: maheshg-ga
List Price: $50.00 Posted: 13 Feb 2004 03:53 PST
Expires: 14 Mar 2004 03:53 PST
Question ID: 306397

What types of dating services are available? What are their fees,
demographics & success rate statistics.
Types of singles events, fees, demographics, and success rates.
Statistics on dating in general
Statistics on the types of dating services that have the highest
number of marriages
Stats on where do most people meet potential partners?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Question Clarification by robertskelton-ga on 13 Feb 2004 04:37 PST
This field is enormous (very easily 1000 sites), and in my opinion,
all a researcher could do is provide a general overview that included
ranges of services types and fees. At the very best a handful of
services might offer demographic figures, but I wouldn't expect any
to. Anecdotes of successes are common, and success rates can be
calculated for some sites, but not most.

Off the top of my head, "mail-order bride" type sites would easily
have the highest number of marriages.

Are you willing to accept an overview that included incidental
statistics, or are you looking for data of the sort that would be
found in a $1000+ industry report?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clarification of Question by maheshg-ga on 13 Feb 2004 08:50 PST
The purpose of this is to throw in some statistics in a short dating
book. So a relatively simple overview would be fine. Any statistics
you can find about dating to spice up the advice would be great,
though.

Answer

Subject: Re: Dating Statistics
Answered By: bobbie7-ga on 13 Feb 2004 16:22 PST

Types of Dating Services Available

- Professional Matchmaking Services
- Video Services
- Online Internet Database Matching Services
- Speed Dating
- Newspaper Personals

=================================
Professional Matchmaking Services
=================================

“Professional matchmaking is defined by the personal intervention of a
matchmaker, an experienced woman or man employed to find someone the
best partner possible given the circumstances.”
Executive Wisconsin Dating
http://www.executivewisconsindating.com/comparisons.html

“While matchmakers may be a vanishing breed, they still have their
champions, especially those interested in privacy, discretion...and a
wedding ring. For some, spending a great deal to meet the perfect
person is a solid investment. Zelda Fischer's Gentlepeople, for
instance, charges from $15,000 to $50,000. "Marriage consultants are
to dating services what executive recruiters are to employment
agencies," she says. "Our clients don't want to see 300 resumés—they
want the one right person."
AARP Magazine
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/Articles/a2003-09-23-seekinglove.html/page=3

Fees:

“Even though her fees are not exorbitant for this brand of
personalized matchmaking, the charges are a bit shocking: She gets
$15,000 for twelve dates over the course of the year with people
chosen expressly for the client”

New York Metro
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/nightlife/singles/features/3936/

“These professional matchmakers have built businesses on pairing
beautiful people from the power scene in cities all over the country,
charging clients up to $15,000 to find Mr. or Mrs. Right.”
FOX News
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,48780,00.html

“Jill Ellington, owner of The Relationship Headhunters, or (
http://jillellington.talkoftheplanet.com/ ), has been in the business
since 1991 and has more than 600 active members. During her 12-year
tenure, she has arranged more than 200 marriages.”
Basic Membership fee is: $495 for 6 months and $750 for 1 year.
http://jillellington1.talkoftheplanet.com/Articles.html

“Professional matchmakers run these services. The owners of these
boutiques, because of their abilities to grow and maintain large
social networks, are able to help people find their soulmates. The
larger ones, usually franchises, are able to afford direct mail
marketing or radio ads. These services are usually referred to as
library dating because members checkout videos and profiles of other
members. The largest traditional dating services are Great
Expectations, Together Dating Service, Matchmakers International, It's
Just Lunch, and Perfect Match. These services usually cost hundreds of
dollars to a few thousands dollars per year.”

Solve Dating
http://www.solvedating.com/matchmaking-services.html

Great Expectations
http://www.ge-dating.com/
Most of Great Expectation's members are middle-to upper-income
professionals. The fee entitles members to look through albums of
resumes and photos, then view the videos of those people they might
want to meet. "It's important that people chose their own dates. "
http://www.atlge.com/cosmo.htm

It's Just Lunch (Albuquerque/Santa Fe franchise)

“Since the Albuquerque/Santa Fe franchise opened last January, more
than 450 professional men and women ranging in age from 25 to 60 have
signed on to let someone else do the initial legwork in their search
for romance and companionship. Two target markets have emerged— the
never-marrieds in their late 20s and 30s and the recently divorced or
widowed in their 40s and 50s.”

“80 percent success rate of first dates leading to second dates."

“Clients sign on for a membership— six months at $795 guarantees at
least six dates; nine months (and a minimum of nine dates) is $995;
and a year's membership (minimum of 14 dates) is $1,195. About 95
percent of the local members have the minimum of a college bachelor's
degree and 75 percent have advanced degrees”

“Nationally there have been 12,000 marriages.”

ABQ Journal
http://www.abqjournal.com/sage/91509sage10-05-03.htm

IJL recently celebrated twelve years in the dating business
http://www.itsjustlunch.com/home.asp

==============
Video Services
==============

“Video dating services offer you the advantage of seeing your date
before they see you. The central element of these services is a
library featuring a video profile/autobiography for every member. (..)
you pay for the video dating service every month your video is in
their library, regardless of whether anyone liked it or even watched
it. Once very popular, the video dating service is slowly fading into
obscurity. And for good reason! Such dating services receive endless
amounts of complains from and women claiming that they were never
selected despite being paid members for several months.”
Executive Wisconsin Dating
http://www.executivewisconsindating.com/comparisons.html

===================
Newspaper Personals
===================

“Just like online internet personals but with even less information and no photo.“

Executive Wisconsin Dating
http://www.executivewisconsindating.com/comparisons.html

“These ads are usually free and publishers make money by charging
telephone fees when an interested person calls to answer the ad.
Usually, the telephone fees are a few dollars per minute.”

Weaknesses of Personal Ads

“Inadequate Membership Size - At most only a few hundred ads are available.

“Physical Appearance Can Not Be Judged - No photos are published along with ads.”

“Financial Cost - Phone bills may add up.”

Solve Dating
http://www.solvedating.com/personal-ads.html

============
Speed Dating
============

“Another recently popular phenomenon, speed dating features a large
group of men and women who spend the evening taking turns meeting
everyone of the opposite sex. The idea is that each person spends only
a minute with every eligible partner. Then, if sparks fly in those
sixty seconds, the pair can exchange phone numbers or find out
relevant contact information from event organizers. Speed dating
offers individuals the chance to meet a number of new individuals
quickly in a safe and public environment.”
Executive Wisconsin Dating
http://www.executivewisconsindating.com/comparisons.html

“Supporters of speed dating claim it is more efficient and cost
effective than going to a bar.”

“Most speed dating sponsors charge between $20 to $40.”

Solve Dating
http://www.solvedating.com/speed-dating.html

Speed Dating

“Each attendee, who has registered for a small fee on the Internet,
receives a name badge and a flirt card upon arrival. The cards are
used to express the level of interest the participants feel for one
another in one of four categories: (1) Let's Flirt! (2) Activity Pals
(3) Business Contact or (4) No Vibes.”

“Speed dating is not about `hooking up' with someone. It's about the
excitement of meeting new people in a controlled, safe and friendly
environment.”
Jet, Jan 27, 2003, by Marti Yarbrough
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1355/5_103/96954204/p1/article.jhtml

==========================================
Online Internet Database Matching Services
==========================================

“The on-line internet database dating services have become very
popular recently. These sites offer you the opportunity to view
attractive potential dates instantly from the comfort of your own
home. All you have to do is find an attractive profile and send
someone an e-mail. Or, you can wait until someone spots your profile
and contacts you. It has become the pre-eminent low-cost, high-volume
dating method of the new millennium, spawning an entire internet
dating subculture.”
Executive Wisconsin Dating
http://www.executivewisconsindating.com/comparisons.html

Online dating services
“Many charge about $20 a month to post your photo and an in-depth
profile. Forbes reports this option is a mainstream phenomenon, with
revenues totaling $214 million the first half of 2003, triple the
amount spent in 2001.”
Times Online: February 2004
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2004/02/05/features/lifestyles_and_living/73024d740dd2966886256e2e005c291b.txt

“More than 17 million people viewed online personals last year and 2.5
million people have paid for online personals, according to Jupiter
Research.”

“American Demographics reported that only 22 percent of the 98 million
singles in the United States in 2002 had tried online dating.”

YAHOO

“Yahoo does not charge for singles to post an ad and they can browse
other ads for free. But it charges a subscription fee of about $25 a
month or $100 a year to initiate a relationship with another single
and reply to an ad.”

“Yahoo does not disclose how many people subscribe to its personals
service but the company said 70 percent of the company's subscription
revenue in the third quarter came from four services --- one of which
was personals.”

“Yahoo Chief Executive Terry Semel said last week that the company met
its goal of ending 2002 with 2 million paying subscribers.”

“Top online dating sites include USA Interactive's Match.com;
uDate.com Inc., which USA Interactive's recently agreed to buy;
Lavalife.com, and Yahoo”

SiliconValley.com: June 2003
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/4933379.htm

-------------------------------------------

At the following link you will find a description of the best American
online dating services. Members of these sites are mainly American and
Canadian. They are ranked according to their popularity.

“The Top 3 American online dating agencies are Match (#57), American
Singles (# 179) and Date (# 658). High ranking does not prove quality,
but it does mean that they are used by millions.”

Follow this link to read a summery of each one.
http://www.online-dating-services.co.za/american-online-dating-agencies.php

-------------------------------------------

From a Report by The Online Publishers Association:

“Consumers spent $302 million on paid personals and dating content in
2002, more than three times the $72 million they doled out for the
same services the previous year, the study found.”

“The leader, Match.com, reported a 154 percent growth in revenue, from
$49.3 million in 2001 to $125.2 million in 2002, according to Trish
McDermott, the company’s vice president of romance. Match.com charges
$24.95 for a monthly membership, which allows subscribers to send
e-mails to potential dating partners. Match.com (search) visitors can
post profiles or search the database for free.“

Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,87256,00.html

-------------------------------------------

Online dating is a $304 million a year industry.

“The online portion of the dating services industry makes up a third
of the total revenues with $304 million in 2002. The target
demographic for these services are the 83 million Americans that are
between 19 and 45 and single. They have received a significant
increase in the number of single women in their thirties and forties
searching for a connection through a very impersonal medium. This
trend has been on the rise since September 11th, an event which made
people realize how important life is and how personal attention can ad
to your life. That may be why almost 40% of frequent users are married
already. (. . .) 2-3% of internet users visit these sites and 60-70%
of those say they have made long-lasting friendships from their
encounters.”
Source: Knight Ridder Tribune Business News
http://www.lovecompass.com/weblog/archives/2003_09.html

-------------------------------------------

From a CBS News Poll - Feb. 2003

“Overall, 15% of all Americans who have Internet access have visited a
web site where single adults meet, but 28% of all unmarried people
with Internet access have done so.

(. . .)

While many single web surfers are perhaps just flirting with the idea
of online dating, some have taken the plunge and signed up for a
dating service. Among unmarried people who have Internet access, 10%
say they have signed up for an Internet-based dating service at some
point.”

SUBSCRIBE TO INTERNET DATING SERVICE?
(Among unmarried Internet users)

5% - Yes, I have
5% - I have & someone I know has
20% - I don't but someone I know has
70% - No, I don't & no one I know does

“7% of unmarried Internet users say they have gone on a date with
someone they met online.“

GONE ON AN INTERNET DATE?
(Among unmarried Internet users)

6% - Yes, I have
1% - Yes, I have & someone I know has
42% - Someone I know has
51% - No, not me nor anyone I know

“Overall, 67% of Americans with Internet access do not think the
online world provides a good way to meet people. 24% say it does. Men
are slightly more likely to be accepting of it: by 27% to 21%, more
men than women with Internet access think cyberspace is a good place
for single adults to meet.”

Source: CBS News Poll
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/17/opinion/polls/printable540870.shtml

-------------------------------------------

“Online dating sites attract about 20% of the Internet population, and
Jupiter Research predicts huge growth. Last year Jupiter estimated
that 17.2 million people viewed online personals and 2.5 million of
them paid for online ads. In 2006, Jupiter predicts, 27.4 million will
view online personals and 5.2 million will pay for ads.”
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2003-02-09-online-dating_x.htm

-------------------------------------------

From an Ipsos-Reid Poll:

“Majority Of Americans (52%) Think That People Have A Better (44%) Or
At Least Equal (8%) Chance Of Meeting Someone Online Than At A
Single’s Bar Four-In-Ten (40%) Think That A Relationship Initiated
Online Has A Better (32%) Or Equal (8%) Chance Of Success Than One
Initiated In A Singles Bar”

“Three-In-Ten (29%) Would (27%) Or Might (2%) Recommend Online Dating
As An Alternative Way Of Meeting Other Singles To Their Single
Friends”

Chances of meeting someone online versus a single’s bar

“60% of $50,000/more households and 56% of college graduates think
that people have a better or equal chance of meeting someone they like
online than at a single’s bar. This compares with 50% of
$25,000-$50,000 income households and less than $25,000 households,
and 54% of those with some college and 48% of those with high school
or less.
Among other subgroups, 55% of men and 50% of women think that people
have a better or equal chance of meeting someone they like online than
at a single’s bar. This is also true among 53% of those aged 18-34
years, 57% of 35-54 year olds and 46% of those aged 55 years or more,
55% of those who are currently married and 51% of those who are
currently single, and 51% of residents in the Northeast, 52% Midwest,
53% South and 53% West.”
http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=1635

Online dating study: Tables
http://www.ipsos-reid.com/pdf/media/mr020930-1tb.pdf

=====================
Demographics and Fees
=====================

You may view demographics for Date.com here:
http://www.date.com/dateinfo/infotopic_87.html#5

You may view demographics for Matchmaker here:
http://advertising.lycos.com/destinations/matchmaker.asp

You may view demographics for Match.com here:
http://www.thevistaonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/02/18/3e53b0d69d67d

You may view demographics for Jumpdates.com here:
http://www.jumpdates.com/adt_home_advertise.asp

Online Singles Sites

Yahoo! Personals: personals.yahoo.com
COST: $24.95 for one month
DEMOGRAPHICS: a range of 21- to 40-year-old professionals
FEATURE: Voice and video clips, and conversation starters

Match.com
COST: $24.95 for one month
DEMOGRAPHICS: about 8 million members, about half of whom are under 30
FEATURE: Match.com messenger, MatchLive mixers (additional cost) and
MatchScene, an singles webzine.

Matchmaker.com
COST: $24.95 for one month
DEMOGRAPHICS: 10 million members
FEATURE: Extensive question/essay portion, specialized sections
including College Connection and Christian Connection, and singles
events.

Date.com
COST: $24.95 per month
DEMOGRAPHICS: about a million members, 30 percent between 20 and 30
FEATURE: Uses a secret formula designed by relationship experts and
psychologists to pair people up

Dreammates.com
COST: pay per credit, $19.95 for 10 credits
DEMOGRAPHICS: more than 3.5 million members
FEATURE: ability to send and recieve basic messages for free, and
three different communities: Dating, Romance and Intimate.

Eharmony.com
COST: $49.95 for one month
DEMOGRAPHICS: hundreds of thousands of singles looking for long-term relationships
FEATURE: a patent-pending matching model based on 29 key dimensions

Lavalife.com
COST: $14.95 for 60 credits
DEMOGRAPHICS: 4.6 million members exchanging 1.1 million messages daily
FEATURE: real-time instant messaging, in-depth profiling and
interactive voice response telephone technology.

http://graphic.pepperdine.edu/archives/2003-02-13/lifestyles/2003-02-13-dating.shtm

-------------------------------------------

A new survey conducted by comScore Networks in Reston, Va., shows that
office workers are falling in love — with online dating services and
Web sites that post personal ads.

"There were about 7.9 million users from work who visited personal Web
sites," says Stephen Kim, chief research officer for comScore. "And
that actually accounts for 35 percent of all the time spent at
personal [classified] categories."

Kim says a clear majority of the estimated 26.6 million online romance
seekers are still logging in from home. But those who are looking for
love using the office PC's are spending way more time at these sites
than the average home surfers — 51 vs. 37 minutes.
— Karen Chase, ABCNEWS
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/Relationships/cybershake030214.html

-------------------------------------------

Events for singles include Speed Dating, Single Cruises, Travel tours
and Specialty Parties.

Links to single cruises
http://www.singlesstop.com/directory/singles_events/singles_cruises/index.shtml

Links to Specialty Parties
http://www.singlesstop.com/directory/singles_events/specialty_parties/index.shtml

Links to Travel tours for Singles
http://www.singlesstop.com/directory/singles_events/travel_tours/index.shtml

Speed Dating Websites
http://www.singlesstop.com/directory/singles_events/speed_dating/index.shtml

=============
Older Singles
=============

According to the AARP Magazine Survey:

“Close to a third of unmarried American woman in their 40s through 60s
who date are going out with younger men.”

“Sex on a first date? Only 2 percent of single women in the age group
approved, while 20 percent of the men were amenable. Frequency of sex?
Sixty percent of the women and 45 percent of the men said they hadn't
had any in the past six months.”

- 60 percent of singles aged 40-69 are women, a majority of them divorced.
- 42 percent of the men and 24 percent of the women had never been married.
- Thirty-four percent of women say they're dating younger men
- Among the men, 66 percent said they were dating younger women.
- For both men and women, the top reason for dating was to find fun
and companionship.
- Only 11 percent of the men and 2 percent of the women cited sex as
the main motive.
- 8 percent of the respondents said they were dating in order to find
a marriage partner
- 9 percent said they were looking for someone to live with.
- 30 percent of the singles reported difficulty finding dates
- many were attending mixers and using online dating services.

CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/29/national/main575536.shtml

-------------------------------------------

Statistics

“Of the 97 million Americans who are 45 or older, almost 40
percent—36.2 million—are on the loose, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau.”

“This is no doubt one reason that the number of older singles who
shack up without marrying has skyrocketed. Recent data from the U.S.
Census found that among households headed by a person who is 45 or
older, 1.2 million contain two adults who are not related or married
to each other. That represents a dramatic increase from 1995, when
just 736,000 of such households contained two unmarried adults.”

“There are some dating obstacles only women face: They live
longer—which is a medical blessing but a dating curse. While the
differences are relatively minor for those ages 55 through 64, when
there are 92 men for every 100 women, they get more dramatic as men
die and women thrive. In the 65 through 74 age group, there are 82 men
for every 100 women. And after 75, the ratio drops to 53 men for every
100 women.”

AARP
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/Articles/a2003-09-23-seekinglove.html

-------------------------------------------

Our nation is teeming with 86 million adult singles,

“According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there indeed are mobs of
divorced/widowed/never-married Americans eligible for the re-dating
game.”

“So you're 25 to 29? You have 9 million unattached peers. You're 35 to
44? You're 13 million strong. You're 55 to 64? You have 2.3 million
same-age contemporaries. Singles make up 42 percent of the workforce,
40 percent of home buyers and 35 percent of voters.”

“Our culture remains marriage-centric. Almost 75 percent of us walk
down the aisle by age 35, 95 percent by 65.”

The Times Online: February 2004
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2004/02/05/features/lifestyles_and_living/73024d740dd2966886256e2e005c291b.txt

-------------------------------------------

Fun Facts based on a survey of 3000 IJL clients

- 1 in 8 chance that a first date will call you for a second date
after 24 hours have passed.
- $201 is the average amount that men spend on dates per month
- 17% is the chance of liking a date set up by a friend
- 79 percent of men will take 15 minutes on a first date to make up
their mind whether or not to see the person again.

- The average number of first dates for a single professional in the past year: 8.
IJL
http://www.itsjustlunch.com/fun_facts.asp

-------------------------------------------

“Over 70 million adults in the United States are single. The Census
Bureau statistics show that people are choosing to marry less
frequently, or to marry later, than in past generations.”

“A report indicates that email relationships can be far more intimate
than normal dating. Women are most likely to find a potential lover
online, with 72% admitting to having had an online romance, compared
to 52% of men. The report also found that 33% of all online
relationships led to a date."
- The Sunday Times, Innovations

“In 1727, Helen Morrison, a lonely spinster, became the first woman to
place a Lonely Hearts advertisement. It appeared in the Manchester
Weekly Journal. The mayor promptly committed her to a lunatic asylum
for four weeks.”
- The People's Almanac #2
http://www.date.com/dateinfo/infotopic_89.html

============================================
Additional information that may interest you
============================================

Here is a previous question that I answered regarding Internet dating
in the UK which will provide you with additional information.
Internet dating in the UK
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=242476

Articles:

BACHELORS BEGIN TO LOSE UPPER HAND
The Wall Street Journal
Biological clock starts ticking for bachelors looking for mates
By Nancy Anne Jeffrey
http://listarchives.his.com/smartmarriages/smartmarriages.0112/msg00007.html

Digital matchmakers share the love
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-837330.html

The article at MSNBC News “Online dating: Everyone’s doing it” may
interest you. It includes statistics from the top online dating
services and other data.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/806278.asp?cp1=1#BODY

Market Report:

“The U.S. Dating Service Industry is a $917 million business in the
U.S., as online dating services have skyrocketed in popularity since
9-11-2001. The Web has revolutionized this business and has brought
affordable and convenient matchmaking to the masses. One more year of
strong online dating service growth is expected, then a slowdown in
2004, as the novelty wears off.”
http://www.marketresearch.com/researchindex/855927.html

Table of Contents
http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?productid=855927&SID=95142634-258499763-180594265&curr=USD&xs=r&kw=&view=toc

============

Search criteria:

dating services
dating services speed dating
dating services matchmakers
online dating services
dating statistics
U.S. dating market
U.S. dating industry

I hope you find my research helpful. Good luck with you book!

Best wishes,
Bobbie7

Comments

There are no comments at this time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully the Google Answers Terms of Service.

If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by emailing us at answers-support@google.com with the question ID listed above. Thank you.

2007-07-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

My own personal story:
I discovered myspace due to my friend Laura. I had always made fun of her because of the hype of it all that people made it out to be. I never believed in online love, or dating online and had always warned her about the warnings of it all, until the day I experienced it for myself. Let me go back to the beginning. Thanks to my wonderful friend Laura, I had joined in with millions of others on the website www.myspace.com. It was about six months ago that I had met Ben Wallace online through myspace. I was searching other myspace members through the browse toolbar that it has to offer. I didn't put in any specific location, and ended up finding a members profile: "Texas Surfer", who I thought was pretty good looking, as well as someone who seemed legitimate to want to talk to/communicate via e-mail/chat. He sent me a message that read "if you aren't going to talk to me, I can't be your friend." So, I replied stating that I was real. Our online emails had continued over the months, which led to talking on the phone. We have been talking on the phone daily for about 5 months now. Our once friendly conversatins lead to something more. Something more as where we began to ask more personal questions and began to have an attraction for one another, physically and emotionally.
After all that time getting to know one another, he finally decided to come down to St.Louis from Tyler, TX to meet me. This was a little over a month ago. I brushed it off because I didn't think he would really come down here to meet me, but all in all he was sincere. I was really nervous to meet him face to face. I talked with many people before hand, and had three of my friends on call in case something were to go wrong when I was in his presence. Everything turned out just fine. We had a really good time. I showed him all over town because he had never been here before. I enjoyed his company.
Since Ben had been here, and left we have talked on a daily basis like before, but more times a day than before. We both have had outrageous phone bills, and good talks. He is planning on coming down once again this upcoming weekend. July 13th - July 16th and I'm really excited to see him again. Things are going good between us, and hope for the best. Long distace relationships like any other aren't that easy, but with open communication and honesty, it helps to make things go smoothly. We haven't talked about the future too much, but we both know that we want to be with each other and we're doing all that we can do for this to work out.

Research Paraphrased Summary and FastWrite 07-03-07

2007-07-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Source #1:

Before the date:
Do exchange photos. It's like ordering a flower arrangement over the phone -- you want to know what it will look like.
Don't post a photo from your hot days in college. Choose a flattering picture, but don't advertise goods you can't deliver!
During the first date:
Do provide details about yourself. Share just enough information about yourself that your date will be itching to learn more.
Don't go overboard in revealing personal information about yourself. On the first meeting, no one needs to know the names of your childhood pets or that you take antidepressants.
Do stick to positive and relatable topics in your conversation. Discuss work, movies, etc.Don't try something that you might not be able to pull off. If you attempt to fake a skill, you'll crash and burn.
Do show off a special talent. Great at bowling? Go for it -- as long as you come off confident and fun.
If things don't work out and you want to end the relationship:
Don't pull a disappearing act. Guys, if you appear to have fallen off the face of the Earth, girls will picture you lying in a ditch somewhere, cell phone in hand, trying desperately to call. So it's best to come clean!
Do bow out gracefully. Avoid doing the slow fade.
Don't break up over e-mail -- even if you met that way.
Do break up in person.

(Paraphrased Summary)
Here, this passage is stating what’s pretty much of what is expected of any given date situation. You always want to be aware of your surroundings and know what to do in case of a bad situation. It’s pretty much stating that you should prepare for the good and the worst so you’re not stuck in a bad scenario that you don’t want to be a part of.

(Fast Write)
I tend to make sure that I know what I am getting into when I begin to date someone new. In my past, I didn’t so much- but today I do due to past experiences and learning lessons. I am much more aware of my surroundings and I feel that if people would just take a little bit more time to try and understand that online dating is just as common now as in – person meeting/ dating is than it used to be.

Research Summary 07-03-07

2007-07-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

Mandy Riester
Eng 102
Research / Online Dating

http://www.internetdatingstories.com/

http://www.theinternetdatingguide.com/

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/HookingUp/

Each website has given me plenty of good and beneficial information that I need and can use in

my research paper. I find that the stories that are given to me from both sides – (men and

women) give me a better look at how everyone looks at dating from each perspective.

Within the website of http://www.internetdatingstories.com/ , I found a lot of different stories,

good and bad from people who have experienced dating someone online (in person). The stories

start off at how that person and the other came about meeting one another. Everything seems

to me to be really good and sometimes “too good to be true”. As that person’s story progresses,

they go into greater detail of how that particular person does things that are either irritating, or just rude to turn them off.

- Stories: Good and Bad

- Story submission (personal experiences of your very own)

In the next site that I have searched, which is; http://www.internetdatingguide.com/ I have

found similar, yet more detailed information. The following I have found;

-Flirty Text Messages

- Dating Tips

- Online dating Statistics

- Love on the Internet

- And other sites which are designed for those who are disabled, but also in search of love online.

Those sites are as follows;

a) http://www.whispers4u.com/

b) http://www.lovebyrd.com/

My third website that I had found was

www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/HookingUp. There I have found even more about;

- Dating Tips

- Dating Sources (links to)

All of these listed websites I like, and will use to show how efficient and easy online dating is, and

that it’s just as good or as bad as meeting someone as a blind date. Here, these 3 listed sites

guide you through the process of dating someone online, with tips, suggestions, and personal

stories that will help ease you into the process.

Research Interview Layout

2007-06-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

Your Name:

Your Age:

Are you FOR or OPPOSED to online dating?

Have you ever met anyone online? (In person)

If so, did the two of you become emotionally attached, beyond the line of friendship?

When? / How long did it take for a relationship to form of friendship on a regular to daily basis?

Did a relationship occur?

What kind of relationship?

How (if so), did this all come about?

How long did your online dating relationship experience last?

What did you like most about your online dating relationship experience?

What did you dislike most about your online dating relationship experience?

Do you still talk to the person whom you have had relations with?

What advice, GOOD &/or BAD would you offer to someone who is considering dating someone online?

Any Additional Advice/ Personal Experience?

If OPPOSED to online dating, why do you feel this way?

(What) makes you / (Why) do you feel this way?

Why do you think that it’s looked so down upon?

Any questions that you would like to know more about?

Thank you very much for your time and story. Mandy Riester (Online Dating Research / summer 2007)

Database List

2007-06-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

*EBSCO*
(online dating)
- newspaper source
-funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia

*CQ Researcher*
search:
-online dating
-myths and facts of dating online
-dangers and benefits of online dating

*The WallStreet Journal* / *ProQuest*
-matchmaking
-online dating tools ie: match.com, e-harmony, myspace (3)

*SILC Statewide Illinois Library Catalog* / *First Search*
-good/ bad online dating
-anyone's personal experiences? good/ bad

Research Topic Reflection...

2007-06-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

Online Dating:
To inform / persuade my audience that dating someone online is just as safe and / or dangerous as meeting someone in person and dating them.

I really like my topic, and think that it will be pretty simple for me to dig into.
I think that, because I relate to it personally.

I want to do 10 interviews, of 5 people who are for the idea of online dating, and another 5 people who have had bad experiences with online dating, or who are just opposed to the idea, w/o experiences. Either way- I get input on a personal level of both sides of the fence. I want to get reactions from others to see what they have to say 1-on-1 versus only searching for sources inside of books, and on the web. I think that it will make my paper more fun, and interresting for myself and that way it'll give me a better drive to write the 10 pages assigned.

I really like that this paper is what we as the writer, chose the topic ourselves, which will give us more options and personal interrest(s). I know for sure that I'll have a good time w/this, and I hope my audience will have just as much fun reading it, as I am going to - writing it.

yay!

Excercise 4.2

2007-06-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

I feel that meeting and dating someone online has become a really big "thing" in today's society. Before, you never really heard about this until the internet really took off. I think that meeting people online is a great way of networking, sharing common interrests and falling in love.

E-harmony, Myspace, Match.com and other resources are great ways to meet one another.
You have heard many stories about the horror of people getting killed by meeting someone off of the internet, but couldn't that happen in your neighborhood just as well.

Ex. 1.5

2007-06-20T19:35:00.001-07:00

Step 1:
* What is so bad about online dating?
Step 2: (for those Opposed/interview)
-personal experiences? what was yours like?
-why do people look down upon it?
-why do you think it's so dangerous?
-does television have anything to do w/negative perspective? ie Dateline/ 20/20- how to catch a preditor? (does that have any effect?)
-would it make you feel any better if I told you that I used my good judgement?
-What if your child fell in love with someone online, would you change your negative perspective, or would you still be against it? (if you were opposed)

(for those who are - for dating online)
-personal experiences?, what was yours like?
-what good came of it?
-in contact still w/the person/persons met?
-the best thing that has happened?
-why are you for online dating?
-any advice for those seeking love online?

*My paper is going to be some interview base, so these are the questions that I want to use in that part of my research.

Excercise 1.1

2007-06-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Building an Interest Inventory 1.1
Step 1:
Places:
*myspace
*match.com
*E-harmony
*chat rooms

Trends-
*seems to be what's new (myspace)
*alot of people these days are online (of all ages)

Things-

Technologies-
*computers (IM'ing, Chatrooms)
*phones

People-
*races
*ages
*gender

Controversies-
*online dating is bad
*meeting people from the internet is dangerous

History-
*personal story
*News - t.v. / newspaper

Jobs-

Habits-
*online dating vs. in - person dating

Hobbies-

Step 2:
? Is dating someone from the Internet such a bad thing after all?
? What are the benefits?
? What are the disadvantage(s) of online dating?
(These are only what comes to my mind instinctively, but I'll have more questions as I keep researching my topic)

Step 3:
A.) What's so bad about meeting people online to date in reality?
B.) How dangerous is online dating?
C.) Advantages/ Disadvantages - dating someone online?

The Google Story

2007-06-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

"The Google Story"
Vise, David A, and Mark Malseed "Click Tricks" The Google Story. NY:Bantam 2005.

-In early 2005, Cohen had learned to spring into action and agressively if something seemed questionable.
-leadingexpert.com
-ads to fill out mortgage applications jacked up advertising fees.
-unanswered question: how much was this costing Cohen in advertising fees that his firm paid Google. How to stop it and what's motivating them to hurt his buisness in this way?

-Competitors: $5-$10/click
(click frauds)
Every 100 clicks, 5 of them are expected to fill out mort. applications

Request/ Attention of click fraud;
1. ad group/ keyword
2. time/date
3. a paragraph which explains what led to finding suspecious activity
4. weblog/ report access- suspecious IP add, refr, requests with that info. investigation
(Google Click Quality Team)
-highest threat against buisness.
-responded mostly w/free marketed solutions
-Google's the biggest player in rapidly growing marketing segment.

-yahoo vs. google- has certain controls to hold down level of click fraud that google doesn't. Yahoo reviews ea. new site manually.
-CEO George Reyes: "While we can't promise that we'll be able to prevent all instances of click fraud, we're very pleased with the results to date."

Chapter: "Attacking Microsoft"
-google opened office putting microsoft engenieers out of work who wanted to work for google.
-"If you're not part of the steamroller, you're part of the road".
-competed with Microsoft
-Google- the next Netscape?
-Gates vs. Google
dev. free software vs upgradeable software of Microsoft.
-Google to become- Justice's Dept. next antitrust agent?
-$ goes to content provider
where, fee = billing relationship

Chapter: "Money Machine"
-a great stock to buy or dangerous high - wire act?
-google's financial state. walk up to the IPO, high octane money machine powered by a search engine.
-made money so quickly, having no debt.
-profits depended on internet advertising. On the other hand, other's believed that in google and confidence in google's ad model.
-tv/ magazines/ internet (google- no diff.)
-google crew- company signed with new ads through self serv.
WHICH : cut costs, increased revenue.
-brand awareness
-stock became sucessfull
$85-$300 breaking barrier
-google stock had taken on a life as it's own.

My Notes:
I honestly, without reading the entire content of the book, i didn't grasp too much knowledge of what was trying to be stated. I understood that it isn't cheap to have a buisness, and can't always trust your enemy. They seem to only be out to get you- competitor(s).
I understood that the stock market from the time that google had only begun to 2005 has risen to great heights.
Other than that, I really didn't understand much at all.

step 1/2

2007-06-12T07:24:00.001-07:00

Step # 1
1.) It's ok to say things the instructor may disagree with.
2.) Follow a formal structure
3.) Know your thesis before you start
4.) Information comes mostly from books
5.) Summerizing what's known about the topic is most important
- I agree with most of the above more than the other statements listed in the book. I don't believe that anyone person has all of the correct answers, so of course there may be conflict in beliefs or opinions in one's paper, from an audiences perspective.
- I enjoy structure more than leinency. More of an appreciation once completed. A formal structure feels more organized and seems as if there is much more thought placed into the paper vs. as if it was thrown together off the top of your head puzzle-pieced type of paper.
-Knowing exactly what the point of my paper will be about, helps me to better organize my thoughts and plan much easier for the entire as a whole. I'll learn and understand new facts than I ever knew of before and can use those facts in future situations if the topic were to arise.
-Gathering information from books, but not only from- and other resources such as the internet, etc. is an excellent way of hands-on learning tools. I like using more than one source because I widen my horizon and see what more there is offered vs. only book research.-Summerizing the known topics covered throughout the paper re-ensures the importance of what's going on in my opinion.
-Research papers, for me, is the most challenging. The rewards of hard work put forth is definatly worth the pushing myself to do good, having fun with it, along with gaining knowledge and experience, and along the way open minded appreciation.

pigeon re-do

2007-06-12T07:23:00.001-07:00

(A) Sources: books, internet, people and yourself- Getting more of what you want and need. (Dev. and Support)
(B) Opinions (of your own)- More involved in topic
(C) Facts- Inspirational
(D) p. 14-16 - Dry? Make it more interresting by making it seem personally interresting to you so that the readers want more!
Reflection (p 16-24)
"The Bothersome Beauty of Pigeons"
-Venders are flocking together like a bunch of pigeons, and ran out of square by police.-"Instinctual for human beings to respond warmly to many other animals, particularly those that we find attractive.
-Pigeon's (he watched, and alike the vendor's had a similar act)
-Pigeonsmakemehomesick.com
-Pigeons eat food/ humans compete work-Online organizations / web - pigeon lovers
a. George Foreman
b. Paul Newman
c. B. F. Skinner- used them (pigeons) for study subjects (intellegence)
- N. America from Europe 1600's (birds introduced)
-Lia Bartolomei - Italian woman interviewed (marble to dust, acid in droppings explained)
-$150,000 / yr. to clean up droppings in London
-boise, Idaho -Pigeons thrive
* I really like the format, and the details placed in paper. It wasn't confusing and I grasped a good sense of what was going on throughout the entire paper. It flows very smoothly.
- Reaching outside of books/ web for more information
-Make research more fun and not so much like it's one of my chores
- Personal opinions/ situations

This will be my step 2... of step 1

2007-06-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Step # 2:
There is a big difference between facts and opinions.
-all that I could think of for this subject, is that facts are based upon the truth. With facts, there are ways that you can back it up.
-opinions are based primarily upon one's thoughts and ideas about a subject. Opinions, you can't back up except with personal situations (if have had experienc).