Tec Stories

The internet has truly changed how we do things. It used to be that, when you wanted to meet people, you actually had to leave the house. Perhaps you took a class, joined a gym, went to religious services or simply paid closer attention to who else was shopping in the grocery store at the same time. There was no such thing as internet dating.

Now, thanks to some crafty web designer, we can access a website, create a user name and create an online profile. We might include a picture, some details about yourself and the type of person we hope to meet and, with the simple click of a "submit" button, we've entered the world of internet dating. That profile is now waiting for a hit from someone else's on-line search.

As much as many people still frown on internet dating, it has definitely become a viable way to start a relationship. It's certainly true that, from the outset, we've simply been plucked out of an on-line search. I, myself, once agreed to an instant messaging conversation with a fellow because I liked his user name. It was funny, made me laugh and really caught my attention. Turned out he was a very nice guy and, after weeks of getting to know one another, that funny user name led me into a long-distance relationship.

I don't believe that anyone does an on-line search on a dating site and actually believes they are looking for their future spouse. I think everyone wants to have faith that there is someone out there for them, maybe even a perfect match. We all deserve to be happy and, like it or not, many people do link happiness to being in a committed relationship. When one has been unsuccessful at finding a loving partner through traditional means and venues, internet dating does become an attractive and appealing possibility.

We spend so many hours in front of our computers for work, for fun, for pleasure. It is rather natural that we consider it a tool of communication. We may have an online persona that we carry everywhere we go or we may create a new user name at every opportunity. However, in all of those incarnations, we meet people - real people behind keyboards. Some may be wonderful, others may be dreadful. In the best of cases, we cross paths with a special someone that, through sheer distance, we would never have had a chance to meet in the grocery store.