Senior Dating
Senior dating on the Internet is an exciting opportunity for people who may have never considered online dating before. It might have been decades since you were in the singles scene, or you might not be a natural with computers. In either case, if you're new to online seniors dating, there are a few things you should know.
First of all, social networking and building relationships on the Web is flexible. You can make the kind of friends you want to make. If you're looking for online friends to chat with and keep you company, that's available. If you want to meet a companion who is going to be with you in the golden years, that's attainable. If you simply want to meet other seniors in your area to watch movies with, go to local events or become your travel companions, you can find those on an online dating website.
Of course, most people reading a "Senior Dating" article are looking for love and romance. An Internet dating site is great for love matches, and all the major sites cater to seniors dating.
Seniors Online Dating
Start out with the free membership status on big sites that support seniors online dating, like eHarmony or Match.com. Consider a seniors online dating site like Senior Friend Finder. Most reputable online dating sites offer free membership status, so you can get your feet wet and test-drive the community.
Try this out first, before you give out your credit card information. Stick with the bigger, better known sites that have good identity security, so you don't get into identity theft issues.
But remember: most of the free options don't let you initiate contact. So if you're sending a bunch of shout-outs and emails to people on these sites and you're not getting replies, don't get discouraged. These people may never get your message. Once you feel comfortable with a site, purchase a month's membership and start to meet people online.
Be Cautious Making Friends
Seniors are going to have a lifetime experience meeting people, so I'm sure most are naturally cautious with strangers they meet through a piece of technology. That being said, I've noticed that I'm a little more savvy at spotting hoaxes and scams on the Internet than my mom and dad are, so you might not be familiar with all the tricks that con men pull online.
If so, remember that most people are who they say they are, but it's easy to represent yourself one way online, and be completely different offline. When you start a communication, use email contacts and don't give out your phone or home address. Don't loan a new online friend money and never give out personal information, not matter how trustworthy these people are.
Draw out your communication so long that a con man is going to despair of ever getting money out of you. Watch out for signs they are impatient or "need help immediately". Watch out to see if they avoid talking about themselves or they disappear for days on end. These people might be cautious, too, but they might be disingenuous.
Make Online Dates
Test them out with "online dates". Meet with them on other sites for games, chat or forum posting. There are a million games online, so choose one you like, such as chess, backgammon or Scrabble, and get to know them through an e-activity.
Meet in a Public Place
When you finally meet in person, meet in a public place away from your home. A coffee shop or restaurant are good, because there are plenty of witnesses. Coffee dates are great, because if they've misrepresented themselves in any way, you can break it off in 20 minutes, with no obligation.
Sometimes, even honest people have nothing in common, once they begin to talk. If that's the case, chalk it up to experience and move on.
Check Out Facts
When you meet someone and they tell you they're out of work and need cash, or some similar iffy story, look back at their profile and see what they say about their job or career. If their job status doesn't fit with someone who can't borrow money from a bank, credit union, credit card company or payday advance business, there's something terribly out of line.
Ask yourself why this person has no other friends or family members they can't borrow money from in a pinch? Why are you the person they trust most to ask for money: a person they've just met? It might be flattering to think you've made such a good friend so fast, but this is a person you've never met face-to-face.
Also, if you meet a person who claims to be your age, ask them questions that someone of your generation should know. Ask about songs, movies, entertainers and personalities of your generation. Ask them questions like "Where were you when JFK was shot?" or "Who did you vote for back in '68?" If this person seems to have no recollection or doesn't know information any Baby Boomer should know, there's something suspicious.
Senior Dating Tips
Remember, these senior dating tips are here to make your dating experience a positive one. I'm not trying to scare you off from the experience. Once you maintain your guard, you're free to meet the person of your dreams. Two-thirds of singles over 50 are into online dating. It's the best way to meet someone who is going to enrich your life and fulfill your dreams.
You just have to be cautious how you go about online senior dating.