Written by Rebecca Stokes on CafeMom's blog, The Stir
Dating is hard. Online dating is even harder. But it's an increasingly common and less socially-weird-than-it-used-to-be way of meeting potential mates. I've done my fair share of it. I've triedOKCupid, eHarmony, and Match to name but a few of the cyber romantic walkways I have stumbled down. I haven't found love yet (call me, Michael Keaton). And while I might every so often shut down every single account and vow never to do it again, I always come back for more.
Because the odds are a whole lot more likely that I'll meet a dude online than I will in real life. I work with mostly ladies, and while they are awesome, I am not attracted to ladies. When work is through, I go to the gym or usually I go home. So unless I plan on the potential disaster of hitting on someone at the gym or on the subway (where I feel like I'd just immediately be arrested for harassment), I've got to keep an open mind where online dating is concerned.
It's not always easy. In fact, it's far more likely that I'll decide to start taking classes or going to science lectures in the hopes of awkwardly meeting someone with whom I'd like to bump uglies, try that for a while, and when it doesn't work, then I reactivate all my old accounts. Nothing changes when it comes to dating. There are basically six types of guys you come across. It can be bleak, but I do it anyway. Because while I'm a cynic, I'm also a romantic. He's out there, I just, in the immortal words of Michael Buble, haven't met him yet.
1. The Two-Letter Lover
![]()
"hi" That's all he has to say. No caps, no punctuation, maybe an emoticon if you're lucky. He's into you enough to spend less than two seconds composing a message. He's into you enough to trick you into doing the heavy lifting. In other words, he's not into you at all. Dudes of the world, you're better off not messaging us at all if 'hi' is all you have to say.
2. Captain Overshare
![]()
He seemed cute in his profile. His answers were quippy and on point; his photos were adorable. You guys like all the same bands! You should be psyched when you see his message in your inbox. And you are! Until you open it and see that it's just an unsolicited photo of his junk. Don't call us, penis. We'll call you.
3. Mr. Wuthering Heights
![]()
Things are going great with this guy! You might even have made it as far as going out on a couple of dates. But something isn't right. He talks about his ex ... kind of a lot. And not, like, in a normal way. One glass of wine and suddenly he's crying and sobbing her name. You guys are having a great night, until he begins screaming for his ex at the restaurant. He's a real romantic, a rare breed indeed, but he's obsessed with his ex.
4. The Insta-Boyfriend
![]()
You go on one date with this guy, and in his eyes, you're married. He's ready to get hitched, to settle down, to start with the baby-making. So much so that he doesn't care who joins him in this endeavor -- so long as she's got reproductive organs and seems vaguely nice.
5. Colonel Not-So-Serious
![]()
He's got a smoking body; he's funny and smart. He's the perfect catch. Except for one thing: He has no intention of ever seeing you again. He's a lot of fun, and who doesn't love fun? You. Try talking to him about 'where this is going' and you'll get his lecture -- he thinks you're great but he's not looking for anything serious, whatever his profile might say.
6. ... Hello?
![]()
I am convinced there is a void where all dudes who you exchange one, positive message with before they disappear forever are currently sitting waiting to be rescued. Sure, stuff happens, but where do these mystery dudes go?
What other types of dudes have you found while dating online?
More from The Stir:
18 Ways to Tell Your Date Is a Disaster
17 Truly Bizarre Pickup Lines We Can't Believe Men Fed Us (PHOTOS)
My Date's Shocking Confession About His 'Roommate' Left Me Speechless
Confessions of an Online Dating Virgin
The 12 Stages You Go Through on a Really Bad Date (PHOTOS)
Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Divorce on Facebook and Twitter.
Dating is hard. Online dating is even harder. But it's an increasingly common and less socially-weird-than-it-used-to-be way of meeting potential mates. I've done my fair share of it. I've triedOKCupid, eHarmony, and Match to name but a few of the cyber romantic walkways I have stumbled down. I haven't found love yet (call me, Michael Keaton). And while I might every so often shut down every single account and vow never to do it again, I always come back for more.
Because the odds are a whole lot more likely that I'll meet a dude online than I will in real life. I work with mostly ladies, and while they are awesome, I am not attracted to ladies. When work is through, I go to the gym or usually I go home. So unless I plan on the potential disaster of hitting on someone at the gym or on the subway (where I feel like I'd just immediately be arrested for harassment), I've got to keep an open mind where online dating is concerned.
It's not always easy. In fact, it's far more likely that I'll decide to start taking classes or going to science lectures in the hopes of awkwardly meeting someone with whom I'd like to bump uglies, try that for a while, and when it doesn't work, then I reactivate all my old accounts. Nothing changes when it comes to dating. There are basically six types of guys you come across. It can be bleak, but I do it anyway. Because while I'm a cynic, I'm also a romantic. He's out there, I just, in the immortal words of Michael Buble, haven't met him yet.
1. The Two-Letter Lover
"hi" That's all he has to say. No caps, no punctuation, maybe an emoticon if you're lucky. He's into you enough to spend less than two seconds composing a message. He's into you enough to trick you into doing the heavy lifting. In other words, he's not into you at all. Dudes of the world, you're better off not messaging us at all if 'hi' is all you have to say.
2. Captain Overshare
He seemed cute in his profile. His answers were quippy and on point; his photos were adorable. You guys like all the same bands! You should be psyched when you see his message in your inbox. And you are! Until you open it and see that it's just an unsolicited photo of his junk. Don't call us, penis. We'll call you.
3. Mr. Wuthering Heights
Things are going great with this guy! You might even have made it as far as going out on a couple of dates. But something isn't right. He talks about his ex ... kind of a lot. And not, like, in a normal way. One glass of wine and suddenly he's crying and sobbing her name. You guys are having a great night, until he begins screaming for his ex at the restaurant. He's a real romantic, a rare breed indeed, but he's obsessed with his ex.
4. The Insta-Boyfriend
You go on one date with this guy, and in his eyes, you're married. He's ready to get hitched, to settle down, to start with the baby-making. So much so that he doesn't care who joins him in this endeavor -- so long as she's got reproductive organs and seems vaguely nice.
5. Colonel Not-So-Serious
He's got a smoking body; he's funny and smart. He's the perfect catch. Except for one thing: He has no intention of ever seeing you again. He's a lot of fun, and who doesn't love fun? You. Try talking to him about 'where this is going' and you'll get his lecture -- he thinks you're great but he's not looking for anything serious, whatever his profile might say.
6. ... Hello?
I am convinced there is a void where all dudes who you exchange one, positive message with before they disappear forever are currently sitting waiting to be rescued. Sure, stuff happens, but where do these mystery dudes go?
What other types of dudes have you found while dating online?
More from The Stir:
18 Ways to Tell Your Date Is a Disaster
17 Truly Bizarre Pickup Lines We Can't Believe Men Fed Us (PHOTOS)
My Date's Shocking Confession About His 'Roommate' Left Me Speechless
Confessions of an Online Dating Virgin
The 12 Stages You Go Through on a Really Bad Date (PHOTOS)
Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost Divorce on Facebook and Twitter.