DO S AND
DON'TS
of
dating & relationships
words by: ANITA FOSEN
Did you know that more than 20% of current committed relationships started online? Finding ' love' is now at your fingertips;
provided you have a Wi-Fi connection. Here are the rules for safe use, from the experts and ladies who have tried-and-tested
online dating themselves:
&
&
&
DO DO
DON’T DON’T
realise that you are complete without somebody else. If
you can get to that place of seeing that you don’t need
somebody else, then you are more likely to find
somebody who is actually perfect for you.
lie about your age. If a relationship starts on
a lie, then when it comes to actually being
in a relationship they will question what else you’ve lied
about.
- Rebecca Perkins, Midlife Coach
DO
take precautions: get to know someone online a bit
before you meet them, let a friend know who you are
meeting and where, and don't accept a first date at
their house!
DON’T
take rejection too personally, everyone is
looking for something different.
Rejection in the online world is not personal!
- Katy Red, Dating Expert
3 worth trying out
The original:
Match.com
The worlds biggest
dating agency, and
number one
destination for
online dating with
more dates, more
relationships, &
more marriages
than any other
dating or person-
als site. 50% of
members are aged
30-49, and the 50+
age group is Match.
com’s fastest grow-
ing demographic.
The adventurous:
TINDER
Sometimes seen as
a hook-up app, but
also eligible for long
term relationships.
Choose preferred
distance, gender and
age of your potential
matches and swipe
right or left (yes or
no) on the profiles.
Quick and easy.
15 • Dawn Magazine • Issue 01
The Niche
LOVE ARTS
decide whether you're up for a quick one-nighter or
looking for something long term before you go
into it – that way you can root a lot of people out
before you meet them.
neglect time and planning. Have a get-out
excuse in case you're not enjoying
it, or say in advance that you only have a couple of
hours before you have to do xxxx. Two hours is
plenty of time to know whether you might be
interested in finding out more.
- Charlotte price, online dater
&
DO
go niche. In addition to the originals like Match.com,
The Guardian Soulmates and Tinder, you should try
out some niche sites. There are religious ones like JDate,
or more hobby-based ones.
DON’T
be lazy about your profile. Say something
about yourself, but avoid too much past
angst and clichés. Also avoid being an unremittingly
super smiley bunny happy. It’s not real unless you’re
after being a trophy girlfriend – and you won’t be able to
keep it up anyway, so what’s the point?
- LINDA JOHNSON*, online dater:
&
DO
be fussy. Don’t just go for anybody or anything because
you want to go on a date. You deserve the best,
so you should be fussy about who you date.
If you have a specif-
ic hobby or interest,
why not go niche?
prolong the online element of it. If you like
Love Arts is a free
somebody, then meet them.
dating site for art
Relationships
aren’t supposed to be virtual, they are
lovers, but if art isn’t
supposed
to
be
real.
your thing you have
plenty of options:
- Sarah BURNS, met her husband online
from religious pref-
erences, to music
AND REMEMBER...
taste and favourite
foods.
DON’T
DO enjoy it!
Dating should be about having fun. •