Everyone loves a bargain, but is discount dating for you?
Plenty of Fish, OKCupid and Craigslist- the top free dating sites may be a bargain at half the price, but are they for you? Free anything makes some people ecstatic and others a little skeptical. There is panoply of proverbs that apply to dating - all that glitters is not gold; win some, lose some; easy come, easy go. And, of course: opportunity only knocks once, emails five times and texts every hour. Internet Dating can be so very Charles Dickens, "... the best of times." Or not.
Hooked on Fish - Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish- is the highest rated, free dating sight. POF claims to have 10 million singles casting about. Reports indicate users spend 91 minutes per visit. Trolling? Okay, so users may be very slow readers or totally hooked. The site is super user friendly. You have to laud the creator, and sole employee, CEO Markus Frind, famous nerd hero of POF.
Innovative stuff. Will you get hooked? Check out the claim to fame: the Plenty of Fish Relationship Chemistry Predictor (POFCP), which expertly and quickly measures a candidate’s five broad dimensions. Now, no need to lapse into broad dimension jokes. Remember the Indian proverb, "Don't bargain for fish still in the water."
Okay, Cupid, Really?
You have to love the fact that OkCupid.com is a magnet. You will find quizzes, bells and whistles to attract and hold your attention. Check out the OkCupid Blog, it’s a romp. The Blog is filled with graphs, fun facts, and pointers and ‘youthful’ tips on what not to say in an email, which is like, so awesome, sweetie. OkCupid did the legwork for you and reveals which style photograph and informal greeting (i.e. how’s it going, what’s up, and howdy) is more seductive and successful. Every little bit helps. If you are looking for a soupcon of sophistication or a clever quip to impress a potential romantic connection: fuggedaboutit.
OkCupid tells all: the top four most positive, attention-getting words on the site are: Zombie, metal, vegetarian and band. There you have it, my little Zombie vegetarian. So, if those words are not in your daily lexicon, dude, that speaks, like, volumes. Next.
Nightmares: Buyer Beware and the Russians are Coming
There are a preponderance of slick scams, hustles and free dating sites (aka nightmares). Avoid these at all costs. Syrian, Nigerian and Russian brides and girlfriend sites are notorious.
Do You Really Get What You Pay For?
To compare and contrast, note that Eharmony, measures a very impressive, yet questionable, "29 dimensions" for $137.00 for a three-month trial. You do the math. Did you even know you had dimensions? For the fun of it - try another angle and stick your big toe into Plenty of Fish. You might want to try a little night fishing. If it’s not your idea of a good time, you can always catch and release.
Good luck and happy fishing. Tomorrow: Craigslist - Free or faulty?
San Francisco Dating@50 Examiner, Page Larkin, welcomes your feedback, questions and queries at PAGE.LARKIN@gmail.com
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