One of the main reasons internet dating is so inviting (and so popular) is because it's a low-pressure way of meeting and getting to know people. You can take your time, and meet new people on your own terms. Just because internet dating is low-pressure doesn't mean that it's "no-rules." Just like traditional dating, there are some things you should never do when dating on the internet.
What NOT to Do
1. Don't... forget to proofread. How many times have you run across an online profile in which the owner professes to want to "date an entelligent person." For most of us, this sort of mistake works like a flashing neon sign, telling that this person isn't worth our time. The problem is, you probably have a few mistakes of your own on your profile. While it's not necessary to be perfect, you do want to spend time proofreading. And, of course, use a spell-checker.
2. Don't... give away too much. Something about the informality of internet dating tempts many people into telling too much too soon. After years of trying to meet people the "normal" way, you want to be straightforward and honest. You want to start things off on the right foot. But this doesn't mean you need to tell potential prospects everything about your life.
Be honest, but be selectively so. "I'm dedicated to my work" should not be expanded into "I feel married to my job and work 60 hours a week with no appreciation and my boss is an imbecile and I hate it all so much I want to pull my hair out!" At least, not until you get to know one another better. There's time for the heavy stuff later. Remember: it's an internet dating profile, not an internet therapy session.
3. Don't... set your date up for disappointment. This means, essentially, don't lie-- not in your profile, and not in your photos. While it's natural to want to exaggerate our positive attributes, lying will set up the people you meet for disappointment. If you read a handful of Danielle Steele novels a year, that doesn't make you an "avid reader of the classics," no matter how much you wish it did. And when an actual avid reader contacts you, he or she may well be disappointed in the reality of your hobbies.
In short, don't advertise what you don't have, either with your photos or your description. The look of disappointment on the face of your date when he or she sees how you actually compare to your Photo-shopped profile picture should be motivation enough to be honest. If you are straight about who and how you are, you start every contact off on the right foot. And when you're tempted to fib, remember this: they'll always find out the truth eventually.
4. Don't... be too picky. One of the appeals of internet dating is the broad range of people it puts you in a position to meet. But what's the point of all those options if you're not willing to meet new kinds of people? If you're only open to dating the kind of people that you'd probably meet in day-to-day life anyway, you're missing out on one of the huge benefits of this form of dating. Look for somebody who seems to have the personal, inner qualities that you want from a partner. You may just find that you're more compatible with the geek than with the jock you thought you preferred.
5. Don't... move too fast. One of the best things about internet dating is your ability to go at your own speed, and on your own terms. But chatting online and emailing can make a relationship seem deceptively casual; allowing you to move things into deeper territory than you would when standing with somebody face to face. Never forget that there's a real person on the other side of the screen, and don't move faster online than you'd be comfortable moving in real life.
