This is hard and I need to take a break from online dating

I liked your interesting post. Agree with it too. I do not trust the technicalities on this site at all. It's a business with marketing strategies galore. And I'm afraid things are not always what they seem.

I think people had better luck meeting people years ago in the bars and clubs. Many, many people I knew and know now met years ago in those social settings, but to me it seems on-line sites have replaced those meeting sites to a large degree. I know many of the old gathering places of the 80's-90's are no longer in business. It's a technological world out there and not always for the better. Maybe some of our face to face social skills have fallen by the wayside.

I think things are definitely system generated on this site.

I think people had better luck meeting people years ago in the bars and clubs. Many, many people I knew and know now met years ago in those social settings, but to me it seems on-line sites have replaced those meeting sites to a large degree. I know many of the old gathering places of the 80's-90's are no longer in business. It's a technological world out there and not always for the better. Maybe some of our face to face social skills have fallen by the wayside.

I think people had better luck meeting people years ago in the bars and clubs. Many, many people I knew and know now met years ago in those social settings, but to me it seems on-line sites have replaced those meeting sites to a large degree. I know many of the old gathering places of the 80's-90's are no longer in business. It's a technological world out there and not always for the better. Maybe some of our face to face social skills have fallen by the wayside.

I absolutely believe that a break is necessary every once and awhile in online dating, especially if you see your attitude toward it start to slip. But I also don't believe in missing out on an opportunity or wasting money so if I were you, I'd finish out the remainder of your subscription and experiment a bit to see if you get better results.

First, have you ever had your profile reviewed? You can do so right here on the board (there are instructions) including posting your pictures if you feel comfortable doing so, and members will give you advice. This ensures that for every person who does look at your profile you are making the best impression possible. Some people think they have wonderful profiles or pictures only to realize through feedback that they may not be presenting themselves in the best light.

And if you haven't already, I also second initiating. I do feel like the times I have had the best experiences on dating sites have been when I've been actively reaching out to people I find interesting. Yes, it doesn't mean everyone will respond but it seems to help my odds of meeting people in the long run.

And also I would say once you have taken your break, don't be afraid to give other sites a try. Different people find they are more successful with certain sites than others.

I am starting to wonder about the profiles I am receiving...are they active members? I've decided anyone that is active over 3 weeks ago is a non-subscriber. Someone here posted ice breakers are also non-subscribers.

The funny thing is during the past 6 months only a few men have actually started communication and then it drops off before ever getting to a meeting. Once I cancel my subscription men are viewing my profile almost daily....hmm that was never my experience during my subscription.

I have been a member on and off for 3 years and have only met one guy from Eh. He was nice but MUCH MUCH older than his profile or pictures. We looked like father and daughter by 30 years. It was very uncomfortable for me but I finished the date and was appreciative of his romantic gesture.

I decided to test my therory and contacted 300 of the profiles that had accumulated in my communication stream during the past 3 years. From the 300 whose status read active over 3 weeks ago only 30 viewed my profile or initiated communication. From those 30 only 10 resulted in a phone call or a coffee meeting. From the 10 I would not have a second date with any of them due to their omission of critical information during the phone call. (i.e. several mentioned their older children during the phone call but failed to tell me they have fathered a child in the last 2 years and they are in their mid 50's....umm no thanks!)

What gives with men viewing your profile repeatedly but never communicating? (Come on they can not all be a result of wank time)

I am starting to wonder if this is a system generated feature and not something from the actual person.

Anyway I am going to cancel my 3 month subscription a month early...I am just frustrated by wasting so much time on this with very little or no results over the past 3 years.