Sunday, April 12, 2009

Dos and Don’ts of High School Dating

Are you a high school student who is new to dating?  If so, you need to familiarize yourself with the dos and don’ts of high school dating.  By doing so, you are less likely to suffer from embarrassment or upset a girl.

Asking for a Date

DO look beyond looks.  Of course, you want to date a girl that is attractive, but it is important to go for more.  Dating is not a popularity contest.  Being with the hottest girl in school is nice, but make sure she has a good personality too.  So look beyond looks.  Find a girl that has similar interests as you or one with a great personality.

DON’T use a girl.  As previously stated, you should ask a girl on a date because you like her.  For that reason, do not use a girl.  If you want to be popular, rely on your own personality to get you there, not a girl from school.  Only date girls that you truly like or have an interest in, not because she may increase your popularity ranking.

DO be confident.  When asking a girl on a date, confidence is important.  With that said, if you are nervous or excited, that is fine too.  The best approach to take is to just ask.  Don’t spend hours worrying about how to ask or if she will say no.  Just say the words.  By doing so, your confidence will show.

DON’T be too confident.  Yes, confidence is good when asking a girl on a date, but it is important to use it in moderation.  Are you a popular student who is asking a quiet girl on a date?  You might assume she would love a date with you just because of who you are.  Yes, this may be true, but never let it show.  You can do a lot of damage by making a girl feel it is an honor to date you.

The Date

DO ask for suggestions.  Unless you asked your girl for a date by mentioning a movie you want to see, ask her for suggestions.  This approach is good if you barely know the girl in question.  Don’t plan a day of hiking and a picnic if your date doesn’t enjoy physical activity.

DON’T try to hard too impress her.  Many guys make mistakes on first dates.  This is okay and common.  One mistake you don’t want to make is trying too hard to impress her.  Don’t brag about all of your accomplishments.  Yes, you can mention the winning touchdown you scored at the last game, but do it once and then move on.

DO ask your date about herself.  Not only should you avoid talking too much about yourself on a first date, but you should ask your date about herself.  When doing so, be sure to avoid too many personal questions.  Is your date’s parents divorced?  If so, don’t ask her to go into more detail, as it is considered bad taste on the first date.

The Relationship

DON’T say I love you too soon.  In high school, a lot of couples exchange I love yous.  If you want to say it, go right ahead, but always proceed with caution.  Never say the phrase sooner than one month into your relationship and consider waiting longer.

DO have fun.  Of course, you can and should take a high school relationship seriously, but always remember to have fun.  If you and your girlfriend spend more time arguing than having fun, it is time to move on.  Relationships should be fun, so make sure yours is.

DON’T let a breakup consume you.  Relationships in high school are all about fun, not about finding your soul mate.  If that works great, but if not move on.  Find another girl you like and ask her on a date.  Just make sure she isn’t friends with your ex-girlfriend.  That is a can of worms you don’t want to open.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Christian Dating Services – What to Expect

It's hard enough to have a fun and enjoyable date with someone nice and decent. It's twice as hard to go on a date with someone who's not only nice and decent but whom you share a common faith with. The thing is, you rarely find someone whom you might like in your church or prayer community. That is how Christian dating services come to exist.

There are many reasons why people join these sites. While most people seek to develop a serious romantic relationship with others, there are some who join these sites to find a prayer partner or to develop fun friendships with people whom they share common beliefs and interests with. Whatever your reason is, the good thing of meeting someone through these websites is Christ's presence in your relationship. As your relationship grows, so does your faith in God. That, alone, is reason enough to join these websites.

The mechanism is simple. You register by filling out a form, upload a picture, and have your own mailbox. Once you've completed registration, you may then see their catalog or database. Here you are able to see members. You can make particular searches by age or area, depending on your preference. You can then send messages to people whom you might want to meet or pursue. If they respond, then it can be the beginning of something.

There are basically two types of these sites – free and commercial. Free sites do not ask their members for any charge. As for these commercial sites, they may or may not allow free trials for a short period. The prices of these sites differ as well. These are some things that you would have to consider in choosing a website.

What else should you consider? First, make sure that it is private and safe. Avoid sites which ask you to post your real name, address, work information or other personal information for other people to access. There are also some sites which personally pre-screen their members. This gives an assurance that a real person is on the other side and not a mere "ghost" or con man.

What other services do these sites provide? Aside from matchmaking services, they may also post relevant information such as safety dating tips and general dating advice. They remind you to be careful in giving out personal information, to get to know the other person more before agreeing to meet personally, to choose a public place in case you decide to meet. Who knows, the other person might turn out to be a serial killer or stalker.

Some sites also have forums or chat rooms where members can interact. This is also another chance to find interesting people, as you are able to converse and exchange views with them. They may also include other features such as bible commentary and testimonials from members.

Christian dating services are the "in" thing nowadays. While nothing beats the traditional way of approaching someone and asking for her or his number, in today's fast-paced world, the internet is also another way to meet and get to know people. As long as you are open to new ideas, these dating services can actually work for you. So why don't you give these sites a try. Browse through them and see if they work for you.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

More Popular Online Dating Activities

A couple of popular online activities are sharing recipes and bidding at auctions. And both of these easily fit well into online dating opportunities, one of the most popular online activities for singles today.

To help many dates get better acquainted online, here’s what potential cyber-dates do.

Sharing Recipes – People get tired talking about the weather. So a popular subject to turn to is food. Sharing favorite foods and recipes helps break the ice and even forms friendships over culinary skills – or lack of – and tastes. Search your favorite search engine for “free recipes” to share. Take photos of your culinary creations and share them with your date, too.

Bidding at Auctions – Ebay auctions sell nearly anything and everything! So surf around and enter searches like the dates you were in middle school. Share cool memorabilia photos of old games and toys from when you were a child or when your parents or grandparents were little; The Dating Game, Oscar Mayer wiener whistles, The Partridge Family Album, Bobby Sherman’s Album, 45’s and more.

Online dating can be an educational and fun experience. So learn more about each other and have fun while you’re at it. Take a cyber-stroll down memory lane together and see what’s cookin’.

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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Cocky Pickup Lines : To Use or Not To Use

Have you seen the movies where a guy uses a pickup line to get a girl?  Most likely, you have.  It happens in most comedy movies, but does it happen in real life?   Yes, it does.  That doesn’t mean it is a good idea though.

Before focusing on the pros and cons of using a pickup line to meet a girl and get a date, know that pickup lines come in a number of different formats.  Honestly, it all depends on who you ask.  Some classify “hi, how are you doing tonight?” or “are you having as much fun as me?” as pickup lines.  For this article, we are going to focus on the funny, yet occasionally cocky pickup lines, like the ones you see in the above mentioned comedy movies.

So, what exactly is a funny, yet cocky pickup line?  It is one where overconfidence just pours from you.  It screams “I am a good catch.  I know it and now you will too.”  A few cocky pickup lines include:

“I’m going outside to make out.  Do you care to join me?”
“I have big feet!”
“Do you work for UPS?  Because I could have sworn you were checking out my package.”

As previously stated, just because there are a ton of pickup lines available online for you to use, it doesn’t mean you should.  Many times, they backfire.  For example, the above mentioned pickup line of “I have big feet.”  We all know what that implies.  It is great to have confidence, but this takes it a little bit too far.  You want to score a date with a girl, not have her think you are a cocky jerk.  If you really want to hit a homerun, focus on rounding the bases first.  After all, you got to start somewhere.  If you use this pickup line, at least say hi first.

Another reason why you should avoid cocky pickup lines is because most imply sex.  Yes, both men and women have one-night stands, but that doesn’t meant the girl you are talking to does.  If you truly want to score in the bedroom, get an official date first.  Pickup lines, like “I’m going outside to make out.  Do you care to join me?” implies that girl wants sex right then and there.  Yes, you may actually get lucky, but don’t make a girl feel slutty.

There are a number of downsides to using the pickup lines that are the brunt of many jokes, but it may just work to your advantage.  Are you willing to take a gamble or are you really a fun and overconfident guy?  If so, be yourself and let the pickup lines flow out.  Depending on what you say, some girls may laugh and walk away, some may walk away in disgust, but you may just get a giggler who stays.

In short, you do take a gamble when using a funny and cocky pickup line to meet a girl and ask her on a date.  So, what should you do?  Be yourself.  If a pickup line comes out, just wait and see what happens.  With that said, don’t research cocky pickup lines at home unless you intend to joke around with friends.  If you can’t come up with a good line on your own, it is better left unsaid.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

A Woman's Guide to Writing a Great Profile

OK…the time has come. You have joined an online dating service or two. Now you must write that all-important profile… the one that will attract attention and reel in the man of your dreams… but where to start? Maybe writing isn’t even something you think you do all that well. Even so, you can do this.

The first thing is to be absolutely honest about yourself. You are looking for that man who will like…maybe someday love…YOU….THE REAL YOU! Examine past relationships and list the things that you liked and the things you did not like. If he smoked in the house and you hated it, you won’t like it any better the next time. If you love cats and will always want to own one or more, say that you are an animal lover and want indoor pets. Someone who hates cats or is allergic to them is not the guy for you.

Accent the things that make you unique. If you play the piano well, you really want Mr. Right to appreciate it. If you run in marathons, a couch potato is not a good match. If you love art, you really don’t want a man who thinks Picasso is an ice cream flavor.

Describe the things that are vital in your life. If volunteering is the one thing that makes you feel useful and worthwhile, you want someone who would, at the very least, support you if not join you in your volunteer projects. When you get beyond superficial things, you will attract men who share your values.

Invest in your online profile by hiring a professional photographer for your first online picture. This is so important. The picture is the FIRST thing men see. The second thing is that they read what you have written about yourself. Some online dating sites even provide you with a list of photographers in your area that specialize in online dating site photos.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Dating Services – The Way to the Future

A few decades back, the traditional way to bring two people together is through a hook up. Your friend arranges a blind date between you and her friend, or her boyfriend's friend. Now we all know how tragic a blind date can be sometimes. That is why we seek help from professional matchmakers. These companies provide what we call dating services.

What are the different kinds of dating services available? The most common one is called online dating service. This works by filling out a registration form, creating a public profile, and browsing through the database for possible dates. These may also involve exchanges of messages or emails, and a few days or weeks to wait. While online dating may be fun, it is still wise to exercise caution in giving out personal data to other people. They may seem trustworthy, but we can only hope that we know them well enough for them not to use this information for bad reasons.

Another kind of dating service is through phone. Since the mobile phone has become widely available, the phone dating service has dramatically grown over the past years. It is faster, more convenient, and relatively cheaper. While websites which provide internet dating services can charge high fees, phone dating services are often free. What you would have to pay for is the standard rate per text message that you send. Because your cell phone is obviously smaller than a computer or laptop, it is easier to access your profile and check messages from prospective dates.

Still another kind of dating service is through video. These services are the ones that are often advertised on TV. Here's how it works. You go to the office of the video dating services company and make a personal ad. How you project yourself would have to depend on your preference. Your video shall then be viewed by other clients, who'd then contact you through the phone company or service provider.

There is also what is called as speed dating. Here, a group of men and women are made to interact with each one for a fixed short time. After meeting everyone, each of them shall fill out a form to indicate which ones did they connect with the most. If the answer is the same for any two people, then they are made to meet again, perhaps to talk or plan for a real date.

What are the sources of dating services? You may find these dating services companies in the yellow pages, through their ads on TV, or online. Of all the sources, it is the internet that is most important. This is because of the wide scope that it encompasses. But precisely because it is wide in scope that makes it more attractive to scam artists. Beware of people who ask for money.

The bottom line is, dating services will continue to change the dating scene radically. In the past, while most people shun the idea of asking for professional help with regard to dating, the same is not true at present. Because things are moving rather fast, we need to keep up with the times. That is why dating services and professional match making companies continue to multiply as the days pass. So what are you waiting for? Find the dating service that would best suit you.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Popular Online Dating Activities

All types of everyday activities are growing in popularity online these days like sharing photos and greeting cards. In fact, both of these even go hand in hand with online dating opportunities, one of the most popular online activities for singles today.

Before actually meeting in person, many dates get acquainted online first. Here’s how.

Photos - As a wonderful keepsake of your budding romance, create an online photo album for your new cyber-mate.  Include digital photos of favorite outdoor scenes, pets, flowers, cars, silly moments, your computer corner or laptop, etc.  Then you’ll even have more to discuss during online dates via emails and chat rooms. Search for “photo albums” to find places that store your photos.

Greeting Cards- Regardless of where the person lives, you can mail a greeting card. If privacy and security is an issue, check into renting an inexpensive P.O. Box (check the Yellow Pages). You do not have to be an artist to make something homemade and special for the new friend in your life.  Even making a special, personalized greeting card would be appreciated and show your date that you care enough to take the time needed to make something by hand.  Search your favorite search engine for online greeting cards to send, too. They range from free to low cost and can be sent in a click.

So get online and get active! No need to risk meeting in person until you get more familiar with each other online first. So take the online plunge!