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December 1, 2005
Adzooks Encounters: This Time It’s Personal
While I was at university I had a flatmate who loved to scour the pages of dating websites. I don’t think she ever went on any dates through them, but I guess it beat writing essays on the Crusades. One day she decided to give me a tour of one particular site; I think to make herself feel better about procrastinating by knowing I wasn’t studying. On the site the majority of the entries had unflattering passport mug shots attached to them, giving the potential dates an honest air if nothing else. There was one man, however, who had an amazing picture: soft lighting on a smoothly shaven, tanned face, looking manfully into the middle distance; a man very much like those model types from television razor ads.
This foray into the world of online dating got me wondering about various e-dating issues: photos, safety, that kind of thing, all relevant to Adzooks. As that ad had “wishful thinking” stamped all over it, clearly being cut out of a magazine, I wondered if there was a point to attaching a photo. I suppose if you chose to go on a date through the site you would know who to look for, though I think “I’ll be wearing a bowler hat, baggy trousers, oversized shoes, a big orange wig and revolving bowtie” would be enough for identification purposes once a date had been arranged, or whatever your hello ladies/gents gear happens to be.
On the other hand, a photo with an ad does add authenticity (in the majority of cases, ahem, Mr Gillette) and a more personal touch – not a bad thing surely for a personals site. Also, figures indicate very strongly that ads with a photo get a much higher response rate. Either way, the option is there for anyone who posts on Adzooks Encounters to put their picture up or not. The choice is yours, and I’m not sure it matters that greatly either way in terms of safety anyway, which is where my thoughts led me next.
If you are meeting up with somebody you don’t know, whether it be through dating or any other circumstance, it unfortunately is necessary to acknowledge that not everyone is Clark Kent (damn you, cruel world). Anyway, here are a few tips to help stay safe:
* Tell a friend or relative where you are going.
* Arrange to meet this friend or relative afterwards, at a specific time – or to ring them at a pre-arranged time.
* Never, ever meet up in a secluded spot.
Contrary to what you may be thinking, I’m not the office Eeyore and realise that all is not always so gloomy, that it’s only a very small minority who would use these situations to others’ disadvantage. But as the old saying goes: it’s better to be safe than, er, not. Happy dating.
Posted by Selina at December 1, 2005 11:15 AM
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