Relationships and Dating can be tricky topics to understand as they are vast and make up for a large portion of personal issues that we have as a society. Trying to find the person your supposed to spend the rest of your life with can be a rather difficult task to fulfill.

Majority of singles in their twenties tend to frequent bars, nightclubs and other social gathering spots that tend to acquire other singles. This works for some people but for others seeking more serious, long-term oriented relationships, this might not be the smartest bet.

Online Dating tends to open the selection door a little wider, in providing one with a closer look into the lives of other singles while always remaining within the comfort of your own home. Though the look that your getting might not always been a truthful one, the general point behind it all is a very good one.

While there’s no unbiased, official data detailing relationships forged online, Match.com, the largest dating site, claims that about 200,000 users a year find the relationship they are looking for. Eharmony.com, another big player in the dating game, reports that so far 4,000 couples have married after meeting on their site.

These types of numbers are enough to make anyone curious, so why not give it a shot. What do you have to lose?

Ever wonder what it was like to date in the 1970s? Were you dating in the 70s and want to regain that nostalgic feeling of asking your date, ”What’s your sign?” Todd Fritsch, President and Founder of TheSpaceMate.com had this in mind when creating his free and retro online dating service. This “next generation” Internet dating site links members and potential partners based on astrological and personality profile compatibility.

Can the open-minded Libra find happiness with the dynamic Scorpio? Do perfectionist Virgos ever live happily ever after with the shy Aquarians? Members of TheSpaceMate.com can search for potential mates based on astrological signs, as well as a variety of other information. According to Fritsch, “We carefully designed TheSpaceMate.com to provide the maximum amount of information on members who are interested in meeting each other, while maintaining privacy until both parties are ready to make contact.”

TheSpaceMate.com offers members profiles of potential partners, photos, instant messaging, private mailboxes, and a host of other quality features to enjoy. “Whether a member is looking for someone who shares a sports or hobby interest, a companion for a specific event, or a long-term relationship, TheSpaceMate.com uses cutting edge technology to instantaneously match the member’s criteria with the profiles of other registered users,” said Fritsch.

TheSpaceMate.com offers completely free memberships, giving members full access to complete member profiles, as well as features including SpaceMessenger instant messaging, private SpaceMail accounts, and advanced search capabilities. “Why spend money on online dating services when you can save your cash for dates,” asks Fritsch. Future site features include the addition of SpaceMarket, a free forum for members to post classified ads ranging from items for sale to job postings to real estate listings.

Online dating has become one of the most successful business ventures, according to Wisegeek.com. There are so many different dating sites on the World Wide Web that even large Internet providers such as Yahoo! are providing their own dating sites for their users.

In a recent study, it was found that 2 out of every 5 single people between the ages of 24 and 50 use, or have used, Online Dating services. There are many different advantages to online dating.

• Dating can be made fun and memorable, with some creative thinking to break out of your comfort zone in your dating world. You can meet people anywhere in the world.

• Free dating sites are great venues for meeting new people which you can showcase yourself.

• Dating advice can come from a wide range of locations and the more research you do, the better! You can speak to your friends, read books on the subject and can use the internet.

• It can help you with choosing venues, tips on they type of conversation medium you can make, as well as what to wear.

• There are an unbelievable amount of singles that use an online dating service. If you are single, then you can even make a better relationship online.

As per the report of the Online Dating Magazine Media Center, in the beginning part of the particular year of 2006 , users have paid more than the particular amount of seven hundred fourteen million dollars for the usage of online dating services. That’s a lot of money! Now imagine the possibilities!

Online Dating Magazine, a consumer watchdog publication for online daters, has issued a warning to single parents about sex offenders who use online dating services.

“There are some sexual predators and sex offenders who specifically use online dating services to target single parents in order to get to their kids,” says Joe Tracy, Publisher of Online Dating Magazine. “It doesn’t happen a lot, but it does happen.”

The warning comes after a convicted child molester was caught emailing a supposed mother of two kids on an online dating service, during a sting set up by Parents for Megan’s Law.

Parents for Megan’s Law, a child advocacy group, received anonymous emails about the convicted sex offender using Match.com in New York. As a result, the group set up a fake profile of a mother of two boys and emailed the sex offender, Michael Bradley. Bradley responded, breaking his court order not to seek romantic relationships online. As a result his computer was confiscated and he faces the possibility of having his parole revoked.

“It is the responsibility of consumers to protect their safety and that of their families, so do not rely on the assurances of dating sites that attempt to screen out predators,” said Dr. James Houran, spokesperson and feature columnist for Online Dating Magazine.

According to Dr. Houran, “the best protection is to use your head in matters of the heart. Do not get so caught up in the excitement of online dating that you are not constantly alert – instead assume everyone online is a potential predator.”

Online Dating Magazine recommends the following tips that parents should follow when using an online dating service:

- Never post photos of your children in your profile or anywhere online.

- Don’t talk about your children in your profile.

- Don’t mention what gender your children are.

- If you’re dating someone, wait several months – until you are more serious – before introducing your date to your children.

- Run a background and sex offender check on the person you’re dating before introducing them to your children.

While online dating is generally a safe way to meet people, Online Dating Magazine recommends that online daters take a cautious approach to online dating.

Stories of Love and Hope

Jennifer’s Story

Jennifer H, 33 of Pacific, Missouri: I sought out Yahoo! Personals in anger after being dumped. As a 30-year-old divorced mother of two, I had no idea how to get back into the dating world. I decided to put fire to the wind and logged onto Yahoo! in July 2002 and started reading profiles.

One posting in particular caught my interest. His first line was, “My children come first!” I knew that this man and I had the same priority in our lives. I hesitated about contacting him because his profile said he was separated, not divorced. Nevertheless, I signed up and sent him an email. I also sent emails to four other men because I didn’t want to get my hopes up on just one “maybe.” It didn’t take him long to reply. We chatted for several weeks through emails before I finally got up the courage to give him my phone number. Even through emails, there was a distinct connection that I had never before experienced.

Bobby called within the next few days, but much to my surprise and GREAT disappointment, he told me that he and his estranged wife were going to try to work things out. Ouch! Meanwhile, I was talking to two of the other men I had sent emails to. After several weeks, I met one of them, and we dated for about six months.

Suddenly one day while I was sitting at my computer at work, this THING pops up on the screen! It’s Bobby! He said he and his wife were not able to work things out and that he had been trying to get up the courage to contact me for months! He said he was shocked that I remembered him. From then on, we talked every day, keeping things light and on a friendly level. As more time went on, I realized that Bobby was the man I was always intended to be with. There was no denying that I was completely and madly in love with Bobby!

By September 2003 we were engaged, and by May 2004 we were happily married in a beautiful outdoor wedding. We have discovered that as teenagers we were in the same places, at the same times, but never met! We believe that it was God’s intention for us to be together, but not until later in our lives. Our children are the biggest reason, but we also joke that we had to learn what NOT to do in a marriage first, so when finally met and married, we’d know how to do it right. Well, these soul mates have finally met up at last, and all thanks to Yahoo! and a big help from up above!

As Valentines Day approaches, a new online dating site is attracting some of the world’s most eligible singles. DiamondLounge.com blends beautiful styling, cutting edge technology and an emerging range of exclusive member benefits. It truly is the world’s first luxury online dating site.

DiamondLounge.com has already been featured by Fox News, the BBC, Canal +, the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Independent, Businessweek and Vogue.com and the membership base now includes A-list celebrities, actors, models, CEOs, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs from right across the globe. Read the rest of this entry »

Relationships. Wow. Such a vast topic with so much to discuss, where to begin? I’m a big fan of bars and clubs and all those not-so-good places to look for someone to have a decent respectable relationship with.

Many people have the same problem as I do. My mother always told me that I keep having all the relationship problems that I do, because “I’m looking for love in all the wrong places.” So here’s to you Mom. I realize that I have been looking for love in all the wrong places.

The types of people that primarily frequent bars and clubs are the ‘fun’ type. Not really the ‘lets be serious’ type. Those types of people are dangerous and you never know what could happen. Included in the ‘fun’ type, you’ll find the compulsive liars, the emotionally unavailable folk, the ones with more issues than thoughts, the users, the looking to get ahead types, the (excuse my french) hoes, cheaters, manipulators and lets not forget! The druggies and the alcoholics.

That seems like a scene you’d want to stay away from right? Well yes of course, but I think it has more to do with the fact that its so easy. Everyone has feelings, everyone wants to be loved, everyone wants to have fun. But when it comes down to it, looking for a serious monogamous relationship, you have to look for alternatives.

That is why Online Dating has become so increasingly popular. It provides for a far more detailed look into the lives of others seeking serious relationship as yourself. It provides a level of quality as well as a level of understanding between ordinary people just looking for something real. Now don’t get me wrong, mother didn’t tell me to look for love online, she actually made reference to a chicken breast, a supermarket, and a brush of a hand, but after much thought Online Dating is definitely something worth giving a shot. The World Wide Web holds so much meaning for every person of the world now more than ever, so imagine the possibilities.

Love IS out there. You just have to know where to look.