Every day I thank my lucky stars that I met the love of my life 34 years ago. We met the old-fashioned way – face to face – during my first, her second, year of college. She had a boyfriend, but I didn’t let that deter me. No, I wasn’t a stalker, I just am a competitive son of a bitch and I figured, like I always do when I compete, that I was going to win. I was back then too handsome, too charming, too confident (at least I believed) in my ability to woo the ladies. I have absolutely no idea where this confidence came from. I didn’t even have a girlfriend in high school.  So, I went out and pursued my future wife with a mix of charm, dating, and trial and error.  We didn’t have the Internet back then to help us figure things out. With literally hundreds of online dating websites and countless promotions encouraging you that this is how to meet your perfect soul mate, I wonder, are they really helping or hurting human beings ability to interact and find true love or is this simply the modern way to hook up? I can certainly see the benefits of online dating. The initial awkwardness of first dates can be overcome, as if I knew, because most of the formalities would be out of the way. I understand these sites bring together or suggests dates based on compatibility questionnaires that respondents fill out. So, I presume, this means you know her sign, favorite color, and that she hates the Dodgers. Sorry, I had to throw that one in there. I could never see myself dating or married to a Dodgers fan even if she were Adriana Lima. It took us 6 years of dating before my wife and I knew we were meant for each other.  I think that’s about right.  We had to spend time apart, to live together, to fight and make up, to learn how to love each other.  Does online dating shorten that process?  You still have to go through all of that right? I’m not writing this to judge.  Not at all.  I think if you can find your true love online it’s a wonderful thing.  A best friend with benefits as Alanis Morissette sang is all anyone wants.  I’m just curious about whether or not online matchmaking truly works in bringing the right people together faster or is it just simply another avenue for one night stands like the singles bars of the 1980’s. I Googled the Top 10 US Dating Sites and literally, found the ultimate authority at top10bestdatingwebsites.com.  The home page states, ” Top10BestDatingSites is the authority when it comes to online dating. Our professional team has studied hundreds of dating sites to bring you a carefully crafted list based on our expert reviews and rankings. We’re here to help you find love the easy way.”  Here’s their list and literally what each website was best for:

1. Zoosk – Singles seeking enhanced matchmaking
2. Match.com – Daters looking for a diverse user base
3. eHarmony – Singles who want lasting relationships
4. OurTime.com – 50+ seeking companionship
5. PlentyOfFish – Singles seeking accessible online dating
6. ChristianMingle.com – Best for religious Christian Singles
7. BlackPeopleMeet – Singles seeking a black dating scene
8. date.com – Best for casual dating and long-term relationships
9. ProfessionalSinglesOver40 – Best for established professionals 40+
10. SingleParentMeet – Best for single moms and dads

Isn’t it odd that all websites but one have more female participants than men?  The one exception is ironically PlentyOfFish.com.  Guys, how many times have you been consoled by a buddy after a girlfriend dumped you with the cliché “there’s plenty of fish in the sea?”  What surprises me a little bit is Farmersonly.com didn’t make the list.  Then again my imagination takes off crudely with the thought of all those profiles of farm animals.  More seriously I don’t find it all that surprising that women are more interested in finding their true love online.  How about you? OK, back to the topic of the day, you can say (I can say) I hit the jackpot.  I’ve been married 28 years and while we have had our ups and downs, there’s been more ups than downs.  It took work, hard work, compromise, tears, talking, phone calls, handwritten letters, (this was before e-mail), and a lot of personal interaction.  In the end, I hope I never have to try online dating.  Not that it’s a bad thing, I just don’t want to learn how.