Mistakes Men Make with Online Dating

Okay, no need to be embarrassed any more. The days of putting 12 locks on your door, closing the blinds and turning the phone off for complete privacy in checking out dating sites because you’d die if anyone knew - are OVER! J Yes, they are long gone.

Online dating is just a way of life. It’s the Sears catalog of men that are left out in the world for the pickings.

Having done the online dating thing, I would love, LOVE to pass on some advice to the guys. Seriously. This is to only help your chances of making it into the shopping cart of love.

Do not, I repeat DO NOT use these photos of yourself to post online. If you even have photos like this, throw them away right now. In the trash. I’m not kidding.

1 - “Look at me and the big fish I caught.” The dreaded photo of you holding a fish that you slaved so hard to catch – doesn’t matter if it’s from deep sea fishing or from the neighbor kid’s fish bowl. This shot is so overused. And it’s just gross. Plus we have an imbedded fear that you’re going to someday replace us with a Grouper.

2 - A photo of you posing with your chin resting on your closed fist that’s showing off that gargantuan class ring you either got in high school, college or from winning the Super Bowl. First of all, rings that size scare us unless they come in a box labeled Tiffany & Co. and are dainty enough they don’t cause rheumatoid arthritis. Second of all, it just isn’t attractive. And if it’s really your senior picture and you’re older than 22 – you’re better off going to a photo booth in the middle of the mall and plugging in some quarters for a three new shots.

3 - A photo where the “ghost woman” who was standing right next to you (you see her shoulder and her long blonde locks for God’s sake) has been torn off/cropped out. Now, this only immediately leads to the following assumptions:

a) He wants us to know that other women like him to convince us that he’s a sexy guy, so he purposely wanted to show us some sexy “shoulder” of another female
b) Where did the other half of the photo go? Is it hanging on his mirror? Under his pillow? In his wallet? On his MySpace page?
c) Wow, if he sent that to me, I could’ve cleaned it up in Photoshop or at least given her a cool lookin’ mustache
d) The only other photo he had to choose from is one of him holding a fish (you get a little credit for this - smart man for not using that one)

4 - If all of your photos are taken 20 feet away, you’re hiding something.

5 - If all of your photos are taken of your side profile – always showing the same side – you’re hiding something.

6 - If all of your photos are taken with you wearing a hat and sunglasses – you’re hiding something.

7 - If all of your photos are of your chocolate Lab – you’re hiding something.

8 - If all of your photos are of you in Halloween costumes – you are definitely hiding something.

These are just some of the things I’ve picked up on since being in the dating world again. I’m not sure guys are aware of this, so I just wanted to spread some free advice! J

It’s not Hollywood...

It’s not Hollywood, but it I promise you this – “Just Eat Chocolate” definitely has its ugly moments of truth. Truth is not always pretty, as we all know. Through sharing my experiences and things I’ve learned along the way, I hope that you become empowered to share yours. Together, we can all learn from each other’s experiences, as well as form the strong support system that only us women know.