Let's face it-the modern dating scene is a cynical one. In a time when Match.com and eHarmony.com are some of the most successful and recognizable websites on the Internet, it's no wonder that single men and women across the country are daily becoming more and more convinced that "a special someone" is almost impossible to find. When it becomes necessary to ask a computer to find your soul mate, pessimism about the world of dating is a difficult attitude to shake. After all-what ever happened to two complete strangers locked in a gaze from across the room, stars falling from the sky, and destiny?

American Dating Needs a Face Lift

If the truth is told, American dating habits have needed a face-lift for quite some time, and the online dating matchmaker systems might be the best thing that has happened to us. Before Match.com and eHarmony.com, if you wanted to find someone to date, what were your options: Meeting strangers at a bar/club, recklessly exchanging numbers, and hoping for the best? It is a well-known fact that alcohol dulls the senses and forces good judgment to go bad-two details that make the bar/club scene far from ideal when looking for a soul mate.

However unconventional they might be, online dating and networking sites have brought back a key ingredient that has been missing from the traditional dating scene for some time. That ingredient is conversation-getting to know the person's likes and dislikes, favorite music, favorite pass-times, and history. While bars and clubs offer noise and distraction, online dating typically encourages people to ask questions, and delve a bit into each other's personal life before agreeing to meet somewhere. While it might be true that there is an element of "hiding behind a computer screen" while dating online, people tend to reveal more about themselves online than they do when they are face to face. It is easier to admit your flaws when you are typing them, rather than saying them, and the lack of eye contact brings about a certain freedom of expression that is impossible to find when you are sitting across from a date. The computer allows you to present a virtual self, a side of yourself that you have time to think about, and a side that allows honesty that is hard to come across when you are face to face with someone.

There Will Always Be Critics

Critics of online dating argue that when looking online to find someone to date, people post their best photos and put their best face forward, not allowing others to see their real selves. This is true, but how is it any different than the bar/club scene? The differences that online dating offers are a chance to take your time, have a conversation (although it is a virtual one), and think before you act.

There are also the stories of Internet predators, of men and women who use the Internet for unscrupulous intent. Although it has great potential as a legitimate way of finding the perfect mate, Internet dating is not without its problems. It is always wise to follow a few ground rules when posting your profile on an Internet dating site: never give out personal information until you're absolutely sure the person to whom you are giving it can be trusted, and keep your personal details to a minimum until you've had several interactions (both online and offline) with the person you've met.

Some Tips for Better Online Dating

Online dating sites have a lot of potential, especially if you're the type of person who finds it difficult to go out into the hectic and harsh dating world to meet people. Below are some tips you can follow to assure that your online search for a date will be a pleasant one, and one that will hopefully lead you to the right person.

* Be yourself. Keep in mind that your honesty could be the key factor in finding a successful relationship. If you are honest from the beginning, both in your profile responses and in your emails or chats with potential dates, you'll find that there will be fewer disappointments when you actually begin meeting with people face to face. If you list on your profile that you are six feet tall, it's going to be very difficult to explain to your date (once it gets that far) how you've suddenly shrunk five inches. Women, especially, tend to be very unforgiving when it comes to seemingly "little, white lies". In their mind, if you'll lie about one thing, what else will you lie about?

* Understand the odds. Know that the odds of you finding your perfect match are small, and the more you "put yourself out there", the better these odds will work in your favor. Don't limit yourself to one online site-rather, try several different places.

* Don't assume. Some people immediately assume that potential dates who have been married before, or who have children, are not for them. This can end up with tragic consequences because you might pass over the love of your life, simply because you judged them on false pretenses based on their past experiences. If you have a religious/moral dilemma with dating someone who has been married, or who has children, that is a different story. Otherwise, go into the experience realizing that people make mistakes, often at a young age, and can learn a great deal from those mistakes to become better people.

The world of online dating continues to produce couples that have found success in meeting the person of their dreams, without the hassle of traditional dating methods. While the odds might certainly be against you, looking online could be a meaningful way to date, if approached with the right attitude and proper precautions. Take your time looking, be honest, and remember that soul mates, if they truly exist, will always find a way to each other-even if that way is through cyberspace.