I recently hit the bar scene while dipping my toes in the water of socializing with others. I'd done some research on dating sites and wasn't too impressed with what I found. The bar scene didn't interest me much as a medium for meeting people either, but small towns being what they are, I didn't have much of a choice. Besides, I was bored and needed to get out.

Well, after three hours at the local hotspot, I'm stumped on the best way to meet people. Most people were either dead drunk, sky high, or coldly sober. The sober people might've interested me, but each person carried an indifferent expression on their face. Obviously, they're old enough to be jaded - just like I am.

This brought me to think on the best places to meet people, and my thoughts led me to the obvious answer: find a like group of birds and flock together with them. I'm not interested in someone who frequents bars, so why would I hang out in one? I don't particularly want a person who has children, so I shouldn't pursue scoping out the local playground. I like computers and I write for a living, so I should  'um' check out a dating site. Or give up.

Should I decide to seriously look for a person to share my life through a dating site, I'd first form up a list of the ideal partner. Having a good idea of who I'd like to be with often narrows down the field to something manageable.

I'd also gravitate towards people like me, because it's proven that while opposites attract, relationships fizzle out fast. The sports enthusiast might sound exciting, but chances are, we'd be saying goodbye within a year.

I'd make sure the person enjoys the same interests I have. The person I find may be like me in personality, but if we don’t share common interests, we're both wasting our time. Someone who can't stand computers, writing, skating, and horse riding wouldn't do well with me at all.

That means that not only should I think on the profile I want to create for myself, I also have to think of the profile of the person I'd like to meet - before I meet them. I believe people forget to do so. The result? A terribly romantic relationship that finishes in a dead-end street.

Posted by Samanta.

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