h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How the site I'm on works...

You write your profile.

You look at other people's profiles (there's some software that ranks your profile against others to show matches)...if you like them, you add them to your favourites.

People look at your profile and if they like you, add you to their favourites.

In either case, an automatic email is generated which basically says " has added you to his favourites! This means (s)he fancies you!"

If I add someone to my favourites, and they subsequently add me to their favourites, I get an email saying "The interest is mutual! Why don't you try sending a message?"

You can, of course, message direct (via the website - personal email addies aren't given out).

Once you've sent a message via the website, and the recipient has replied, you're free to send contact details - I guess there's some kind of moderation software that spots email addresses, phone numbers etc before then).

So, yes, what defines "success"? my profile is apparently attractive enough for women to contact me unprompted (that's why they're there in the first place), and I do my fair share of contacting other women. I've not yet formed a long-term relationship from this, but what I can say is that I'm meeting a lot more people with whom that is at least a possibility than I would otherwise.

I call that "success".

RF

I guess what i would say is success is having a successful, fulfilling, long term relationship with someone that you met on the internet. I am synical about this, although i must say it's the easiest way to meet people. I however have never met anyone that i have met on the internet before. I can only go from what i've read or heard.

I think you're fairly new on h2g2 aren't you? I have some "history" here...

Anyway, suffice to say, yes, I've had long-term (1.5 years - does that count?) relationships with people I've met off t'internet. And I'm sure I will do again. I'm just getting picky with old age...I don't have the time to waste! If something isn't going to work, I nip it in the bud.

RF

Well i don't know a lot about your history no. I just think that problems will surface in the end, as a lot of people will hide behind their screen and be someone they would like to be rather than who they are. Although problems arise when people meet each other in pubs etc.
I think however Hootoo seems to be a friendly community in all.

You can only hide behind an internet "personality" for so long. On h2g2 I think people get found out pretty quickly if they're trying to be something they're not.

And then once you meet someone in RL, there's no "hiding" to be done any more.

RF