Have you ever visited an adult dating site? I did recently. I was astounded by the numbers of paying members that used it. Sure, it was one of the popular ones, but there were tens of millions of members at this site. The "family friendly" dating sites in comparison look like little niches sites, hardly ever visited.
This popularity confounds me because adult dating sites are based on a concept of promiscuity. This behavior does not reflect the real world. Society is much more conservative than the concept of "Adult Dating" So how did this part of the industry become so popular?
Obviously the internet gives us an element on anonymity. Does this anonymity though, change us? Does it give us the courage to be more honest about what we want and what we ask for. Its possible I guess. The pain of rejection at such a website barely exists. Rejection in the form of a nasty email or no email, is much easier to take than rejection in the form of a slapped cheek or thrown drink.
But the question that sits in my mind is whether this new honesty will spill over from these websites and change society itself? Will people start being more honest about their wishes in the "Adult Dating" sense, upon meeting people in society as well as online? Or will that always be too difficult without the cover of an internet profile?
Could this have bad consequences too. For example, could a shift to directness start a break down of social niceties, manners and flirting?
Or is it possible that the internet will make us more socially reclusive. That is, given we have the "cover" of an internet alias on dating sites, will we decide there is no reason to risk the public rejection which comes hand in hand, with asking people out on a date?
These are questions I ponder, but have no answer for. Only time will tell. So I'm just going to have fun dating in the meantime, there are so many new people to meet at this site I just joined.
This popularity confounds me because adult dating sites are based on a concept of promiscuity. This behavior does not reflect the real world. Society is much more conservative than the concept of "Adult Dating" So how did this part of the industry become so popular?
Obviously the internet gives us an element on anonymity. Does this anonymity though, change us? Does it give us the courage to be more honest about what we want and what we ask for. Its possible I guess. The pain of rejection at such a website barely exists. Rejection in the form of a nasty email or no email, is much easier to take than rejection in the form of a slapped cheek or thrown drink.
But the question that sits in my mind is whether this new honesty will spill over from these websites and change society itself? Will people start being more honest about their wishes in the "Adult Dating" sense, upon meeting people in society as well as online? Or will that always be too difficult without the cover of an internet profile?
Could this have bad consequences too. For example, could a shift to directness start a break down of social niceties, manners and flirting?
Or is it possible that the internet will make us more socially reclusive. That is, given we have the "cover" of an internet alias on dating sites, will we decide there is no reason to risk the public rejection which comes hand in hand, with asking people out on a date?
These are questions I ponder, but have no answer for. Only time will tell. So I'm just going to have fun dating in the meantime, there are so many new people to meet at this site I just joined.
About the Author:
Jayde Johanssen, amazed by the popularity of adult dating sites, wonders if the phenomena will change our way of life
