Adult Dating Sites - Why Are They So Popular?
>> Saturday, July 28, 2012
Adult dating sites are ridiculously popular these days! I visited one recently and it boasted over 34 million members. How does that happen? I've never seen such numbers at normal dating sites. Why are they so popular? These numbers make adult dating sites look mainstream, while normal dating site with their relatively paltry numbers look positively "niche".
But the behavior at adult dating sites don't reflect the day to day behavior of people in society. People typically don't go straight to sexual relations. They date, get to know the person, and it progresses from there. So why are these sites so popular?
Clearly the dating site "profile" plays a big part in this. It gives us anonymity from the people we are communicating with, and the rest of the world, till we build a level of trust. As such, the exposure to rejection and pain associated with such rejection is much less on the internet than in real life. Ie. There is very little opportunity for public humiliation. But does this allow people to be more direct, courageous and honest about chasing their sexual desires? Is "under the cloak of darkness" a very real factor here?
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?
How will dating evolve? Will flirting and good manners gradually disappear, to be replaced by a more direct form of communication. A direct question followed by a direct answer, all based on a courage born from a loss of sensitivity to rejection.
Or will it go the other way? Will we lose our social skills, only being forthright when we have the cover of an "internet alias" or the like.
Sometimes I spend quite sometime thinking about such things. For now though, I'll put those thoughts aside. There are over 30 million people at this new website I just joined, thats a lot of people to meet, I am going to be busy.
But the behavior at adult dating sites don't reflect the day to day behavior of people in society. People typically don't go straight to sexual relations. They date, get to know the person, and it progresses from there. So why are these sites so popular?
Clearly the dating site "profile" plays a big part in this. It gives us anonymity from the people we are communicating with, and the rest of the world, till we build a level of trust. As such, the exposure to rejection and pain associated with such rejection is much less on the internet than in real life. Ie. There is very little opportunity for public humiliation. But does this allow people to be more direct, courageous and honest about chasing their sexual desires? Is "under the cloak of darkness" a very real factor here?
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?
How will dating evolve? Will flirting and good manners gradually disappear, to be replaced by a more direct form of communication. A direct question followed by a direct answer, all based on a courage born from a loss of sensitivity to rejection.
Or will it go the other way? Will we lose our social skills, only being forthright when we have the cover of an "internet alias" or the like.
Sometimes I spend quite sometime thinking about such things. For now though, I'll put those thoughts aside. There are over 30 million people at this new website I just joined, thats a lot of people to meet, I am going to be busy.
About the Author:
Jayde Johanssen, bemused by the popularity of adult dating sites, ponders if the phenomena will impact our way of life
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