Troy L.

I see lots of people posting negative comments about Match.com, but people should be realistic about what they're trying to do. Match.com allows people looking for someone special to have access to a pool of individuals they normally would not come into contact with due to geographic proximity, being in different social circles, having a tight work schedule or even just not feeling comfortable with the bar scene or approaching random strangers and striking up a conversation. The people on Match are the same people you work with, see in the store or at a friend's cookout. This site just brings eligible people hoping to find someone together. Yes, there are people with fake profiles, and some who are scammers. I ran into them too. But, after having been on and off (when I was dating someone) over the course of 4 years, I met some amazing women, many of whom are still friends today. The key to Match.com is being smart. Don't allow yourself to have an email/texting/phone relationship with someone for an extended length of time. You're setting yourself up for trouble. Treat it as you would any relationship -- email for a few messages, and get a feel for the person. Talk over the phone, ask some good questions, then decide if you want to meet for a brief meeting -- in a public place. If you hit it off, go out again. If not, you don't have to communicate. Listen to your gut instincts, and if things don't sound right with the person, discontinue contact. These are the same kinds of things you would do if you were talking to a person you met face to face somewhere. If people aren't smart about dating, they're going to get burned -- and that is not Match.com's fault. I met my wife on Match.com, and followed all of these steps. She's a fantastic woman, and she's REAL. No games or deception (avoid those), the things she told me about herself matched up with reality (verified that stuff, too), and we have a great life together neither of us had imagined before Match.com. I'd been looking for a long time, she joined when given an ultimatum by her sisters that they were going to create a profile if she didn't, and met me a few months later. MATCH.COM WORKS! But, just as in real life, don't expect a homerun your first time at bat. Be realistic about the process, give it time, don't be in a rush, and don't make bad decisions. This is a golden opportunity for people, if they use it wisely.