| It used to be that there is no such thing as | | | | requires the use of a credit card, or other |
| a free lunch. Then along came the internet | | | | verifiable form of payment. This leaves a |
| and free became almost an automatic | | | | trail that can back to the subscriber. A |
| expectation. | | | | person who can be traced is less likely to |
| | | | engage in crooked activity. |
| The expectation of free stuff has but | | | | |
| pervaded the internet, online dating | | | | Another important thing is quality. If the |
| included. Add to this that some | | | | site is not making money from subscriptions, |
| people-including some of whom should know | | | | it must be getting its revenue from |
| better- cannot quite distinguish between a | | | | somewhere. The most likely source is |
| true internet dating site and a chat room. | | | | advertising. Prepare to be bombarded with |
| Whatever happened to "you get what you pay | | | | ads, pop-ups and offers. Most Spy ware and |
| for"? | | | | Trojan infections sneak into a computer |
| | | | through "free" services and downloads. |
| So, do free dating sites exist? If so, are | | | | |
| they worth your time? | | | | Caliber of potential prospects also matters. |
| | | | What kind of person will not commit a few |
| The answer to the first question is yes. But | | | | dollars to finding the perfect mate? You can |
| wait, not so fast. There is a price to pay. | | | | be sure that many lowlifes, losers and |
| To answer the second question, I will ask you | | | | practical jokers will find a haven in free |
| this; how much is your time worth? Or should | | | | sites. Is a wonder that most online dating |
| I ask, how much is time spent on finding your | | | | nightmare stories seem to originate from free |
| soul-mate worth? | | | | chat rooms? |
| | | | |
| You see, while it may seem enticing to use a | | | | In contrast, a person who is willing to pay a |
| free dating site, you could end up investing | | | | subscription fee is already demonstrating |
| so much time that it will cancel out at best. | | | | commitment, and can be taken seriously. |
| Most likely it will not be worth it. You will | | | | |
| find yourself spending lots of time on poor | | | | Finally, free sites will be likely to cut |
| quality websites that don't work efficiently. | | | | corners in order to keep operating costs as |
| Read frustration and agitation. And this is | | | | low as possible. This means that features |
| just for starters. | | | | will be limited. You will also get very |
| | | | little useful information about your |
| Next is safety. Background checks and/or | | | | prospects. Site improvements will be few and |
| verification are most likely inexistent on | | | | far between if any at all. |
| free sites as they just will not spend much | | | | |
| time or (duh?) money on this. What this means | | | | The bottom-line still is: you get what you |
| is that you will most likely be contacting a | | | | pay for. If you want quality you must be |
| person who is not whom they claim to be. Read | | | | willing to make the commitment. If in doubt |
| potential disaster. | | | | get a free trial membership with a reputable |
| | | | dating site, then decide if it is what you |
| In contrast, a paid dating site usually | | | | want. If so, go with it. If not, move on. |