A Good Man's Guide to Internet Dating

Prologue

• Most of the stories about internet dating make seem like all that is out there is people like this guy.
• I was pretty scared hearing these stories and being thrust into the dating world after 14 years.  I knew I had some strikes against me, bald, old, overweight, divorced…
• But you know what, it could always be worse.

Number 1: Make it easy.

• It can be hard to keep in mind, but this is hard for women too.

• Make it easy for them.

• Always be up front and honest.

• I did not, in any way, say be brutally honest!  Just honest.

• I did not, in any way, say be up front about your fetishes and desires either!

• It is important to have those conversations at some point, but let them happen when they happen, not on the first email.

• Dating should be fun, but it is not a game.

• Don’t mess with their heads or play games with their/your emotions.

Pigs

• All we hear about is how the only thing a woman wants is a good man.
• Therefore, being a good man, I thought I was set, but I was wrong.  For God’s sake, stop the man bashing!
• Think about it for a minute, with the constant talk about how men are pigs over the last 30 years, has any pig been converted into a good man because of it?
• In the last 30 years, is there any woman that has not been sufficiently warned about men being pigs?
• I am one of the most sensitive, feminist kind of guys you could meet, and  I am one of the first to admit men are pigs, but all the man bashing is doing is hurting the good guys.
• My experience is that worst thing for a good man to find a good date is all of the man bashing.

Number 2: Develop a Game Plan.

• Make a plan of how you want to interact with your matches and stick to it. 
• Like have three email conversations before giving out your phone number, you want someone who can wear glitter and dirt at the same time, or whatever is important to you.
• It is important to decide how you want to interact with your dates to help in the screening process.
• If someone asks you about something outside your comfort zone, you can make the decision to move on or not with a game plan.

Number 3: Give everyone a fair chance.

• Everyone has a bad day sometimes.

• Everyone says the wrong thing sometimes.

• Everyone messes up sometimes.

• Everyone is bald sometimes.

• If you get to the point where you find someone you want to go on a date with, give them a fair chance with two dates.

• Then you can get a better picture of what they are like and if you have the chemistry.

Number 4: Make your intentions clear.

• Make sure your date is clear about your dating intentions before you date, and while you are dating.

• If you are just looking for fun, want to get married, or just need someone to talk to, let them know pretty quick.

• If all you want is a roll in the sack, just keep that to yourself for a little while.

• Remember, there is honest, then there is creepy.

Number 5: Make the First Date in a Public Place

• This seems like a no-brainer, but it gives your date the impression you are not going to try anything funny.

• It is an effective way to show her you respect her without actually saying so.

• Plus, you can respect boundaries.

Number 6: No Flowers on the First Date.

• I know I will get a lot of flack on this one, but you don’t want to run her off on the first date.
• For the women that see flowers as a sign of commitment, love or that you are trying too hard, it is too much for them to take the first time meeting someone.
• On the first date, it is still easy to be exciting and romantic without the flowers.
• The second date is ok for flowers, but not the first.

Number 7: Contact Information

• One of my rules was “don’t ask them for their contact information, ever.”

• You can come off super creepy, scare them off, or find yourself a stalker.

• When you are ready, give them whatever of your contact information you are comfortable giving.

• If they like you and want to move forward or keep you around, they will give you their contact information when they are ready.

• Be thankful for what they give you because it gives you insight into their dating comfort level.

Number 8: Look at her FACE!

• Obviously, there are other parts of her that interest you and compliment her appearance, but make EYE contact.

• It lets her know you are interested in her, not in her looks.

• If you don’t know what color her eyes are after the first date, you did it wrong.

Finale

• I hope I have helped women understand how a good man approaches internet dating.
• Also, I hope I have helped all the good men out there understand that there is hope.
• Remember to have a good time, stop the male bashing, and look at her FACE!