Study Shows Online Love is Often Blind

by Heiky | May 22, 2008 at 01:30 pm

791 views | 2 Recommendations | 7 comments

Ever wonder why online relationships don’t last? An Australian University Researcher found that people form emotional attachments too early in an online relationship before meeting their partner face-to-face.

Women were especially susceptible to finding Mr. Wrong, as they tend to be attracted by witty comments or clever e-mails, said psychologist Matthew Bambling from the Queensland University of Technology.

In real life, it is quite difficult to hide your BO, bad habits, or rotting teeth. However, in an online dating site, you can be hidden all behind a flawless profile picture. No wonder people end up being disappointed.

"You can never assume things are the way they seem online," Bambling told Reuters on Thursday.

"Just because they can write a clever comment or a witty email, doesn't mean they will be Mr. Right, that's for sure," he said, adding some men use the concept of "netting", sending emails to dozens of women and hoping one might respond.

Bambling said you can find a partner online, but warned those using the Web to find love to be aware of the pitfalls.

"There's definitely a dis-inhibition affect online," he said, with people more likely to exaggerate their good points while hiding anything negative.

"Few guys for example would say 'look, I'm a middle aged alcoholic who's been married five times, pick me'. They're going to present themselves as a good catch."

He said it was easy for people to quickly invest too much emotionally in an online relationship because they don't see the full picture of the person they are emailing.

He said some people can also become addicted to the rush of replies they receive on dating websites, which can lead to future disappointment.

Bambling said people can avoid many of the problems by meeting early in the virtual relationship, rather than by getting to know each other only by email.

He suggests couples arrange to meet over coffee after a few emails, which will help people from building up a fantasy image of their match.

"The main thing to remember is to make real life contact as soon as possible if you are to interested in someone, because then you will know if a relationship is a possibility," he said.

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Rob Peters

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:21 on May 22nd, 2008

The advice to meet early (and perhaps often would also be wise) seems prudent. In any relationship it's so easy to fill in gaps of knowledge with traits we like. Ten minutes to reply to an instant message doesn't necessarily mean they're thoughtful or deep--perhaps just slow.

Czech Punk

at 01:29 on May 23rd, 2008

Girl walking away from heart in the sand....

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greentopia

at 06:45 on May 23rd, 2008

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BLISS HUNTER

at 09:20 on May 23rd, 2008

winter of 07'

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Chen Y

at 06:17 on May 24th, 2008

Blind when you're in love. What you can see is just a heart which is also in love.

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Spyros Paloukis

at 03:51 on May 25th, 2008

Blind love... inspirited from the sureallist painter Rene Magritte...
Blind is the word... Love is invisible nowadays... Love is digital... internet = love

let's face it or change it

Spyros

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