Does A Date Online Count as “Real” Dating?

The terms “online dating” and “dating online” are thrownaround all the time, and used by practically any website that is primarilycreated to connect singles over the internet. But, in reality, what do these termsreally mean? Can you really datesomeone online? Can you have a healthy dating life if it only exists online?How can you truly get to know someone if you've only been on online dates? Dothose really count as 'real' dates?

            Generally,dating online usually refers to the process of meeting people for potentialdates online, or through an internet dating service.  These services usually provide some help andguidance with which other members are most suitable matches, but for the mostpart, its up to each individual to find and introduce themselves to othermembers and potential people to date online. In this sense, online datingservices act as an arena for singles to come and find other people interestedin pursuing the same types of relationships as them.

            The“dating” that takes place online is in the form of messages and emails thatpass between people.  Does this count as“real dating” even though there are no face to face conversations? Is 'dating'the time where people get to know more about each other? Do you have to be inthe same room as someone to be on a 'date' with them?  Although online dating is usually describedas meeting, messaging, emailing, and eventuallymeeting other singles in person, the terms seem to be fairly accurate. Datingonline can, and does take place, when two people find each other online andpursue a courting period, whether that is on or offline, where they get to knoweach other better and test the waters to see if there is a mutual attraction.Although an in person meeting may not take place until later, many of the samecomponents (aside from the physical) take place through a date online. Althoughdating online isn't defined in the same was a traditional dating, the changesmany peoples' romantic and sexual lives are experiencing due to technologicalevolutions, may warrant reconceptions of the definitions of certain terms, justas these advances have reconceived our notions of how to find love.