Online Dating

There seem to be as many online dating services catering to specific groups of people as there are people themselves. Bikers, Christians, farmers, gay, straight, kinky...you name it and there is probably an online dating agency standing at the ready to help you meet the person of your dreams.

This has engendered some controversy, as it is pointed out that these online services are in fact businesses and should not be allowed to exclude people, which some of them do. For example, 'gay rights groups have complained that certain websites that restrict their dating services to heterosexual couples are discriminating against homosexuals...E-harmony was sued in 2007 by a lesbian claiming that, "Such outright discrimination is hurtful and disappointing for a business open to the public in this day and age."' The company did respond by saying that due to the extremely careful nature of its profiling, which had been aimed exclusively at straight couples, they had been as yet unable to research same sex relationships.

Despite the quibbles, online dating represents a massive shift in the socialising potential that is being realised by people in today's singles scene. Many long-term relationships have had their beginnings on the Internet, and with the specialisation on offer from niche-oriented online dating services, many more are certain to happen.

So, if one is of a mind to, there is no time like the present to take some time out one evening and have a good trawl through the various online dating services available and, remembering to read the fine print, perhaps even sign-up. Who knows what may come of it?