It's Time to Get Serious

So, I've not been so great about blogging since I started this page. It's time for me to put up or shut up. I've been doing a lot of querying on facebook and want to start putting some of those ideas into more organized articles. The subject of technology and its effects on relationships has intrigued me for some time. Some of the answers I've gotten and the conversations I've started have been very enlightening....even surprising.

It's time to dig a little deeper and commit a little more to the process. Then maybe you'll be reading me in a paper/magazine near you...

Technological Buffers

It seems that more and more people are using technology as a means to avoid actually avoiding talking to each other rather than a means to enhance communication. E-mails / texts / voicemails allow one to say they've contacted you but do not really allow for real-time interaction. It can allow someone to say something without having to see the reaction. It can ease rejection. It can be a coward's way out of a relationship/date.

So the question is... what is acceptable "tech correspondence"? Are you more/less likely to say what you want to say via technological means?

Why not share your relationship status?

So, we all know about the Facebook relationship status area... Here's my question: If you are married or in a serious relationship why would you not indicate that rather than just have no status?

If you are married and just on Facebook for networking purposes, why would it matter if you were married? Do you think you will make more "connections" if you leave your status "unknown"?

It would seem to me that perhaps the status is left blank so that you could always entertain the virtual flirting, etc. without any real guilt. You leave it up to others to make an assumption about your availability or lack thereof.

Discuss.

Technology + Dating: Help or Hindrance

It's no secret that technology plays a big part in dating in this day and age. From internet dating sites, to chat rooms/apps to being able to be in touch 24/7 from anywhere on the planet... technology is ever-present. The question is does it help you find/keep a partner or does it make the search/preservation of a relationship harder?

Being a single mom with an ex who live out-of-state, I don't have the luxury of going out often to meet people, therefore I have used many of the technological dating advances. I drove hours to meet someone I got to know through Facebook. It didn't turn into a great romance, but we are still friends. I've used eHarmony, Match.com and Plenty of Fish and have had limited success. I've even gone out a few times with a guy I met on an iPhone chat app. I have friends who have met and eventually married someone they met through an on-line dating service.

The downside seems to be that you have to go through ALOT of frogs to find anyone even remotely resembling a prince/princess. Not to mention that people lie/misrepresent themselves on the internet. Maybe it is a picture of you, but from 10 years ago when you were skinny, were handsome and had hair...

I know it's a mixed-bag, but would like some input/feedback.

Does technology help or hinder in the dating arena?

WTF am I doing?

So here's the deal... I've been thinking about writing a book for years. I've finally decided to give it a whirl. It's not exactly the great American novel I thought I'd write after college, but it's a subject that I've been mulling over for a few years - relationships in this shrinking world. How does internet dating, texting, social networking affect the relationships we are forming? Is it helping or hurting that we can find anyone at anytime anywhere? Are people less trusting and trustworthy? What activities now constitute cheating.

I'd love your input and feedback along the way, so please consider following me on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.