Is there still a stigma against online dating?

Our last poll asked the question:

Are you currently a paid/active member of a dating website (including matchmaker sites like Saw You at Sinai)?

34 people answered.

11 (32%) said: Yes – I’m a paid/active member on one site.

7 (21%) said: Yes – I’m a paid/active member on two sites or more.

9 (26%) said: No – I’m not into that. 26%

5 (15%) said: No – I am currently taking a break from dating sites.

2 (6%) said: Other: 6%

There was one comment by P. Almonius: “Tried SYAS, didn’t like it. It felt like someone sat down and said ‘we like how traditional matchmakers are impersonal and inflexible, but how can we make it more alienating?’”

So, out of the 32 who didn’t say “other,” 18 are currently active online on at least one website and 14 are not active (either temporarily or at all).

Nine people said they’re just not into it… I wonder why. Is it people who never tried it or tried it and were turned off? I sometimes walk down the street and see very nice looking guys and I think to myself, “I’ve never seen those guys online!”

A couple years ago I read an article in the Canadian Jewish News where a single girl gave a shout out to the single population asking people to join dating websites. I totally hear her! Even though it’s becoming way more accepted, and even though we all keep hearing about people who met through a dating website, for a lot of people there still seems to be a certain stigma. I think that if online dating websites are used wisely, they can be a great tool in the dating journey. I also think all of you who have your lives together and stay away from these sites – stop it now!

Of course, part of wise usage is knowing how to make a decent online profile. I wrote a piece giving tips on that.

We’re now going to put up a new poll but here is the old one and you can still vote if you haven’t yet.