Online dating is an art form. It can take skill, patience, practice and a healthy dose of luck to get the kind of dates you’re really looking for. But what are the tried and tested tactics that will get girls replying to your messages or flocking to your profile? Take a look at the top tips from the women who know: Dattch.com, the dating app for lesbian, bisexual, curious and queer women.

YOUR PROFILE PICTURE NEEDS TO BE OF YOUR FACE

You would think this would be a given, but far too many are ashamed of trying online dating and try to hide behind pictures of their dogs or a picture of a sunset. Would you walk into a bar or cafe with a mask on? No, so why would you try to meet people online that way? It’s all well and good wanting people to fall in love with your personality, but you’re making it really hard for them to connect with you if you’re hiding.

ACTUALLY FILL OUT YOUR PROFILE

Again, this should be a given, but we’ve all seen profiles that just say, “Ask me.” Ask what? How do planes work? What time is it? It’s the same your profile picture, would you walk up to someone in a bar, look them in the eye and say, “Ask me.”

DON’T OPEN WITH “HEY”
If you can’t think of a better conversation starter than “hey,” don’t message that person yet. Think of a funny opener or ask them a question based on their profile, but avoid generic messages as it just shows you’re not interested in that specific person. You could be saying “hi” to hundreds of people, make an effort for the ones you actually want to talk to.

The post The art of online dating first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Statistics indicate that approximately 70 percent of singles have tried an online dating service and that 20 percent of current committed relationships were initiated online. With figures like that, chances are that if you’re a single lesbian you’ve at least contemplated joining an online dating site — don’t even try to deny it.

While there are several potentially intimidating aspects inherent in putting oneself out there, one facet of online dating that stops many women in their tracks — or dooms them to failure from the start — is the initial set-up of an online dating profile. Some find having to describe themselves and what they’re looking for in a partner a daunting challenge while others seem to forget that less is more when it comes to sharing yourself with a total stranger.

To assist in overcoming these preliminary challenges, I present the following helpful hints.

1. Username or loser name?
Yes, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but putting a little thought into your username can go a long way. First, it’s probably not a good idea to create a handle similar to your real name. Incorporating your first name is probably fine, but steer clear of including revealing last name or birth date information. SueSmith04231972 might give the disingenuous types a jump start on hacking your life. Do yourself a favor and don’t make it so easy for them.

Equally frowned upon are any usernames which are overtly sexual in nature. Sure, ultimately you want to find that special someone with whom to unbridle your pent up passion, but featuring “69,” “naughty” or similarly sexual references in your user name may result in more responses from Ms. Right Now than Ms. Right.

Try creating a name that hints at your personality or interests or otherwise sets you apart from the teeming sea of singles, yet is sufficiently tasteful so as to leave a little to the imagination.

2. A picture is worth a thousand words
Profiles with photos are infinitesimally more likely to be viewed, so unless your livelihood or general well-being would be gravely impacted by uploading a photo or five, please do so. You say you can’t find a decent photo? Well, none of us are Angelina Jolie so get over it.

When deciding which photo(s) to use, there are some basic rules. First, be sure that the viewer can easily discern which person you are in the photo. This seems obvious, but I’ve seen a number of profiles featuring just one scant photo and that a group shot, no less. Group photos are fine, if you’ve first introduced yourself via a clear solo shot, but next to useless otherwise. The exception is if the other people in the photo are men. Typically, unless you’re a hardcore butch or your male companions are drag queens, those browsing can sort it out.

After that, be sure you’re smiling — or at least not looking like you’re attending a funeral — in your primary photo. While it’s amusing to note the irony when HappyGrrl16’s photo looks like it was taken at the precise moment she learned that her beloved pet had died, in the end the Debbie Downer image will deter potential dates.

Next, nothing shouts, “I don’t have any friends,” like a cell phone self-portrait taken in the reflection of a bathroom mirror. Unless you’re preparing for a role as a lesbian recluse and refuse to break character, have a friend take some pictures for you.

Finally, again in keeping with the “leave something to the imagination” theme touched on previously, save the sprawled-on-the-bed-with-a-come-hither-look photos for that special someone. Leave it to Justin Timberlake to bring the sexy back and stick with shots that convey your personality and interests.

2. Actions speak louder than words, but…
…words are virtually all you have in the virtual world so make them count. Many dating sites require that new users share a minimal few words in order to establish the dating profile. This is where many lose heart with the process. Just remember, no one knows you better than you do and start writing.

Don’t make the mistake of perfunctorily adding text like, “I don’t know what to say, but I’ll come back and fill this in later.” Half-ass it much, do you? Anyone who’s serious about meeting a potential partner should take the requisite 10 minutes to impart a little information here.

While it may be tempting to go the way of the cliche, try to avoid references to walks that involve the clasping of hands on a beach or allusions to fireside cuddling. Neither one is all it’s cracked up to be or addresses what you like to do during the spring or autumn months or otherwise shares anything with the reader other than the fact that you’ve watched a chick flick or two too many.

Instead, try to write about the things that make you uniquely you. What are your most positive attributes? What’s the most challenging undertaking you’ve conquered thus far in life? What makes you smile, what makes you laugh and what will involuntarily cause soda to shoot through your nostrils? What activities do you enjoy? What’s your dream vacation? Do you participate in any volunteer or community service activities? What did you want to be when you grew up? What type of partner are you when in a relationship? The possibilities are limited only by your imagination, and you do have one; just allow yourself to tap into it.

Note that the recommendations above focus on what you do like rather than what you don’t like — it’s important to keep things positive.

Also note that the suggestions do not involve sharing a laundry list of specific characteristics you require in a mate. “I don’t want any liars or cheaters or people who aren’t over their ex,” only serves to warn the reader that you’re fresh out of a relationship with someone who lied, and/or cheated and/or who wasn’t over her ex. Danger, Will Robinson, danger!

Even if your heart was put through a wood chipper or you place little faith in finding “the one” online, if you’re going through the trouble of setting up a profile you might as well give yourself the best shot at doing so. As my grandmother used to say, “You draw more flies with honey than vinegar,” so pour on the sweet and tuck that sour away for a while.

4. Spell-check is a girl’s best friend
Congratulations. You’ve concocted the perfect user name, posted a few flattering photos and composed a distinctive and attention-grabbing profile. But before you hit “submit for approval” don’t forget to go that one extra step required in putting your best foot forward and run a grammar / spell-check on that masterpiece.

Sure, it shouldn’t matter if a typo or two slips in, but you only get one chance to make a first impression as they say, and sloppy is as sloppy does. A typo-filled narrative says one of two things — “I didn’t advance past the first grade,” or “This little online dating endeavor isn’t really worth my time and attention.” Either way, it’s not the message you want to send.

So there you have it, ladies. You’re armed and dangerous; single and ready to mingle.

Ready to try online dating? OneGoodLove.com is the leading online dating site created specifically for the relationship-minded LGBT community by the LGBT community. We understand how challenging finding love can be so find LOVE now.

The post Lesbian dating 101: How to write a winning dating profile in 4 easy steps first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Would you take her into a lesbian bar on your first date?

BY KATY RAY
Tagg Magazine

It’s hard out there for a single femme, which is probably why studies show that online dating activity soars over 300% after the holidays. While I most certainly am far from feeling lonely this holiday season, I will always appreciate the days where online dating was almost a hobby of mine. Every time my ex and I broke up, there I was, lying on the bed, phone in hand, bitterly prowling profiles of women I dreamt would treat me way better. Over time, I learned how to dress for, how to escape from, and how to maneuver through the first offline meet up.

For me, happy hour is by far the best and lowest stakes place to set the first date. With cheap drink specials and an inviting social atmosphere, the happy hour meet up occurs at a time that, if the date ends up being a total bust, I still have the rest of my night to recoup and recover. After an awkward, uncomfortable or downright disturbing encounter, I simply spew out some work-related project as an excuse, and make an early exit. Having both an extension activity as well as an early exit tactic is essential to managing the unexpected and unforeseeable circumstances surrounding the first meet up.  I almost always opt for the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday hang outs, where there’s the possibility of extending the date.

Read more at TaggMagazine.com

Tagg Magazine is a print and online resource for LBT women in the DC Metropolitan and Rehoboth, DE areas.

The post Femme problems: Meeting offline for the first time first appeared on Lesbian.com.

I love the internet and large groups of unknown lesbians give me anxiety-driven bitch face, so dating via the App store sounds like a fabulous idea to me. Anything to avoid in person rejection/rejecting. Online dating is nothing new, and while some straight people might hesitate to post their personals on the internet for fear of stigma, almost every lesbian I know has at some point gone online to find lurve or at least sex. It just makes sense; gay-dar has limitations, lesbian nights can feel far and feel between, and meeting a girl organically can feel impossible as a gay woman.

Read the comparisons and reviews of OKCupid, Tinder, Dattch and Brenda at AfterEllen.com

[Looking for a serious connection? Try oneGoodLove]

AfterEllen is the pop culture site that plays for your team.

The post Lez try out some dating apps first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Almost exactly three years ago I started this blog project where I was going to explore places to meet potential dates in New York City that were outside of my comfort zone. I wrote one post (and the adventure did get me a date and a hot make-out, after the fact). Almost exactly two years and fifty weeks ago I rekindled a romance with an ex in LA and stopped needing to cruise because I was back in a long distance thing. Secret monogamous* style.

But, it’s Springtime again! I am looking forward to expanding my horizon! And when a pal of mine who works for OkCupid** offered me a comp ticket to a Queer Women’s Mixer at the Dalloway bar (the newest lez bar in Manhattan) that was exactly one month to the day from my break-up, I thought it was a sign I should try something new. So welcome to post number two in my Untapped Cruising Territory series! Three years later.

Part of moving on is about dipping your toes in the water, finding that fine line between pushing yourself too fast and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone so you can grow.

The event: OKC has started to create a little Web 3.0*** action by facilitating events! They have beer tastings and book swaps and lots of other hipster nerd activities to partake in. This one was just a happy hour for folks. You had to preregister on the site and you could even preview people’s tiny photo icons on the website. Pre-cruising at events, like on Fet Life! This event was just a happy hour, with the intent to meet folks. Very low-key.

Why this is untapped for me: The Dalloway is a bar I’ve only been to once for a friend’s fundraiser. It’s a sort of gaystream place and I hang out in queer gender weirdo crowds. In a big city like NYC we can self-segregate a bit and I am totally guilty of this. (Hence a blog project to not do that so much!) Also, though I am a total extrovert, I hate small talk! I like authentic, deep conversation with people and the whole “being socially lightweight with the questions I ask because you’re a stranger” thing is not my favorite. This is why I want to be a talk show host! I want to get the meat of the question. So happy hour/networking things are hard for me because it’s pretty surface and shallow.

You can’t really tell that I’m wearing black leggings and hot black motorcycle style boots with studs on the straps. (Photo: QueerFatFemme.com)

The Outfit:

I went with something casual but signature. I’m a big believer in wearing colors, especially amongst New Yorkers who tend towards greys, browns and blacks. Next time you’re out in Manhattan after work hours see what I’m talking about. I think when you’re doing a thing about meeting potential dates it’s important to look as true to yourself as possible. I mean, you want to be impressive but without compromising authenticity. I didn’t wear red lipstick until after the sun went down. This is not a hard and fast rule for me, this was just because I knew I wanted to sample the Dalloway’s happy hour truffle fries and didn’t want to worry about having to reapply.

The Wing Femme:

Bridget. Who could basically teach a class on how to be a great Wing Femme. She knows exactly when to draw someone in and when to back quietly out of a conversation. She knows when to remind you the day of the event that you look like a babe, and when to follow-up the next day to remind you that you’re a babe and a great catch. (Hella important traits when making first forays into dating after a break-up.) Bridget’s pretty incredible.

The Scene:

Approximately fifty queers in a swanky basement happy hour space. Before we even got into the bar I ran into another friend whose break-up is about three weeks younger than mine and I commented, “Didn’t you just get your heart broken yesterday?” But sometimes your friends drag you out as soon as you become single to remind you of the vast pussy possibilities out there.

The Dalloway has their own singles night at 8PM every Tuesday, so they were creating this a combo event. You had to be on the pre-paid ticket list for OkCupid in order to get in, and the swanky door folks offered the glow stick tagging bracelets for anyone who wanted them. Options were Single, Taken or D.T.F.**** I selected D.T.F. Why not? It’s pretty representative of how casual I’m interested in being right now. Getting what you want is all about being clear with your desire.

(Photo: QueerFatFemme.com

The thing to do with singles mixers, according to my bestie Victoria, is to make it your goals to meet as many people as possible and not expect to meet the love of your life. I mean, sure, I believe in love at first sight, but that’s for times like at a friend of a friend’s birthday party or over produce at the food co-op and not at a singles mixer. This is just about a numbers game.

What I liked about the happy hour was that everyone was there explicitly to meet people so folks were a lot bolder than they normally would be because there was a group understanding about interacting. So people seemed to free to just float up to a group of folks and start chatting.

I stayed close to Bridget and let her do the fishing for us. It seemed that between me, Bridget, her friend Blakely and this other girl Jenny she knew, that we kind of group dated other new folks. “Oh, hey, tell us about yourself,” until somehow they hit it off with one or none of us.

I enjoyed some diet coke (I’m not drinking alcohol anymore as a lifestyle choice), truffle fries and a slider. It felt a little weird to be eating at a happy hour where not a lot of people got food, but I was really hungry and honestly if someone is going to be weird about me eating some truffle fries I just don’t think they’re a good match for me, friend or date.

The slider was really good and so were the fries. But they totally were expensive even for happy hour pricing, at $5 for a mini burger and $7 for fries. Pricey place, that Dalloway. (Photo: QueerFatFemme.com)

The verdict: I spent two hours at the mixer and by the end was pretty done talking to new people. I enjoyed my time but small talk is, again, a lot of specific energy and I was excited to go back to talking to my bestie/wing femme. Also I saw a girl out of the corner of my eye that I swore was my ex’s ex (but maybe she just looked like her) and I freaked out a little.

However, I totally met two people I would absolutely go on a date with, so I think in a crowd of fifty that is a total win. I didn’t ask either of them out (or even flirt that much, I’m not that great at subtlety) because I know at this delicate stage I can’t handle even a little bit of rejection. But it is really reassuring and awesome to know that there are babely babes I want to chat up date-style and have hot make-outs with out there and it’s a small queer world, our paths will cross again.

As I left with my friend who is way more freshly broken-up with than I am, I lamented that no one else was flagging D.T.F. and she proudly lifted up her shirt cuff to reveal her yellow wristband. We had a great laugh.

After the event I noticed that we can now see the actual profile listings of the other folks at the mixer, I guess to help facilitate follow-up!

Bridget says, “They call it ‘Okay’ Cupid not ‘Exceptional’ Cupid or ‘Extremely Effective’ Cupid.”

And my friend who works for OkCupid says this:

With OkC, your experience depends a TON on your priorities and expectations. It is great if: you want to meet a lot of people fast, if you’re pragmatic about casting a wide net and proactive about making the first move, if it’s important to you that the person you are meeting for drinks shares some values or interests with you, if your dating prefs are very specific or unusual in some notable but maybe not immediately apparent way (poly, kinky, looking for sex only, etc.) or if you feel like you are otherwise “not for everybody” and would prefer to get hit on by people who are ready for this jelly (see also Bevin’s note about fat strippers doing really well on OkC.) OkCupid is a BAD idea if: you’re sensitive to rejection or deeply bummed out by strangers ignoring you, if tend to assume it’s “me not them” when people aren’t into you, if you’re skeeved by people you don’t consider suitable checking out your profile or contacting you, if a ‘we met cute’ story is important to you, or if you have high expectations around the level of connection you’ll have with the people you meet.

I think that’s a pretty great nutshell for online dating in general, but especially the OkC situation.

What’s next on the Untapped Cruising Territory for Bevin? I’m going to try my old ideas from 2010, lesbian softball game, the Park Slope Food Co-op, and A Brooklyn Meat-Up (though I don’t remember what this was). And my friends keep telling me about this Lesbian Herstory Archives speed dating thing for 30+, but I’m not so sure about that.

*Secret monogamous is where neither party has agreed to monogamy but both end up just defaulting to monogamy because they don’t want to do it to/date anyone else.

**For those of you who don’t know, OkCupid is a dating website. It’s good for urban queers and our pals. I know many people who have met their partners from it, especially fat burlesque performers who like cisgendered nerdy dudes. It’s a thing.

***Web 3.0 is where you use social media to meet people in real life! Damien Luxe brought this term unto me.

****D.T.F. I learned from watching Jersey Shore, means Down To F*ck. It’s a hilarious conversation starter.

Originally published by QueerFatFemme.com

Bevin Branlandingham is your Femmecee at QueerFatFemme.com, where she chronicles the relentless pursuit of her joy.

The post Untapped cruising territory: OK Cupid mixers first appeared on Lesbian.com.

It sort of makes us think of the “Love Thyself” campaign at department store Harvey Nichols.

BY REKARA GAGE
Curve

“The Merge”: a well-known lesbian phenomenon in which couples have the uncanny tendency to look like one another. Some blame it on wardrobe sharing, parroting behavior or just plain old-fashioned narcissism. But as it turns out, there may be more than a shared dress code drawing you to potential mates. According to Christina Bloom, creator of Find Your Face Mate, facial feature similarity between couples is what lights that initial spark of attraction. “When we meet someone, we usually say, ‘I met this great guy or I met this great girl,” says Bloom. “The thing is, you liked her personality because you liked her face.”

FaceMate is a scientific and research-based online dating sight for singles. The technology scans a photo that you upload and it marks 67 points on the face and matches them to other pictures uploaded to the “facebase.” Bloom happened upon this concept when she started dating someone after ending her marriage. “People were telling us that we looked so similar. We had the same coloring and it made the similar structures of the face easier to see. There began my fascination and that was 20 years ago.”

Read more at Curve

Rather try it the more traditional way? Check out OneGoodLove.com.

Curve, the nation’s best-selling lesbian magazine, spotlights all that is fresh, funny, exciting, controversial and cutting-edge in our community.

The post A face-based approach to online dating first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY SARAH TEREZ ROSENBLUM

No one had heard of “catfishing” in 1999; even if you could have Googled the term, by the time your dial-up internet connected, you’d already be twitching on the bottom of the sly fisherman’s boat. Now my mom plays Words with friends via five different devices, but back then she thought I’d come down with ADHD because I couldn’t stop running upstairs to check my Electronic Mail. And actually meeting someone on the internet? Only flesh-eating Germans did that.

Read more at AfterEllen.com

AfterEllen is the pop culture site that plays for your team.

The post Online dating, before everyone was doing it first appeared on Lesbian.com.

You’ve taken the leap into online dating and have created a profile. You’re browsing through the personal ad profiles and you see someone who catches your eye. You want to send her a message. But what do you say? What’s the best way to respond to someone’s lesbian online dating ad?

The first thing you’ll probably notice about someone is her picture. It’s natural to go first on someone’s looks. That’s great. But as you read her ad, look beyond that. Read what she has to say about herself and what she’s looking for in a partner. When you first respond to an ad, it’s important to reference something about her that is interesting to you or that you think you might connect on, not just her looks.

Read more at LesbianLife at About.com

The post Lesbian dating 101: How to respond to an online dating ad first appeared on Lesbian.com.

In the world of online dating, how do any of us know what’s true and what’s illusion?

Jay’s grandmother was concerned when she learned that her favorite granddaughter was in love with a woman she’d met online and knew only through the written word — no photos, no phone calls and no in-person meetings. “How do you know she’s not a 90-year-old man?,” she asked. How could Jay possibly know enough to be in love?

For Kath, such attraction without visual cues would be nearly impossible. Pictures are very important to her in online connections: “I always look at people and analyze people. You can tell a lot about a person by the picture. There is a certain type of person you’re attracted to, and I think it’s very rare that you fall for someone that’s not in the realm of what you find attractive.” Kath has also learned that pictures don’t necessarily tell the whole visual story. In one case, a woman was so much more beautiful in person than in her photo that Kath, surprised, found herself unable to speak.

Shannon doesn’t want to rely too much on any virtual information, whether words or pictures. She has met women online who, with further interaction (and certainly in real life), reveal themselves as very different from their initial presentation. Though the internet is still her main source to look for mates, Shannon remains wary of virtual interactions as a source of truth: “A person on a computer screen is not the person. Technology should never be taken as a substitute for real ‘face-to-face, get to know you’ sessions. It’s far too easy to hide undesirable attributes online. It’s easier to see lies face-to-face. Body language and things like that tell you a lot.”

Unlike Shannon, Jay is not concerned about being lied to by someone else. Instead, she doesn’t want to lie to herself: “Your eyes deceive you all the time. People make a lot of assumptions about me based on how I look and most of the time they’re so wrong it’s not funny. I didn’t want to do that to someone else. Is attraction mainly about what people look like, is it ‘I have a type and it doesn’t matter that this person is actually my perfect mate because they don’t fit that type?’ I wanted something different.”

Lost, on the other hand, accepts that she has a very specific physical type. A femme, she describes herself as “hardwired by straight culture” and is only attracted to other femme women. At the same time, Lost believes that physical attraction alone isn’t the core of connection. “I think the most important thing in a relationship is to be friends, and then if you have the rest, it’s incredible.” Lost met the love of her life online in what began as a friendship: “As friends, you develop this basis, and that’s what we did – and then we realized it was more than that. We did not see each other in person for about 6 months. We became fast friends online first.”

What do you think? Whose perspectives here do you relate to most or least — and why? And what’s your own unique view on truth, attraction and online dating?

Michelle Golden is often curious, asks a lot of questions and writes about whatever catches her interest. If you’d like you can email Michelle.

The post A conversation: Truth, attraction and online dating first appeared on Lesbian.com.

We’ve all found ourselves looking for love in all the wrong places at one point or another. Whether in a smoky bar, the office, amongst an incestuous cadre of friends, or amid the plethora of dating websites, nearly everyone has experienced a peek-a-boo moment with love we’d prefer to forget.

If you’re not the smoky bar type, all of your co-workers are straight and/or coupled, or you prefer to maintain your friendship’s status quo, you have no doubt spent some time online, checking out the personals at oneGoodLove.com, Match.com, TheLesbianPersonals.com, or perhaps the most adventurous site of them all, Craigslist.org.  Craigslist (CL) is a website which hosts local community classifieds and forums, including Men4Women (M4W), Men4Men (M4M), and Women4Women (W4W) personals forums, to name some of the tamer options.

I ventured on to CL W4W mistakenly thinking it might be a good place to make some new friends or, even better, meet a potential new girlfriend.  Well, CL is a free service and the age-old axiom has never been more true — you most definitely get what you pay for!  After a couple of days sorting through the ads, it was obvious that most of the posts populating the W4W forum fell into one of about a half-dozen categories.  In order for others to learn from my experience and not have their own expectations shattered, I’ve put together the following guide to CL W4W.

I’m a Skank/My Boyfriend’s a Skank
(but we can’t help but fantasize)

Are you a straight woman with a fantasy? Does your boyfriend have a birthday coming up? Then “I’m a Skank/My Boyfriend’s a Skank” is the place for you!

Never mind that the forum is found in the W4W section — that’s just to keep all the REAL straight women and men without goals from wandering in. If you have a boyfriend, but spend your days daydreaming about what it would be like to be with a woman (and, hey, who hasn’t, right?), then step right up, give us your measurements and his dimensions and let’s get it on! This forum best suited for those with no respect for their partner, who can host, and who own their own digital camera.

I’m Really a Guy and a Pervert
(but since I don’t leave my mom’s basement, this is the only way I can ever possibly hope to see a naked woman)

Are you male, 35+ years old, and still living at home? Do you routinely not bathe for days or weeks at a time? Have you or a close friend had your picture posted on at least one state’s Convicted Sex Offender website? Then “I’m Really a Guy and a Pervert” is the place for you!

Don’t worry about grammar and no need to romance your prey. Just shuffle on in, tell us how horny (alternate spellings include: horney, hornee, whoreny) you are, and tell us ALL about what you’d like to do to us. Be sure to request a naked photo and send us one of you in response.

I’m a Pissy Bitch
(and have nothing better to do than find fault with everyone else)

Do you have a miserable life? Does someone piss in your Cheerios every single damned day of the week? Do you have tons and tons of spare time on your hands? Then “I’m a Pissy Bitch” is the forum for you!

Peruse the ads in the other forums at the CL W4W board and post away with your litany of criticisms and grammatical error corrections. This board is particularly appealing to those who know it all and have never actually experienced heartbreak — makes it much easier to make fun of those who seek advice, guidance, and sympathy on the next board.

Wanna move in?
(aka the woman I met three weeks ago who proposed on our 2nd date just broke up with me)

Do you rent the U-Haul just in anticipation of the first date? Do you use the word “love” with a woman before you’ve memorized the names of her five cats?  Then “Wanna move in?” is the place for you!

Debate the pros and cons of co-dependence.  Commiserate with others who’ve experienced both the thrill of new love and the agony of the end of a relationship within the same calendar week. This is a great forum for those whose lease is about to expire.

I’m Caucasian/African American/Asian/Hispanic/Etc.
(and I hate everyone else)

Did your granddaddy wear a hood and burn crosses on the neighbor’s lawn? Do you think the words whitewash and whiteboard are racist?  Are you incapable of tactfully stating a dating preference for a woman of a specific race without using racial slurs or slanderous physical descriptions? Then “I’m Caucasian/African American/ Asian/ Hispanic/Etc.” is the forum for you!

Who says you can’t be both a player and a hater? Woo that next conquest by showing her just how morally offensive you can be.  Note: there are no grammar skill requirements for this forum.

I’m A Normal Lesbian
(and can’t figure out how I ended up here)

Did you stumble onto CL one day, see the W4W icon, and naively post a well-written and witty personal ad listing your interests, what you’re looking for in a partner, and asking that interested individuals contact you? Do you possess boundless quantities of optimism and believe that you might truly find an intelligent, interesting, emotionally stable, single, lesbian or bisexual woman with a sense of humor on CL? Then “I’m a Normal Lesbian” is the place for you!

Practice the great lost art of written communication. Engage in enthralling conversations with other women possessing similar levels of optimism and naivete.  Display your class, intelligence, and personality to those who recognize and appreciate such qualities.   WARNING:  This forum is not heavily trafficked.

The post Lesbian online dating: Free is going to cost you first appeared on Lesbian.com.