Why Dating Sites Beat Nightclubs, Particularly for Older People

Late the other night I went for a stroll and passed a few of the local nightclubs. It was after midnight, and it was getting close to closing time for some of these venues. The music was loud and people loitered about outside in small groups. Some were catching or hailing cabs. Other were wolfing down fast food purchased nearby. Most were clearly drunk, and many looked tired and disheveled.

I shuddered. While I went through that phase a long time ago in my twenties, I just couldn't do it now!

I thought it was ironic that most were there hoping to meet members of the opposite sex. Sure, many were just hoping to “score” a one night stand. And some were successful, no doubt! But a fair proportion of those revellers were probably secretly hoping to meet their soul mate. And the chances of that happening in a nightclub or pub are one in a million.

I couldn't think of a worse environment to try and connect with other singles. It just seemed like a cruel joke! In those places, the music is so loud you can barely hear yourself think, let alone have a decent conversation. And conversation is the best way to get to know someone, after all.

The need for good talk definitely increases as you get older, too. That's because you have more to chat about, and you are also much more discerning. You want to converse for a while at leisure so you have a sense of what the other person is really like and to see if you might be compatible on a level that is deeper than mere lust.

Sure, there are some more quiet and cosy wine bars that are much more amenable to this. And they can be good places to meet new people. However, you still have the problem of striking up a conversation in the first place. While some people become bolder and more confident with age most don't, unfortunately.

That's why online dating is such a good alternative. You can make contact with members of the opposite sex easily and selectively, while remaining completely sober in the quiet of your own home. You can chat online with them if that's why you prefer. Alternatively you can send a few e-mails back and forth, eventually exchange phone numbers and then converse over the phone. Then if one or more of these conversations go well, you can meet for a relaxed coffee or drink in a quiet place.

It's a much more non-threatening - and ultimately productive - method of getting to know other singles. No wonder people over forty are taking to it in ever growing numbers. That's why you should definitely give it a try if you are middle-aged or older. It sure beats nightclubs, pubs and bars!