Contrary to what people in general know now, online dating was not born out of technological advancements but of something more primal in human nature - the need to have and be with someone. The Internet was launched in the mid-1990s but it was in the early 1720s when the first lonely hearts personal was written and published in a local newspaper in Manchester, England. The woman responsible for the ad was a lonely spinster named Helen Morrison, who was later committed by the town mayor to an asylum for lunatics as a response to her ad. Centuries later, Helen Morrison's dilemma became acknowledged and people began to express their desire to find someone more openly, without being subject to question as to their state of mind.

No man is an island, so they say, and dating in every available form allows people to find that one person - or several others - with whom to share their life with. Online dating is a modern form of dating, and one that has gotten millions upon millions of people from all around the globe hooked. The legendary band, The Beatles, first had the world singing the very words that described what poor Helen Morrison had gone through with their recordings of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Eleonor Rigby," whose lyrics - "All the lonely people, where do they all come from?" - continue to shoot right through the hearts of the lonely to this day. Now the worldwide web has taken the place of newspapers and magazines - and you can place personal ads online with more ease and convenience.

Online dating provides a number of advantages. One of the first things that members of dating sites enjoy is anonymity. Unlike when going out on a "real" date, you can choose for your name and face to remain in the shadows. You can use an alias, which dating websites refer to as a username. Your prospects don't have to see what you look like until you have established a connection and feel that the right time has come. This can be extremely helpful if you are insecure about your appearance or if you are shy. When you date someone via the Internet, physical attributes take the back seat; it's the ability to elegantly express yourself and communicate which will count more. You can also be sure that your privacy will be maintained - personal details will remain secret unless you instruct otherwise. Dating websites give a premium on privacy because they know that's how they can satisfy their customers and, consequently, how their online dating services thrive.

Apart from the privacy and anonymity which you can enjoy, you will also be able to save more money on dates. Unlike when going out on a "real" date, you don't have to shell out big bucks when dating on the Internet. When you decide to date someone online, all you need to have is a computer and an Internet connection that's both fast and reliable. You don't even have to pay membership fees on dating websites - you can check out and use the features for free during a trial period. Even when the membership fees become due, they are usually minimal and the total cost for online dating will still be much cheaper than that of "real" dating. Now you don't have to be as lonely as Helen Morrison. Search for reputable dating sites and create long lasting relationships.