In addition, who can forget all the infamous online dating websites that guarantee you a fast ticket to a digital catalog of prospects, all claiming to be oozing with potential and assured quality. However, what are the pros and cons of this turn of the century innovation, and how does it compare with good old fashion meeting someone in public? First, let us look at what some of these websites are offering.

Match.com: Yes, I am guilty. I was one of the first people to come across this site years ago. Back then, it was less than 20 dollars to join, instead of 50. This dating site, might I add, is one of the most disingenuous and money wasteful websites you will ever encounter...beware!

The real kicker is that you are unable to reply or even look at anyone's full profile until you pay for a membership. When I first joined match.com several years ago, this was not the case. You could reply, but not initiate the first email. When I stumbled on to match.com again earlier this year, I was astonished to discern this unwarranted modification. Though I was tempted to do my own test, just to see how much they had improved for the price they were charging. At the same time I was amazed to see so many good-looking men in search of true, and undying love (and I do mean that sarcastically).

Being the sucker that I am, I made a profile and ruefully paid for a subscription. As soon as my credit card went through, I started the emailing process. Now here comes the part that very few people realize or seldom even think about. Match.com permits everyone to make a "free" profile and post his or her pictures. As I pointed out before, without a subscription you are unauthorized to respond, send out an email or make contact of any kind.

Okay, I am a decent looking girl and I happen think I look better than 75 percent of the women inquiring on match.com. Imagine my sentiments when I send out over 30 emails, and half have been read but no one has responded. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what I was doing wrong out until that little light bulb went off in my head. The revelation was this: The men I emailed were not paying subscribers. They were essentially just lookie-lous.

So how the heck was I supposed to make contact and get my money's worth if everyone I was contacting had no ability to reply back because they aren't a paying member? Sure, maybe someone will pay for a membership if they like what they see on your profile, but the majority of these people will not pay 50 dollars to make contact with only one curious, single good-looking man or woman. This is how match.com swindles and empties out your pockets blind. They clearly know what they are doing when they say "free" The bottom line is, match.com shouldn't endorse anyone into making a profile without being a full-paying member. In my opinion, this is almost fraud.

Yahoo Personals: Yahoo personals is half the cost of Match.com, but that doesn't mean the quality is any better. If you browse through the listings, you will find the following: Women that eat their feelings of loneliness away. Chubby chasers who are looking for the women who eat their feelings of loneliness away. Men who live with their mothers. Men who live with their mothers and have no job. Men who live with their mothers, have no job and no car. Women who have been divorced more times than I can count on one hand.

Oh and don't forget the about those people who look like models and you can't fathom why someone that good looking would be on a personal's website. (Hmm, for some reason they never seem to respond. I wonder why that is....) Back in the day, I met a few men off yahoo personals, none worth mentioning. One man was 50 pounds heavier than what he looked like in his pictures. I guess that maybe he didn't notice his significant weight gain?

Plentyoffish.com: Just remember this: you get what you pay and sometimes you get what you don't pay for. And yes, POF is free. Out of all the dating sites I have ever encountered, this one would be the worst. Usually dating sites that offer free services attract a low caliber of people. Expect to find a lot of perverts and sexual predators on this one. I really don't have much to say about this site other than that the men who happened to email me were all really low class and tactless.

Overall, the best way to meet someone would be the good old-fashioned way, just by walking out your front door. Your mom did it, your grandparents did it and even your great grandparents did it! There is no reason why you can't go out in the world and let fate take it's course. Personally, I feel online dating messes with fate. You don't go looking for love, love comes looking for you.

Nevertheless, if you have your heart set on the online dating craze make sure you follow a few simple rules.

First, always talk to your potential date on the phone before you meet. This obviously gives you a sense of who they are and if they use foul language, that's an immediate sign to pass. Also, meet in a public place such as a mall or somewhere you will be seen together.

Second, NEVER have your date meet you at your own place the first time. This also makes it much easier to bail if the date isn't going well.

Finally, yet most importantly, never get in their car; and never go anywhere other then your planned meeting spot.

We live in a dangerous world and if you want to spare your life?use common sense.