Welcome and hopefully as time goes along you will be able to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Someone who gets aggressive and posts a second email complaining you don't respond is probably the chaff so I would block them. The more blocks they get the sooner they will leave the site and or get kicked out. A gentleman or a lady takes their time and doesn't push or sound desperate. They sure don't cop and attitude.

If someone just sends you a smiley they are trying to make you feel welcome, let you know they are noticeing you, and encourageing you to look at their profile.

You can, if you CHOSE to, do that openly or in stealth mode. Personally I would do the later since a few of the overly eager will take that as a "oh she likes me and I finally got one to respond" and go over board.

If someone seems likeable I would say "Thanks for the hello and maybe remark on something that seems like common ground." Keep it short and sweet. If they turn jerk return to the block option. If they respond nicely follow back as you have time.

If they are not particularly interesting just pass over them. Nice guys can accept they haven't made a connection and apply their attention where it is welcome. Yea it is dissapointing but on-line dating isn't for sissys.

If something catches your attention in a forum or they change their profile you can always send them a smiley and give them another chance and vice versa. Most guys figure new people get a lot of initial responses and just want to not be drowned out but realize that a minimal greeting is not going to get a lot of response.

If someone is nice enough to write a letter introduceing themselves I would respect that person enough to at least Thank them for their polite introduction and tell them your honest initial impression. I wouldn't critique their letter, that is cruel, but if there is and obvious deal breaker like smoking, they are into sports and you loath them ect. say it in a nice way and that is enough. Wish them luck in there search. People who write letters should be patient enough to give you at least a week to reply. Most normal people don't have time to respond immediately even if they like you.

As far as thinking you are a "stuck up" don't sweat juvinile name calling. If they are into that high school stuff they aren't worth your time. Good luck. Hang in there. Some really nice people in the group here.

P.S. You have a very good profile. The photo's are fine. You can add ones to reflect your interests as you get them.

Thx PacificStar48 for all that advice. I am only 3 years out of high school so my thinking still is closer to high school cliques and manners than it is to mature adults.

I figure the web can't be much worse than all the fighting girl cliques in my high school so I should be able to handle it.

Besides, when I close my applemac computer all the web people are gone. That makes it easy to ignore the non nice people. In school the non nice people would sometimes follow me home.

Welcome Mindy. I can see why you have this problem of too much E mail, you are a cutie.

I reply to everyone who e mails me, If I am not interested I write something like, "thanks for the e mail, after reading your profile I just don't think we are compatable". If they don't take the hint I don't feel obligated to explain further & I just ignore them. I havn't had to block anyone on this site yet, but I would if I felt harrassed.

If someone is very impatient about waiting for a reply & gets rude that quickly,I think it's an indicater if what they may be demanding & pocessive in person, maybe even have a temper. They did you a favor by exposing this right away.

I also reply to all the emails I get. If I politely tell someone thanks, but I'm not interested, some will be fine with that, some will get offended and upset. So, just choose how you want to reply and ignore those who get rude.

just because you are able to see and say that about yourself I think you are wiser than the average bear

you'll fit right in here

I agree with those who say to send a short reply of not interested, if they choose to get rude about it, you can block them. But those you aren't interested in can become very good friends so judge them by how they take rejection.

As to the guys who got rude with you for not answering right away, block them because they can be trouble. And just a smiley... ..... ....for those who send just a smiley.

Have a good time here on Mingle!

I reply to all mails with words, within 2 days. Two days is okay... trust me.

If they say, "Hey".... I say "Hay? Like Straw?"

"How are you?" I say I'm great, thanks.

"Wanna chat"? I say about what?

"I liked your profile, hit me up if you wanna know about me"... I say, hit you where?

Seriously, this is a perfect place for giving what you get, reciprocity, but it needs a balance of the Golden Rule. Just remember, the authors of my above examples really think they are being sincere sometimes....

just start a thread

to those who emailed me and got no response


that should go over like the car off the cliff

but hey
what do you know
right?

I took all the advice from this thread...almost all. I replied to every non rude guy that sent me a message. Not including those who messaged me in the last 2 hours.

Now how do I reply to the second wave of messages saying?.....

-Why? What's wrong with me?

-You don't even know me how can you say we wouldn't work out?

-You are not real anyway

At some point I am going to have to get rude or just ignore the guys.

Forum guys are easier to respond to. At least we have something to talk about.

Impale their eye's with a spork.