Well, as I said in my previous post, as we get older we sometimes start to have responsibilities that make it much more difficult to just go and do when and what we please. Before we get to that age though, when we have no responsibility to anyone but ourself, our time is still our own and at that point in life, I found real life interaction to be much more accessible and fulfilling. I kind of use these sites now because I dont have the FREEDOM to come and go as I would have when I was in my twenties.

You were not one of the people I was thinking about when I wrote that .

Cool. Cuz I don't really resemble that remark all that much. Well...except when it comes to talking face to face with women.

My social skills are more than intact. They're just a natural attribute I've had as far back as I can remember. And because of this, the last three dates I've been on this month have all been with women that I've met at school or through friends. Yet...

I'm 21 and I'm pretty good at navigating the web - the way I look at it: If the technology is there, why not use it? There's just as much of a possiblity of meeting somebody nice online as there is in your average college bar. And if your looking in both places, your twice as likley to find that special someone. :)

Yeah, it definitely was not you that I was talking about .

Same here. (:

I see so many twenty somethings and even a few 18 and 19 year olds on these sites, it astounds me. If someone is young and healthy, with no responsibilities tying them down,,why dont they get out and meet people? Goodness, when I was that age I would not have been in places like this because I Was too busy going out with family or going dancing or to shows or ANYTHING but sitting on a computer. Do you think this is a sign of decaying social skills or what?

See! Now theres two of us! Suckers!

i think it's simply a sign of technological advancement. in this day and age young people are better able to take advantage of technology, than when you were at that age. The use of the internet doesn't necessarily mean sitting at home on a computer anymore. It can also mean surfing on your cellphone or laptop while you're on the go. if you have it, why not use it? i think it's rather handy whether or not you have responsibilities tying you down. the internet allows you to interact with many different varieties of people from all over and be constantly plugged into what's going on, i don't see how anything would be wrong with taking advantage of the opportunities afforded to us now.

I see so many twenty somethings and even a few 18 and 19 year olds on these sites, it astounds me. If someone is young and healthy, with no responsibilities tying them down,,why dont they get out and meet people? Goodness, when I was that age I would not have been in places like this because I Was too busy going out with family or going dancing or to shows or ANYTHING but sitting on a computer. Do you think this is a sign of decaying social skills or what?

Here we go again, though.
We find another distancing agent.

Age.

This way we don't have to deal with our own failures or insecurities. We all came here 'cause we wanted to be noticed, right?

Initially yes, but now I'm trying to hide, the weird people skeer me.

Haha.
I'm about as weird as they come and you don't seem too skeered of me, doll.

I see so many twenty somethings and even a few 18 and 19 year olds on these sites, it astounds me. If someone is young and healthy, with no responsibilities tying them down,,why dont they get out and meet people? Goodness, when I was that age I would not have been in places like this because I Was too busy going out with family or going dancing or to shows or ANYTHING but sitting on a computer. Do you think this is a sign of decaying social skills or what?

Had to go back to the beginning after reading everyone's comments. Ah, to be young again. At 40 now, 18-19 seems like a lifetime ago. It seemed like I could find someone in a week back then. Now at 40, it's a different world, I don't know how but it just is, and my social skills have vastly improved over the last 20 years, but for some reason, it was just so easy back then. Maybe it was hormones.

Had to go back to the beginning after reading everyone's comments. Ah, to be young again. At 40 now, 18-19 seems like a lifetime ago. It seemed like I could find someone in a week back then. Now at 40, it's a different world, I don't know how but it just is, and my social skills have vastly improved over the last 20 years, but for some reason, it was just so easy back then. Maybe it was hormones.

I could not be a more social person. But here, on this site, you can readily encounter different cultures, different age groups, different religions, different affiliations, outlooks, interests, etc. Let's face it. That's not going to happen at the local eatery or bar.

I enjoy writing, most of my friends could care less about that. So here's a forum. I can have conversations with young people and not have someone talking about me robbing the cradle. I can discuss foreign films, learn about another's country and their holidays. I find it all fascinating.

It's good to break out of your little bubble where you live, particularly if it is pretty homogenic. Plus, you're not sitting in some smoke filled bar spending money on drinks. You can lay on your bed in your jammies and end conversations when you want. Nothing wrong with that.