One of my biggest frustrations is trying to decipher the putrid piles of drivel, illiteracy and incompetency that people try to pass off as a "profile."

Another frustration is that people have a tendency to tell you what they think you want to hear, or what they think they're supposed to say (often the same thing), rather than anything remotely resembling the truth.

Some people seem unable to comprehend simple statements such as "I am not interested in dating anyone who _________."

The sheer, incomprehensible homogeneity.

Having the first girl I met from a dating site turn out to be an arsonist.

Having the next eight turn out to be even worse.

Hey Lex! I like fire! I just stick with gasoline and woodpiles though. Flame on!

Liars! Plain and simple. Intentional and unintentional.

Never count your chicks..... blah blah blah....

Often times, online connections are based off of assumptions and expectations....

If you get to the part where you actually meet in person, it's best to treat it as the very first time talking and meeting that person despite hours spent online/text/phone/etc.

The mental and emotional connections made online.... may or may not translate in real life.

Online dating is more challenging than dating in person, imo.

I have found that online dating is just like life and society in general. People are constantly trying to see what they can get away with and common courtesy is uncommon at best. There are scammers aplenty and quite a few flakes, weirdos, and wackos out there as well. One truly has to be careful and at the same time, never get discouraged. Sometimes I think I'm a glutton for punishment for trying online dating in the first place, however I cling to a small hope that it all pans out in the end.

Unless your standards are low are very broad, I'm thinking online dating gives you a better shot, as it were, than picking up a random stranger at a bar.

It's a mixed blessing, Undoubtedly, online dating gives you exposure to countless numbers of people who would otherwise never knew you existed, and vice versa. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those people are much too far away to have any practical impact on one's actual dating life.

The other downside is that few people have the skills to communicate effectively within the context of a written medium. Even fewer have the skills to communicate honestly, or so it seems.

Welcome to the world. Most people here, on Earth, have those problems.
Still, online, I think one has a better shot at meeting someone who doesn't have diametrically opposed viewpoints on critical subjects.
However, nothing is foolproof. I once dated a woman from online. Everything was going great---until she found out I had (gasp) cats. And worse, I let them get on a table. A table I used for nothing except to let cats get on it, but that didn't matter. It was a dealbreaker for her. People are strange.

When it comes to the question of sanity, I must be a nut magnet, because my latest ex (not met online) was definitely not playing with a full deck. I have met quite a few nuts online now in the last few months and I fear that they must gravitate to me for some reason. I wish there was some way I could tell who the nuts are before I get involved with them. I guess even a nut can be manipulative enough to fool someone into thinking she is sane.

Get a list of questions to ask that all start with,
"Are you now or have you ever been..."

And seriously, everyone is crazy to one degree or another. The trick is finding someone whose crazy you find charming.

I'd like to try that. So far, the only crazy I've run into is "overbearing" and "manipulative."

I try to stick to dating local people, rather than someone far away. I'd rather be able to meet them fairly quickly, than spend tons of time online chatting. However, my frustration lately is how many people aren't looking for anything, really, other than just a little fun here and there.

I hear that, so to speak. All I can say is keep trying. There are still a few good people left in the world. They are few and far between, to be sure, but they are out there. If things like this website doesn't work for you, try joining a club of something you have an interest in. Anyone you meet there will at least have that in common with you.

Online dating, like most everything else in life, has its ups and downs. For this thread, I would like to focus on the downside, the frustrations experienced in the quest for someone special. As I have found out, the road to a good match is paved with unpleasant experiences and unsavory individuals. My most frustrating experience, and it has happened on more than one occasion, is when a seemingly serious connection develops, with frequent emails, IM's, and phone calls. Then, out of the blue, for no known reason, it stops cold and I never hear from the person again and I'm left wondering what I said or did wrong. I am currently involved in something I hope and pray blossoms into a lasting and meaningful relationship. However, I know what it feels like to be led to believe things are going in a positive direction, then be left twisting in the wind. All I know is that if I were ever to break off an online connection (and I have), I would let the other person know in a timely fashion and not burn any bridges.
I am interested in hearing of the frustrations encountered by others in the endeavor of online dating.