if somebody very beautiful and obviously out of my league , requests to chat on a different platform or asks for my email , never having met in person , i immediately think " scammer "and ignore them right away .... unless they send me a security deposit ( non- refundable) !!! suggest you do something similar ...

Exactly right!
Anyone claiming to live in England who starts sentences with "am" is basically lying....along with anyone claiming to live in Westminster.

I also love the way that cities seem mobile and can "jump" between countries!

you'd think I'd know that by now, but I still feel so stupid about dating.

And sex ads?? I only get those if I switch off my AdBlock. So not in my PM (mail) box here, but on the site and top of pages etc.
Install AdBlock.

you'd think I'd know that by now, but I still feel so stupid about dating.


You'll figure it out. A general rule of thumb, unsolicited likes, messages coming to you, are scammers. I've been at it for 12 years. I had messages for the first two weeks. After that, I was old news. If I got a message, it was from forum posts.

What I thought was interesting, is that not one soul in my town, or close to it ever was a regular forum poster. In 12 years. I was reasonably active on them.

After a year, I just flat gave up.

Well of course you are, you are allergic to anything with hair,
it must be mighty hard to find the baldies ;-)

I'm not dating pets. So how should I have worded it?

Can't tell, you took that part down already but it seems to me
you said 'I am allergic to anything with hair.'

'I am allergic to all animals with hair' would cover you ;-)

Then, if you are with someone you do not like you can start
sneezing..having already mentioned it.

It said "No pets because I'm allergic to anything with hair"

I'm cool if it keeps out bots, etc.

but let's call it what it is -it's not a selfie -it's an alonie

I can say that because I have zero friends and like it that way (started out needing alone time -but never been more happy)

"Yer doing it wrong"
First and foremost you gotta realize this is a 'free' social meeting site.
All people are NOT here for the same reasons.

You can read thru the "Rate My Profile" section to get some tips on creating an effective profile.

You can set your mail filters to reduce the contact messages from undesirables.

If you are looking for a meaningful, personal, long-term relationship you don't need to search all, everywhere.
You set your standards and only pay attention to those who actually fit your preferences. Ya gotta be realistic tho.
Why waste your time with anyone who is not your preference?

You should realize M2 is a tool.
Like any tool, if you use it right it will do what its meant to do but if you try to make it do something its not designed to do, it doesn't work very well.
Use the tool as it is meant to be used.

Many people look for someone who aligns with them.
This tool is meant to 'set up to meet' those few people who align with you.
If meeting is impossible, you are wasting your time, focus and energy on a dream.

Use your gut feeling.
If they are TOO good to be true, they probably are.
If they are too far away it probably won't work.
If you are messaging back and forth, ask general questions involving their locality, preferably a local where you have experience.
Look at their photo, is it realistic or does it look like its from a glamour magazine.

Recognize scammer slogans and keywords.
Look for unique opening message titles which are realistic.
Before you reply, view their profile, look at their stats, read their profile description and then see if the message 'fits' their profile.

Stop being so gullible to keywords like "handsome". Stop responding to phrases which make you sound like you are their special someone before you meet them.

Work on your own self-esteem so you no longer need an ego boost from a stranger.

It takes time and experience to identify scammers but as you continue, you will gain that wisdom.

There are real women (I know, I met my gf thru m2) but you gotta recognize them and actually meet them. You gotta be realistic and choose wisely.

No, I have never and will never provide a photo to prove I am me to a potential date. You wanna know if I am me, meet me.

Good Luck

But some of them are very creative, adding a province called "Connaugt" to Ireland


Well, I supoose they are not from Connacht ... nor from Ireland