> > You can find someone you like on this site (just click on "click here") just sign up (it is free, by the way) and you can find someone in any country. You can find someone for long-term relationships or just for sex. Everything you like in your private life you can find here!
>
> No, I don't think I can. You see, one thing I like in my private life is the development of relationships, which is a level a bit beyond that of "search our database for the woman you want."
>
> One of the things about real life, and about real relationships, is *learning* what you want. A real relationship, one in which the partners have *not* chosen each other out of a computerized database, is about learning. It's about learning whether or not you want to be with this person, learning whether or not you like what you thought you liked, learning whether or not you'll like things you didn't know you would.
>
> When I first met my fiancée, suffice to say I was not exactly fond of her. And she didn't like me very much, either. And we were content to go along not really knowing each other. Had we been thrown in a database like this, we never would have picked each other. And, yet, we are probably the closest, most loving couple I am aware of. We are truly inseperable, and we feel as though we are perfectly suited to each other.
>
> I think that the one thing prepackaged internet romance can't get you is the ability to develop a relationship from the beginning. Reconstituted canned relationship lacks the freedom for exploration, since the parties have picked each other off a list and already have preconceived notions of who and what the other will be.
>
> Now that I've said all that, it's almost a shame this thread will be deleted come morning. :-P

Well, before it gets deleted, let me take the opportunity to give enthusiastic applause to your wonderfully insightful and well-stated post. This is one of the best and most uplifting things I've had the pleasure to read all week. :-)

Iss "proud to be a Rinky-dink" achar