Online Dating Good or Bad
21st May 2007 By Holly PoyntonI have never been particularly lucky in love. Take for instance the time when, outside a nightclub, I got one of my stiletto heels stolen from off my foot. Although some of the more romantic among you may draw parallels with Cinderella, this particular Cinders had insoles and frantically hobbled after her “prince charming” calling him a “bastard shoe thief”, who was probably nothing like Prince Charming and more like a bloke with a disturbing shoe fetish.
Undeterred by previous experience, I took a foray into the world of Internet dating in the hope of finding of fine a nice young man with fewer tendencies towards kleptomania and footwear.
I had my reservations though; surely the people subscribed to these things are single for a reason?
And of course there’s the threat that the hunky fireman or sexy secretary is actually a sewage farmer in need of a visa. But thanks to the wonder of modern technology you can have the entire single population lined up for your inspection at the click of a button. Even better, you can refine your search to weed out the suspicious 46 year olds looking for girls between the ages of 18-20. Sadly though, some interesting characters managed to slip through the proverbial (inter)net.
Take for instance Darren (names changed to protect the guilty) who put down “licking” as one of his interests and the indiscriminate Tim who was looking for ladies between the ages 25-45 any race, religion or marital status just so long as he could move in. One of the best sites I found (and I whorred myself out to quite a few) was www.lushdates.co.uk.
The process of selecting your ideal partner meant that it was quite feasible to satisfy the fussiest singleton and find yourself a surgically enhanced, nudist Quaker with a love of pottery.
A lot of sites give you the option to send you emails as soon as an interested party sends you a message, so be prepared to get seriously addicted to checking your inbox! I found that I got plenty of responses straight away, and you have the freedom to check out their profiles (anyone over 35 was hastily deleted) without feeling obliged to send a message back.
Internet dating has got an unfair reputation as being unsafe, but if you approach it in the right way it’s no more dangerous than meeting someone in a pub or club. Use your common sense, avoid people with screen names like “bunny_boiler” and “old_slasher” and if you do decide to meet up with someone then make sure you do so in a public place. Which may not seem like the best idea if they turn out to be the wrong side of short with a glass eye and a speech defect, but better safe than sorry.
I’m still looking for my online Mr Right but I’ll be steering clear of chiropodists and blokes who work at Shoe Express!
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No Adult left Behind: 5 Big Benifits of Lifelong Learning
Malcolm Knowles (1913-1997), pioneer in adult education, titled one of his books, "The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species." And no wonder. Many people closed their books halfway through life; research on how grown-ups learn was in its early stages; teachers equipped to handle mature students were hard to find.
Today lifelong learning opportunities are plentiful and instructors well-versed in space age information delivery. Still, millions fail to take advantage. They need constant reminders of the pot of gold at the end of the adult education rainbow.
Five bright benefits come to mind. First is the prospect of a fatter paycheck. Job promotions go to smart people who keep up with the latest information and technology. It's just good sense to refresh and retrain for the workplace. New careers are created all the time so those who see what's coming and want to jump ship have got to be prepared with new certifications, diplomas and degrees.
Second is the enhanced self-esteem when you reach for new horizons, accept tough challenges and arrive at a whole new level. New learning is not a picnic but the joys of accomplishment are real. Your children are proud. Your neighbors are surprised and maybe just jealo:us enough to go out and do likewise.
Third is the freedom given to adult learners. The teacher is more facilitator than dictator. Adult students, unlike young kids, may be just as experienced as the person at the front of the room. Adult classmates share ideas and teach each other. Assignments may culminate in a group project or program rather than a graded exam. Memorizing facts is at a minimum; answers are not absolute.
True, there are some studies where exactness counts and tests are mandatory. But a quick Internet search turned up references to the use of adult education theories in highly regimented disciplines, such as nursing and medicine. Getting ready to pass state boards did not prevent creative teaching where students' views are respected and acted on. It is possible to combine traditional methods with adult learning styles.
Fourth is the shift of schooling to a 24/7 model and long-distance or online methods. Trade the classroom for your computer. Stay home and study in your bathrobe. Earn a degree without ever stepping on campus. Leave an email message for the professor at 3 a.m. With time and space constraints removed anyone who truly wants to go on learning can do so. Further, some class enrollments are open with start dates at your convenience.
Number five is making scholarship a habit. Education becomes second nature; it's who you are as much as what you do. People live longer now and their health stays robust. Folks dread the thought of 15 or 20 years after retirement with idle hands and minds. Luckily, such waste is out of fashion. Well known programs, such as Elderhostel keep people thinking, socializing and traveling. Grandmothers get their master's degree.
Invest in yourself. Empower your life. Jump start your future with strong commitment to lifelong achievement. Knowing these five benefits can wipe out all excuses.
