There’s a similar boldness created through the anonymity of online dating, one I’ve labeled: Cyber Balls.

I experienced a new breed of man through online dating.

There was the guy who saw nothing wrong with sending email messages that read, “Nice breasts” or “Your hot. Let’s hook up.” That he used “your” instead of “you’re” was probably basis for deletion and the hookup? He had to be kidding.

I suppose it could have been worse, as he might’ve added the cherry on top of a penis picture. Isn’t every woman dying to date a horny, C-student pervert?

Ignoring those types of messages was probably the prudent choice, but there was something about the brazenness that made my fingers itch. The senders were all hopped up on zero accountability — a byproduct of online dating.

It’s much easier to throw caution to the breeze when you’re “MisterBigStick” instead of “John from accounting.”

It was time consuming to send responses with the perfect balance of snark and shaming, and I quickly began to wonder, “Why bother?” Even if they apologized, I would never date them.

“Call out the fools who have contacted

you with presumptuous messages.”

I eventually came to the conclusion sometimes we need to do things for others that have no benefit to ourselves.

How does anyone learn appropriate versus inappropriate behavior? Someone tells them.

Maybe these men had confused online dating with catalog shopping. Perhaps they surmised that socially acceptable behavior in the real-world dating arena did not apply when electronically connected.

“Why waste time with pleasantries when we’re both single and here for the same thing, so meet me at 8, Caligrl70, and show me your tits.”

Cyber Balls is at epidemic proportions.

And it’s not limited to online dating.

If you want confirmation, read the comments section after any article posted online. I guarantee those commenters (hiding behind a username and avatar) wouldn’t dream of saying those things to the author’s face.

Nor would any of the men I experienced walk up to me in a bar and say, “What you number?” Yes, that was one message I received and I replied, “What you crazy?”

It felt good to give it back to those men and I’d highly recommend trying it. Do it for man or womankind, as the ladies are just as guilty as the guys.

Report the men who’ve sent you penis photos or ladies baring their double D’s. Send a message letting them know they’re busted. Then block them.

Call out the fools who have contacted you with presumptuous messages or dating profiles stating they want someone “athletic and toned” while they’re carrying around 20 extra pounds.

Perhaps they’ll disregard your words but maybe, just maybe, you’ll reach one person and he or she will grasp the negative impact their communication is having on their love life and adjust their online presence with the next man or woman.

I saw it as good dating karma to help someone else (yep, even a jerk) find love.

Given the reality of my situation as a single woman over 50 living in a city where women outnumber men, I needed all the good dating juju I could round up.

The night ended without incident and a hug. I gave him my phone number and he text to make sure I got home safe (good move).

He text me sporadically over the next few weeks with some “How is everything going?” texts.

I liked this guy. I can’t say I like-liked him, but dating is supposed to help me figure that out.

And then I got a text from him weeks after our first and only date asking how my recently broken nose was.

After I told him, he immediately moved into, “Hey listen, I’m getting plenty of first dates on online dating but I can’t seem to get second ones. Was there something about me or from my texts that was off-putting? I figured I’d ask the dating expert.”

This was tricky to try and maneuver. Since he asked, I figured he was prepared for an honest answer, so I gave it to him.

1. He texts too much.

Texting is the modern man’s safety blanket to communication. The problem with that is the modern woman can safely avoid texts, too.

This guy had a lot of personality. It was singularly the best thing he had going for him. But his personality was squashed in bland “How’s your week going?” texts. Blah.

If he had called me and charmed me with his personality, the second date would have been way more likely.

Play your assets. In this case, the phone would have been his asset.

“If he had called me, the second date

would have been way more likely.”

2. He was simply failing to ask for a second date.

I asked him, “How many of these girls did you explicitly ask for a second date with?”

He hemmed and hawed. He was waiting for these girls (including me) to literally tell him to ask them out again. Bad move.

Yes, he might face some rejection but if a girl was on the fence, it’s easier for her to passively text you back every once in a while than it is to outright reject you.

At least you’d know and more possibly you’d get her on the second date where you can charm her again.

As a man, the fear of rejection pervades much or your actions. The problem is it also hinders you from reaching success.

Have you ever had trouble getting the second date with an online match? How do you plan to change that problem?

Photo source: mensfitness.com.

Well it’s time to debunk a few of the more prominent myths that exist in the world of online dating once and for all.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest misconceptions people often have:

1. Online dating is a last resort for single people.

This is completely false. When online dating first started, sure, it was barely one step above taking out a personals ad in a newspaper.

Most people were desperate, strange and not exactly the type of men and women you would bring home to Mom.

Fast forward to the present and this isn’t even close to true anymore. Dating sites are filled with countless beautiful, successful and amazing people.

These days online dating is about as mainstream as can be and will only become more mainstream as the years go by and our world continues to dive deeper into a technology-driven world.

2. It will be easier to receive phone numbers.

Sometimes it is even harder to receive a phone number online than in real life. Even though online dating offers access to more partners, this also means more people are competing.

For every one girl a man hits on, 20 or more other men might be trying to gain her attention on any give night.

In order to compete, it is essential one learns how to properly create a dating profile and write emails that will spark high levels of interest and attraction. Otherwise, it will be extremely hard to receive phone numbers online.

“Online dating is as

safe as we make it.”

3. Going on multiple dates will make finding “The One” easier.

Many men and women serial date in the hopes they could find “The One” faster than ever. Unfortunately, playing the numbers game will not make the process go any faster.

In fact, it will only hinder the search, as we will likely wind up getting distracted by dating too many people who we shouldn’t be meeting to being with.

Finding the right person online has a lot to do with timing, making good choices and luck, just like in real life!

4. Online dating isn’t safe.

This is simply not true. Online dating is as safe as we make it.

First dates should always be held in public places where there are plenty of people around. In addition, a good amount of effort should be placed on trying to screen our dates accordingly.

The more we do our homework, the safer we will be.

5. Women online only care about looks.

This is far from true. If we create profiles that are designed to build attraction, show off our best qualities and really put a lot of effort into the emailing process, then it won’t be all about looks.

Women only become shallow when everything else is not up to standard. This is not their fault. It is our fault.

We can’t expect women not to judge us based solely on our looks if we don’t give them a good reason to!

Readers, have you heard these online dating myths before? Which ones do you agree or disagree with? Let me know in the comments below!

Photo source: welovedates.com.

If you’re looking for a break from the maddening world of dating, then take a look at our 10 Best Funny Dating Blogs. These dating sites are sure to entertain and shock you, all while taking your mind of your dating life.

My Life on Match & Moremylifeonmatchandmore.com

Bragging Rights: Stories that have to be shared

Lead by Emily Macintosh, a 30-something single living in Los Angeles, My Life on Match and More explores the ups and downs of online dating. Macintosh shares her dating horror stories in a very real and entertaining way. Have you ever been stalked by an online date? Macintosh has. And there’s plenty more where that came from.

Social Clout: 2,347+ followers, 59+ likes

URL: http://www.mylifeonmatchandmore.com/

Sex, Lies & Baconsexliesandbacon.com

Bragging Rights: Inspiring vaginas since 2009

Sex, Lies and Bacon is the brainchild of Melysa Schmitt, a single mom candidly sharing her adventures in dating. Through sassy posts like “Dating Mr. Douchetastic,” Schmitt hopes to encourage others to follow their own path to love. It’s easy to see why her readers trust and respect her. Plus, she’s not afraid of a cuss word…or two.

Social Clout: 3,748+ followers, 333+ likes

URL: http://www.sexliesandbacon.com/

Single Girl Bloggingsinglegirlblogging.com

Bragging Rights: Laughing about life

Single Girlie could easily cry about her single life, but instead she makes the best of it by sharing her experiences with readers like you. Her cringe-worthy stories are normally accompanied with hilarious infographics and photos that help get her point across. She’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind. She’s also a big fan of talking about penises, if that’s your thing too.

Social Clout: 5,439+ followers

URL: http://singlegirlblogging.com/

Cheezburger Datingfailblog.cheezburger.com/dating

Bragging Rights: Lightening up the seriousness of dating

Created by the ever-popular Cheezburger.com, the Fail Blog portion of the site has everything you love about Cheezburger but with a dating twist. You could spend hours scrolling through the side-splitting photos, videos and news posts. I promise it’s sure to make you forget how hard dating can be sometimes.

Social Clout: 1,654,383+ followers, 121,042+ likes

URL: http://failblog.cheezburger.com/dating

Soon to Be Cat Ladysoon2becatlady.com

Bragging Rights: Thoughtful lessons through hilarious mishaps

Soon to Be Cat Lady takes what every single woman fears and somehow makes it better. The site focuses on online dating situations that are both funny and desperate. There are also articles directed toward helping men, including “Should I Post Topless Pics On My Online Dating Profile?” and “Don’t Message Me If…” You’re sure to get a kick out of browsing through this site.

Social Clout: 804+ followers, 53+ likes

URL: http://soon2becatlady.com/

Catherinettecatherinette.wordpress.com

Bragging Rights: Bridget Jones has nothing on her

Most women remember hearing the tales of a princess being saved by Prince Charming on a white horse and living happily ever after. Well, Catherinette is here to uncover those lies and get to the truth when it comes to dating. With clever articles and hilarious nicknames for her dates like “Hairy McBacksweat,” you can’t go wrong with this funny dating blog.

Social Clout: 861+ followers, 333+ likes

URL: http://catherinette.wordpress.com/

Why They're Singlewhytheyresingle.com

Bragging Rights: A tribute to online dating excellence and failure

Have you ever wanted to share your latest dating mishap? Well look no further than Why They’re Single, a site created by a man who met the love of his life online, only after sorting through hundreds of ridiculous emails, awkward profiles, weird photos and disturbing online matches. This site will shock you, amuse you and fill you with nostalgia all at the same time – guaranteed.

Social Clout: 1,235+ followers, 509+ likes

URL: http://whytheyresingle.com/

Adventuresaurus Girladventursaurusgirl.blogspot.com

Bragging Rights: Every day is an adventure

Doesn’t matter if it’s at work, the grocery store, a bar or in the streets, Adventuresaurus Girl finds a crazy dating experience no matter where she goes. Readers can relate to her struggles, like going back and forth with the same date, and her short and to-the-point posts consistently keep you updated with her progress, failures and successes. Remember, life and dating is an adventure!

URL: http://adventuresaurusgirl.blogspot.com/

Dating Failsdatingfails.com

Bragging Rights: We’ve all been there

Created by a happily married couple just looking to share the awkward dating stories that might have never been told, Dating Fails consists of user-submitted content that will put a smile on your face and make you feel better about your dating life. The site teaches readers not to get a tattoo of an ex or talk about castrating horses on the first date, in case you didn’t know not to do those things.

URL: http://www.datingfails.com/

Will Date for Free Foodwilldateforfreefood.wordpress.com

Bragging Rights: Everyone loves free food

Will Date for Free Food is lead by Witty, Bodacious and Blondy, three single Bostonian girls exploring the world of online dating. The stories are raunchy and ridiculous, which makes them all the better! If you’re always telling your friends, “My life could be a sitcom,” this is the site for you. Don’t forget to check out articles like “Interoffice Romance Gone Bad” and “Online Dating Message Hell.”

URL: http://willdateforfreefood.wordpress.com/

Featured photo source: imgur.com.

I am going to be 50 this year. I have been divorced for more than 10 years and have only dated two men in these years. I have not been on a date in five years.

I go out with my ex-husband and my children on the weekends for family time.

I tried one or two dating sites, but no one has sparked my interest.

How do I get back out there again?

-Patricia (Florida)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

Dear Patricia,

I applaud your dedication to your children. Too many divorced parents drag their kids through their romantic trials and the poor kids are left shell-shocked by the revolving door of parental figures.

But it sounds like your kids are older and you are ready to treat yourself to a fulfilling adult relationship.

My biggest suggestion is to get involved in the world and you will meet like-minded men.

You might consider starting a business, getting involved with your church or temple or embarking on some community activity that puts you face to face with your peers. Join a gym, a wine tasting or travel club.

Particles in motion attract other particles in motion.

And remember to make yourself attractive. Men and women look for the same traits in mates: health, loyalty, kindness and intelligence. Improve your mind and your body to improve your mood and let the light shine from you.

You are lovable and deserve a great love in this life. And when you really believe that, deep down, you’ll send that message out to the world.

No counseling or psychotherapy advice: The Site does not provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by consumers in search of general information of interest pertaining to problems people may face as individuals and in relationships and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.

This week, Stewart appeared on the show again to let the world know she was indeed going to join Match.com.

Although women may make online dating seem effortless, behind the scenes they are beavering away to make sure they find the perfect partner.

With a bit of effort, you could follow their lead.

1. Women are more proactive than men.

Women are generally more proactive and organized when it comes to online dating.

To be more proactive yourself, you should sign into your account regularly, keep your profile and photos up to date, send lots of messages, reply to messages and add people to your favorite list.

2. Women write more than men.

When it comes to writing a dating profile, men seem to write a lot less than women, preferring to sum up their whole life in two lines instead of writing two paragraphs.

Although it’s never a good idea to ramble, try to write at least 100 words about what makes you who you are.

A ridiculously short profile gives the impression you can’t be bothered to make an effort and may make people think you are lazy.

“Women are generally more proactive

when it comes to online dating.”

3. Women put more photos up.

You wouldn’t put your house up for sale with one blurry photo taken from 100 feet away, but for some reason, a lot of men think it is OK to add a photo to their profile as an afterthought.

Instead of adding any old photo, try to add a good, clear head shot and a selection of photos that tell people more about you and what you like doing.

Also, try to alternate your profile picture from time to time, as different photos will appeal to different people.

4. Women get their friends to help.

Once you’ve written your profile, it is a good idea to get a close friend or family member to look over it.

Make sure you choose someone who knows you well and is willing to be very honest with you. After all, “It looks good,” won’t really help you improve your profile.

It’s important to note not all women work hard to find a partner, and there are a lot of men who do invest time and effort into ensuring they make the most of online dating.

Guys, which tips are you going to use to become better at online dating?

Photo source: rawstory.com.

I met a guy on Match.com. He is 62. I am 56. He said, “I’m falling in love with you,” but 10 minutes later he said he wants to continue seeing other women.

He also has ejaculation issues. We have not gone so far as to be 100 percent intimate. I know he likes me very much, as evidenced by the quality of our time together as well as the increased closeness of him to me. My intuition says his sexual issues overshadow everything.

I would love to know the statistics on women in my age group and how they act in online dating. My suspicion is many women “throw themselves” at men online because they think men are few and far between for their age group.

-Junine (California)

Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:

Junine, you are spot on.

Over the age of 50, there are more women than men on the dating market. And since one-third of men over the age of 50 have erection problems, many of those guys are opting out all together. The rest have the pick of the litter.

I’m not sure what ejaculation issue you think he has. He may have PE or DE, but in either case, this is less important than his desire to have multiple relationships.

If he wants to continue to see other women, then you should allow him to do that, but do not have sexual contact — anything besides a hug and kiss on the cheek — until he is ready for sexual exclusivity.

When sex is easy, a man falls in love with the woman he trusts the most, and men don’t trust a compliant woman with no boundaries. The word NO is the world’s biggest aphrodisiac.

No counseling or psychotherapy advice: The Site does not provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by consumers in search of general information of interest pertaining to problems people may face as individuals and in relationships and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.

Catfishing has been made famous through the MTV show (from the same-name documentary) as well as the Manti Te’o debacle, and it’s brought to light a lot of what many of you have been experiencing alone.

Catfishing involves an online romantic relationship that never manifests into a real-life romance because one party is lying to the other about various things – an identity, a marital status, a body type, a sexual orientation, a gender.

By now you’ve learned a lot of ways you can look into someone’s identity and see if they are who they say they are, but what if you’re already past that? What if your heart has already been broken?

Here are six things to remember to get your life back in order:

1. You’re not alone.

It’s OK to feel bad for yourself. The feelings you felt were real and it’s good to give yourself time to cope with them.

It’s OK to feel anger at the person who duped you. Plenty of people have been duped and gone through exactly what you’re feeling.

Catfishers are manipulators purposely seeking to manipulate. They made a lot of effort to deceive you. The wrong is on them, not you.

2. Remember what’s good about you.

Don’t judge yourself. You went into this situation with a pure, intentioned heart looking for love. There is nothing wrong with that and that is important to remember and hold sacred.

There’s nothing wrong with assuming others seek out love honestly.This someone may have lied to you but that doesn’t mean you’re not capable of loving and being loved in an honest way.

“Two types of Catfishers: those who lie because they want

to hurt and those who lie because they want to get close.”

3. Don’t chase down resolutions.

Unfortunately, this will lead you to frustration.

If your Catfisher wasn’t able to have an honest relationship with you, then there’s little they can give you that you can trust after the fact. There is nothing they can tell you that will put the pieces together.

So move on from it and know time is the only thing that will heal this hurt.

4. Learn from what happened.

Make a log or a list and timeline of your relationship. I mean literally write it down. The act of writing scientifically helps your brain remember and learn things.

Don’t just think. Take the pen to paper.

List the things you liked in the relationship. List the red flags you should have seen. List what actions you could have done differently to prevent this. List what real love looks like.

Your list probably includes honesty, respect, like, communication and presence (physical presence).

Write down what a manipulator looks like and how it differs from real love. Write down what expectations you put on this relationship that were unreasonable. Write down what you should have demanded from this relationship that could have saved your frustration.

5. Decide if you want to stay in contact.

There are two types of Catfishers: those who lie because they want to hurt you for their own enjoyment and those who lie because they want to get close to you and are too insecure to do it as themselves.

I don’t recommend keeping in touch with the ones that set out to hurt or were just playing a game (or are married/unavailable).

For the others, if you really felt a connection, you have to decide if you can try to forgive their lies and accept them for who they are.

Make the decision if you want to keep this person in your life in some capacity. Then make the decision to set up healthy boundaries.

6.Treat it like a real breakup.

Remember, you have every right to cut ties from this person and move on with your life.

Seek out friends to vent and get perspective. Try new experiences to keep your mind occupied. Get rid of the things that remind you of that person.

Change your habits that make you sad. Then commit yourself to learn the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships and prepare yourself to meet someone worthy of your attention.

Have you ever been Catfished? How did you deal with it?

Photo source: theweek.com.

The majority of people create an online dating profile with the goal of retiring it and riding into the sunset together.

Some people get lucky and meet someone they connect with right away. Others can stay on the dating sites for months or even years.

The question you have to ask yourself is: Are you a serious dater, or are you a serial dater?

Let’s talk about the serious dater first.

This is the person who is looking for a meaningful connection and hopes online dating will be the solution to help them meet the right one.

In order to get there, it’s common to date multiple people at a time to find out exactly what you’re looking for. It’s a process and it’s worth devoting the time.

I do recommend singles date more than one person at a time. There’s no need to put all of your eggs in one digital basket with online dating.

Questions I get asked frequently are, “What’s the magic number? How many people should I be dating at once?”

While the answer may vary, typically I believe three is a manageable number. While you’re dating three people at a time, I don’t recommend sleeping with any of them.

There’s no contest to see how many dates you can add to your calendar. More isn’t always better.

It can become confusing and you don’t want to have the embarrassment of forgetting your date’s name or where you went on the past date.

While three makes a lot of sense, that doesn’t mean scheduling four or five dates a week is a bad idea if they are first dates.

Remember, you’re on a dating site. He’s on a dating site. Assume you both are scheduling dates until you have the conversation of becoming exclusive.

“For some, online dating makes them

feel like a kid in a candy store.”

When do you become a serial dater?

Online dating addiction isn’t uncommon.

For some, especially after the end of a long-term relationship or marriage, online dating makes them feel like a kid in a candy store. This often turns into a “shopping cart” mentality for daters who think there might be a prettier face in the next email.

If you feel like retiring your online dating profile is something you can’t live with and not receiving new emails every day from potential suitors or with your latest matches will become depressing to you, I have news for you: More is not better.

Logging on when you get home from an incredible date could send a bad message that you’re looking to fill the rest of your date card.

Unfortunately, it’s so easy to view his profile to see when he last logged on, and it can make you feel anxious or even depressed.

At the end of the digital day, dating can be an enjoyable process of learning more about yourself and others. If you’re looking for a serious relationship, don’t spend your entire time looking for a series of dates.

Readers, how many people have you dated at the same time?

Photo source: squidscene.com.