globeandmail.com: Online love is often blind, even more brief

globeandmail.com: Online love is often blind, even more brief: "Online love is often blind, even more brief

JAMES GRUBEL

Reuters

May 22, 2008 at 12:15 PM EDT

CANBERRA — Matches made over the Internet often do not last because people end up choosing unsuitable partners and forming emotional bonds before meeting face-to-face, an Australian university researcher has found.

Women were especially susceptible to finding Mr. Wrong, as they tend to be attracted by witty comments or clever e-mails, said psychologist Matthew Bambling from the Queensland University of Technology.

“You can never assume things are the way they seem online,” Bambling told Reuters on Thursday.

“Just because they can write a clever comment or a witty e-mail, doesn't mean they will be Mr. Right, that's for sure,” he said, adding some men use the concept of “netting,” sending e-mails to dozens of women and hoping one might respond.

Bambling said you can find a partner online, but warned those using the Web to find love to be aware of the pitfalls.

“There's definitely a dis-inhibition affect online,” he said, with people more likely to exaggerate their good points while hiding anything negative.

“Few guys for example would say �"