I have been putting various profiles online for fun but without paying. I got to meet a nice lady from across the world but we did not go further. But that gave me hope, so I signed up, put my photo (blurred using Photoshop) and I have now a nice partner. Try it, you never know if you never try.

aaron, Rotterdam, netherlands

"A two-minute chat about Big Brother is infinitely more revealing than an exchange of emotional CVs."

You said it. Just bringing up the topic suggests someone who is unfit for parenthood.

Preacher, London,

May be you should let your mom set you up after all. Arranged marriages start like internet dating too but at least you get to see the real person undrunk, and the mediators ensure the 'facts' aren't how marketing department sees it!

SY, London, UK

internet dating worked for me..met a lovely man after 3 months online and we are together 3 years later. what is the stigma? just booked a holiday online and found a flat for my daughter in paris online too. internet works for me!

debs, coutances, france

If you meet someone in a pub and try to chat them up and they give you the brush off, then - well, so what? There are lots of other people. But if you make a concerted effort on dating websites and are rewarded with consistent failure, this can be really upsetting. Noone needs that much rejection

Rich, Wycombe,

It was love at first sight when I saw his pic on the internet. That's how I met Wolfgang. I never regretted the way I met Wolfgang. And Wolfgang too told me he never regretted meeting me on the internet. Wolfgang is my ever faithful and loving tricoloured Shetland pup.

San Ying, Montreal, Canada

I`ve done the net dating thing, I can spell, have decent figure, described as good looking & like to laugh. Problem men seemed to want to serial date! I didn`t want to date 300 men [im 40] also anyone my age wanted a 25 yr old hispanic! too many men were looking for fantasy girl not real life woman

meme, Leeds, uk

I've met the love of my life through the internet. We've been strong for over 2 years, survived a period of time when I had to work abroad, and are now living together with a plan to get married. I like intellectual, interesting men, and I never met anyone like that in any pub or club.

PT, Suffolk,

Internet dating is for the pathetic. Loneliness is a state of mind,not a reality.

I'd much rather be alone than be with a misfit simply because i "feel" lonely.

If you meet someone, great. If not, so be it. We all end up alone anyways when we die.

ryan, ann arbor, USA

Internet dating widens the gene pool.

Why settle for some harriden from your local pubs and clubs who looks appalling without the magic of alcohol?

Dougal Stanhope, Glasgow,

Compare internet dating and heading to the pub. If you find love in either, all's fine. If you don't, then at least you'll have had a decent time going to the pub, speaking to people. Not so for the internet dating version: you'll have been locked at home, tapping away at your keyboard.

Jack, London,

Yes, you've summed up internet dating pretty well there. It does also provide a bigger pond in which to fish if you are a mother and cannot easily get out to meet people (my case). I wouldn't be seen dead going to a bar or pub alone, so internet dating provides a good opportunity to meet others.

Sarah Hague, Montpellier, France

I had two relationships born on the web, and I came to the conclusion that behaviour, which is what makes the difference, is completely cut out in the practice of chatting. We don't know how she moves, how sure of herself that person is when not sitting in front of a computer. I'm very sceptic.

Paolo Chieli, Rome, Italy

As a now single male , , I find the females can be "interesting" [ cf old chinese curse :" may you be born in interesting times" = famine / pestilence / war ] . They seem to be living in the world as it was when they were last unattattched [ say , age 16 for many ] , & play stupid teenaged games.

theodore, st. ives, australia

Internet dating is amazing and is the Best way to get cut through the endless lost nights... Sit down, have a glass of wine or two, surf the site, pick ten people, write short one liners that are your real reaction to the profiles, be nice and see what happens!

steve, London, United Kingdom

I met my live-in partner on line - I had had a good life without him , lots of holidays, a job I loved, lots of friends but no men of my age in my social circle that I fancied - Going on line was a way to increase that social circle and several of my dates have remained friends.

molly baxter, Norwich, UK

Good article indeed .. I've been on one website for more than 6 months now, and still don't have the guts to put a pic up .. I've too good for this .. it's just for desperate people .. am not! (oh ya I am, and i know it!) .. but it's just too difficult to concede ..

Stu, Oxford,

I think you will not be single for long! I thought your article witty, warm and honest.

Helen Warnock, doncaster,

Good article. I especially agree with your point re " waiting for something better" ....I have been on sites for years and have not met many exciting men. I always think there will be someone better around that corner but it is fun looking. It is like being in a big sweet shop. Eeny meeny miny!!

Sarah G, London,

It worked for me. But not how I expected

I live in a small community, and had 3 kids 4-14 as well as working. It was a way to communicate online, rather than set up dates. Then I hosted a party at home, and what was a casual acquaintance from the city moved in 5 weeks later - 3 years ago!

Ross, Tokoroa, New Zealand

One plus with Internet dating: At least you find out if prospect can read, write and spell before you log on. Send a map, make it a bit complicated. If prospect can't make appointment on time it’s, “Trash?” “Yes”. There's so much dross out there you have to be a little calculating.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Internet dating is much more feminine. You talk first before you really LOOK. Masculine dating involves looking, getting turned on, then deciding to talk.

But hey: for many it works, so celebrate its successes, not its failures. For there are many successes.......

Rhys Jaggar, Leeds, UK

I tried Internet dating because I thought it would be fun. I didn't take it seriously.

Months later, after being ignored by countless people I sent messages to, being almost universally rejected, I got very depressed. Not good for the self-esteem. I definitely wouldn't recommend it

Rich, Wycombe,

Were you not a bit hasty to dismiss Juvenal? Roman society was sick and in decline, and while the complete breakdown took a long time,things moved slower then,it went down and down until it ended with the middle ages.
Few would assert that our current society is in good health and will continue so.

George Herbert, Bournemouth,

Fantastic well written article well done !
Single on line 33 year old male own teeth lacking hair but has great looks, so my grandma says ;-)

lee harrison, leeds, uk

brilliant. i laughed aloud.

vp, london,

Sathnam, you're single; I'm single; we're online. Let's get something going here...

And I'm twice the woman Cameron Diaz is. Possibly even three times...

Sue, Pontypridd, Wales