Today, I’m hosting Pat Tucker’s A Social Affair Blog Tour. Normally, I interview the author. I decided to do something different this time. Pat is offering advice for online dating. I’m sure you’re wondering why? A Social Affair by Pat Tucker and Earl Sewell is about online dating and what could happen if you’re not careful.
About the book
Online dating is quickly becoming the norm...
In A social Affair
(Atria Books/Strebor Books; Feb. 2013) readers get a glimpse into the ugly
side of online dating, when two people meet on Facebook and create false
personas. Their charade turns into a torrid love affair, but they neglect to
tell each other they’re married in real life. Online dating statistics indicate
more than 40 million people date online, despite the possible pitfalls
involved, online dating continues to grow in popularity. Social Media
sites like Facebook, and online dating sites such as, Match.com, and others,
have become the new singles bars.
Online Dating Tips from Pat
If
you’re a little uncomfortable with the idea of Internet dating, you may soon be
counted in the minority. Online dating statistics indicate
more than 40 million people date online, and the growing popularity of social
media sites, and online dating sites, means the number of people logging on to
find love will increase.
But if you plan to log on to try and
find your soul mate, be warned, the Internet is packed with a lots of scam
and fake people. Despite this reality, there are still a number of good ones
you can meet online. Remember, most of us are horrible lie detectors in
face-to-face interaction, so you can imagine, we're even worse when it
comes to knowing whether someone is lying online.
Do
your homework: The internet makes it quick and
easy to research anyone you’re interacting with online. Remember, real people
have traceable footprints in cyberspace. If the online persona is the only
thing available about this person, he/she may not exist.
Be
realistic: Don’t allow your quest for a
happily-ever-after, to dictate your expectations.
Commercials that depict smiling,
married couples, who met online, are a sales pitch. Realize that there are tons
of horror stories that end in tragedy and those are rarely broadcast to the
masses. Limit the fantasy, and be realistic with your expectations.
Play
it safe: Lead with your head instead of your
heart. Keep the very rules that have guided you to love through-out the years
close. Don’t allow this new setting to fool you into taking unnecessary risks,
all of the same common-sense rules you've used in the past, should still apply.
Use
common sense: Keep in mind that like in real
life, online communities are not perfect. It’s easy to be duped by online
suitors because online communities provide the perfect setting for anonymity,
and that makes it easy for people to hide behind those perfect, unrealistic,
personas.
Take
it slow: If social media sites, and online
dating sites are a new experience and you’re not cyber savvy, take it slow.
This is not the time, nor place for spontaneity. Advances in technology have
made it easy to get in touch, and stay in touch, but don’t allow that to force
you to move at a rapid pace.
With heightened awareness, and
caution, you can make sure your quest for love online doesn't become the stuff
authors write about. Pat Tucker is the co-author of A Social Affair-the story of a couple who meets online and lie
about being single in real life. The novel is available everywhere books are
sold.
Pat is giving one lucky reader a
copy of A Social Affair. To enter, you must post a comment here and sign up for
Pat’s email mailing list by visiting www.authorpattucker.com.
