Decoding the ads - personal dating sites UK

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Once you have mastered the art of decoding the ads Internet and text messaging adventures become central to online dating and add to the excitement and fun of early contact with a stranger.

On the Internet this will often move to Internet Messenger (IM) Chat or embedded chat on dating sites.

These are safe and interesting ways to further the relationship without meeting or exchanging personal information. However, Internet pages, chat and text also carry with them the risk of confusion and misunderstanding if you are not familiar with some of the acronyms (abbreviations) that are now becoming part of the language of love and dating.

Care when using Acronyms

Abbreviations are particularly useful when you are communicating in the limited space of a newspaper advertisement, phone text or an Internet chat window. At the same time you need to be sensible about using them until you are sure your contact understands and accepts coded communications.

Some people using dating sites actually specify that that will not respond to people using acronyms and "text speak" so you are advised to be prepared to sort out the ground rules with new friends and to speak the Queen's English sometimes if you dont want to loose a good contact.

When advertising, whether you're a DWF (divorced white female), a BBW (big, beautiful woman) or a SPARK (single parent raising kids) you may also reduce the impact of an advertisement with abbreviations and even look just a bit too familiar with the Internet dating scene.

What does the code mean?

To save you the embarrassment of confusing a BHM (big handsome man) with a BIMF (bisexual married female) you should really read on and later check out our list of commonly used acronyms. Or you could just avoid all the acronym-loving singles out there and just opt for dating sites that allow longer personal descriptions.

Perhaps it's best to steer clear of someone claiming to have a GSOH (great sense of humour); wouldn't they have written a funnier ad if it was really true? And a W/E (well-endowed) N/S (non-smoking) SWF (single white female) may sound like a good bet until you read on and find out that she's also SITCOM (single income two children oppressive mortgage), not so much fun anymore eh?

And if you find a SAM ISO a LTR with a DDF MtF CD into B&D avoid them at all costs as this single Asian male in search of a long term relationship with a drug and disease free male to female transgendered cross-dresser into bondage and discipline could have a lot of issues.

Reading between the lines of personal ads is just as important as knowing that being MBA (married but available) is a far less attractive proposition than having an MBA from a reputable university.

For a list of commonly used Internet and Text acronyms click here.

Watch the Clichés

Try to steer clear of the clichés and generic adjectives in any ad.

Someone saying they'd be interested in 'friendship, and maybe more' really means 'sex if I can get it', 'sincere' is often pretty boring and 'attractive' could be 'pig ugly but can't think of a better way to say it'. Using an acronym to say the same thing is even worse. Does saying you're HWP (height/weight proportional) mean that you're vaguely the right weight or particularly square?

You need to find your own comfort level, and it may be determined by age and experience with technology. But if you want to attract the date of your dreams you could find that plain English will provide you with a wider net. That being said, many Internet abbreviations are now virtually part of the language and the speed and effectiveness of dating communications will be enhanced with well used acronyms.

At the end of the day communication is the key and like it or not someone who stands out from the crowd with an intelligent, well-written description of who they are and what they're looking for is going to be more attractive than a line of letters.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Dating Sites