Internet replaces classic courtship

Sex In the Suburbs

It appears as though traditional courtship has been thrown completely out the window. E-mails and virtual flowers have replaced the love letters and roses of days past.

With the introduction of online dating, it appears as though more and more college students are turning to their PC powerhouses in hopes of discovering a potential mate for friendship, flirting and sex, rather than going out to parties or simply conversing with someone in a classroom setting.

"I think that online dating is a suitable, legit alternative to blind dating," sophomore Darcy Edson said. "I think that if one is in college, it’s very reasonable for he or she to talk to people online and then have a friendship develop after the two reach a level of comfortableness with one another."

The issue of deception does arise, however. To what extent should people be trusted? People have all heard the horror stories about young men and women meeting strangers in dark and remote areas, only to be kidnapped or murdered and go missing for several months.

In college, it seems that such morbid scenarios need not apply. Besides, most college students think themselves to be impervious to the atrocities produced by the people who live around them. They just don’t seem to be concerned with the possibility that something dreadful could lurk just beyond the corner.

Some students may not be overly concerned with the danger that exists in seemingly everyday occurrences — like chatting on the Internet — but such dangers are indeed present.

"I met a girl from the Internet sometime over the summer," junior Adam Coker said. "She lied about her age, her birthday, her use of alcohol and other drugs. It was a disaster."

Some students see Internet dating as nothing more than an inane act that fosters inactivity.

"Internet dating is laziness at a whole new level," junior Michael Armstrong said. "You get to know someone by clicking a mouse or typing on a keyboard. I’d rather have someone in front of me and get to know that person face-to-face, as opposed to asking them questions in a chat room or on instant messenger. That’s just so impersonal."

Regardless of one’s opinions on the nature of Internet dating, it seems the Internet has become more vital to people throughout the world. The Intenet is truly making the world smaller — romance between two people on separate continents is no longer such a foreign concept.