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IFSZ Writing Contest #1
Topic Started: Jul 13 2005, 10:33 PM (538 Views)
Websurfer
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Also known as Myr
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Pure_Acid
Jul 14 2005, 05:22 AM
Okay here is my entry.

Quote:
 
Online Dating Works! Face It!

Online dating has been in existence since the days when the Internet was only a handful of computers on a military base, I am here today to persuade you that online dating does work and why in most cases it is better than real life dating in so many ways. You may be thinking to your self this guy does not know what he is talking about but wait, sit back and listen to what I have to say.

First off I would like to tackle the aspect of the “non believers” as I would like to call them. Have you ever experienced something bad from the internet, yes you certainly have and everyone that has ever browsed the net has seen content or anything else that is bad for a person or illegal. But do we stop using the net? No we don’t because there is so much good that comes form the Internet as well. People who claim online dating does not work either have not tried it or they have just met the wrong people and trying once is not actually trying now is it? Do not listen to people who claim that online dating does not work until you have tried it your self.

Online dating is much like real life dating but without all the pressure that goes with it. It is so easy to talk to people without the physical awareness and group pressures that go with real life dating. One of the most important things to note about online dating is that you get to meat the persons personality first and that you only see after about 2-3 weeks of real life dating. You get to speak to the person on a deferent level and you really get a feel for what the person is really about. With real life dating the very first days it is all about acting cool and making a good impression on the other person.

The practicality of online dating has to be put into perspective. You can’t expect an online relationship to work out if the person you are talking to is across the ocean but in few cases it does happen. The way to succeed is looking up people that life in the same state as you do and then to take it from there. Online dating can be dangerous because of online stalkers but if all you are looking for is a good online relation ship this should not be a problem. Don’t visit any porn related chat rooms and expect to find someone there rather try MSN it is really the best meeting grounds in the world. When starting off your online relationship you won’t see the need to lie about anything since the pressure to impress is not there. The other person will really get to know the real you in other words.

So you still won’t believe me that online dating works well let me tell you this true story. One day I was sitting in front of my computer and I had nothing to do so I decided to start my own InvisionForum called TLC. Little was I to know that this is where I would meat my future love. 3 Moths after creating the forum a female member joined my forum. We started to chat on the forum then on MSN. We chatted daily and after 3 months we decided to meat. I live in South Africa and the chances of finding someone online that also live in SA is very slim. I bought my bus tickets and 11 hours later I met her. Take into account that we have never seen each other and have only spoken online, she wanted to keep it that way. Instantly we fell in love and it did not take long for us to feel comfortable. That very first night we had our very first kiss. Now 3 months down the line we are still together and very happy indeed. We have been happy ever since.

I know this isn't some debate, but I love your writing :) Nothing works for teh 'non-believers' though ;)
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Jen
myprerogative
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My entry:

Quote:
 
Dating When You're 13 - Too Late?

Many adults believe that their children can go on a date when they turn 13 years old. This result shows up in recent online polls and in various magazines. A lot of teenagers and preteens feel as if they should be allowed to go on a date earlier then 13 years old. They say it's easy to meet new people, and it doesn't mean they actually have to love that someone. Get yourself ready to hear my analysis of a good dating age.

Really, it depends on which type of date you are going on. If your 16, most likely you'd like to go with your boyfriend/girlfriend seriously, maybe to a movie. If you are only 10, maybe you want to hang out with a friend who is a boy or a girl, but you don't seriously think of liking. Dates can be analyzed in many different ways. Two of the main reasons are for fun and seriously. Younger kids tend to feel left out, and they anticipate being a teenager so they can date. Honestly, what's the problem with going out with someone for fun?

If you are an adult and you let your teenager go out when they turn 13, they could either have a serious or a fun date. Most likely teens want to act older than they are. It would be easier to let your child go out when they are younger so they can meet more people, and boost their social activity. Then you won't have your child turn into a couch potato, or constantally being home. If your child meets more people, then they will have more friends to hang out with.

Adults even wind up on dates themselves, that doesn't mean they are absolutely in love with this person. It all depends on what you think of them, and what you like and dislike in their personality. Really, it's the same way for teenagers and younger people to see what they think of a another person. Teens in school love to discuss who they went out with, and who they are interested in. Dating at a younger age can help teens and preteens learn more about other people, and what they like to do. It can help them have more knowledge on future dates, such as locations and what to do.

In my own experiences, I see a lot of younger people going on dates. I know I have an 8 year old neighbor who is interested in someone in her school. They decided to go out, and they went minigolf. If you are going to enjoy yourself, there is really no problem. You can't get serious with anyone when you are 8 years old. Many kids tend to change who they "like" when they get older, and when they meet new people. So really, what is the big issue with letting younger kids and early teens go out and have fun, even if it's considerated a date? Most likely since they are so young, they will not hook up seriously, and they will have more friends.
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Seisa
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Member
[ *  * ]
Ha. Me trying to persuade people about dating, of all things. So I lost my bet with myself and wrote something.

Quote:
 
He, like, asked you out?

Before anyone can assess whether or not someone of a certain age can date, they have to define what dating is. It’s a trickier task that you’d think – the very social system of the kids and teens in question often rule out the simple adult definition of anything. Something that’s held in simultaneous awe and contempt is sure to be shrouded in the bulk of the famous Middle School rumor mill, and dating rises above most of the petty concerns of today’s youth. Spending an unholy but wholly educational three years in such an environment, you learn a few things – like the difference between spending time with friends and ‘dating’

Elementary school, maybe even into sixth grade if you were lucky – those were the good days, when liking someone wasn’t at all complicated. Because who could forget their first crush, who sent you rude but funny valentines when it was time to put all the nice cards into the little decorated valentine boxes? Going out for ice cream at that age would be considered a heavy-duty date, and that’s fine: kids can have fun. Puppy love dating is fine for the younger set, though after a while a new question arises – when can kids start going out like ‘grown ups?’

Most kids want girlfriend or boyfriend by the time they hit Middle School, and it has nothing to do with meeting new people. Childhood friends, old music stand partners, that cutie vaguely remembered from Kindergarten – they’re all fair game. The idea is to be hooked up, to be official, and no one can deny your superior social status if they themselves aren’t part of the attached elite. Often, it’s more like a strategically planned war than anything, with friends and anonymous informants making up the armies. Relationships are often so by name only and last for two tender weeks. For 13 year olds, ‘light dating’ is absolutely fine – going out to the movies, spending time with your date and their friends, walking to the busses after school. More serious relationships don’t fit with the age group, but dating as a social climbing experience doesn’t seem to fit, either.

Seriously going out with someone takes time and thought and more motivation than being bored every couple Saturdays. Getting seriously involved with someone should, in my opinion, wait until you’re about 16. By then you’re most likely mature enough to handle the emotions, choices, and money that comes with it. Yes, money, because the handy darkness of theatres requires a minimum of the noble visage of President Jackson.

Going out to have fun, see a movie, and get to know someone better is fine for people of any age, but the serious stuff can wait. After all, getting funny valentines and having grape soda spilled on your white shoes is fun, innocent, and elating while it lasts. Meeting new people and getting out into the world is healthy and entertaining, but kids should be careful; the pressures of getting serious might be too much for younger teens. Dating for the wrong reasons - for revenge, money, fame, or just the favor of juicy rumours - can hurt people of any age. All in all, younger folks can go out if they like, so long as they take into account that they are the younger ones, and that growing up can wait on fun.
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National Panic!
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I'll join next week, this topic doesn't appeal to me.
Persuasive essays are icky for me also.
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Amberon
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Winter is Coming
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Quote:
 
Online Dating Opinion
Ever since the internet was introduced there has been online dating between people all over the world. Since the introduction of Instant Messaging the amount of people who are 'cyber dating' has shot up as it becomes easier for people to communicate online. People do not have to live near each other to know each other through messenging services. They do not have to meet up to like each other and they do not have to see the person physically to like their partner. However is Online Dating a good thing?

I feel that Online Dating isn't a good thing for many reasons; unless the cyber couple post photos of each other they will not know what their partner looks like and even then one of the partners may be dishonest and post a photo of someone else, the cases of paedophilia has risen dramatically over the years and it is not unlikely that a partner may be a paedophile interested in raping and abusing the partner in real life, as a consequence of easily becoming anonymous on the internet it is very easy to lie about yourself.

On the other hand, Online Dating can be a good thing. In a few cases Online Dating has worked and there are happy couples resulting in it. People who are shy by nature can easily commerce with other people over the internet and if both people of the relationship are telling the truth, one can get to know their partner and when or if they meet in real life they will know each other and eliminating some of the shyness.

However many Online Relationships do not work out due to the fact that it is not the real thing. Despite how easy cybering may be if one does not meet up with each other, the real thing is always better as it shows the true nature of human relationship, you can see your partner, see their expressions and come to love them properly. 

Overall I frown upon Online Relationships but I do not mind if people are cybering or not. I am not an extremist and I want the best interests of all people. If they want to have an Online Relationship then it's fine with me.



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Ale
Member
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Here is my Entry

Quote:
 

Online Dating

This is a topic so difficult for me to write. Why? Well, cause I don't believe in it. You may think now, that, why did I choose this topic? Well, is simple, maybe for me online dating is totally a disaster cause I'm not committed enough to make it work. Everybody know that a relationship (as psychologists say) is like plant. It needs tenderness, love and blah, blah, blah. Yeah I think those are some of the requirements for a relationship. Now, for online dating you need first of all internet, secong have the guts to find someone to agree to be with you online and third all be committed to make the special person happy even though you may not see her/him, you can't hug, nor cuddles nor any physical action can happen between you and that person.

But, I don't know. Here comes the funny part. If I could make study in marriages and see which are the happiness marriages I think our result would the ones that met online. Why? Cause you get to understand that person in another (yes, don't laugh) level. But how can they manage to be with that special person and not hug it not kiss it? Well those things are important to me, cause I depend alot on my partner, but this ppl that believe in long distance relationships, as I may called cause i doesn't really exist online dating that is just a way to meet ppl, learn that it doesn't mattet that special lives in Tahiti and the other in Canada. For them nothing is impossible.

And when these ppl meet IRL... Oh! I think that is the most wanted and special moment they desire. Cuase every moment that you share IRL they try and memorize it, so when they are far away they still remember that is all true. He he... I have a frend that her boyfrend lives in South Africa and I don't know they manange to be together. And they send stuff to each other. I don't know maybe for me it doesn't work but for other ppl that is way they can meet other persons, and not feel understimated by theirs looks but by their characteristics and their defects.

We live in a world were if it looks good you buy it, and that's we have so many problems. Love is such a crazy emoticons that ppl have die for it. Everyone in this world from all ages, sexes, and places look to be happy and to have someone to love. Yeah I think this ONLINE DATING works... for those that are committed enought to make it work, for those that don't depend on other persons, for those who want to be appreciated by their qualities and not for their, for those that just want to feel love. I think if I could make, this ppl a number it makes like 75% person of our world.

My conclusion? I have no conclusion... I only have advices. Don't be scare of what you don't know, try and understand why it happens. Right now, I wish I hadn't let go the only person that really loved me for who I was, not what I am. And as funny as it seems I met him online. yeah... so... let's put this we never know what we have until we loose it. hehe ^^;; don't you let go what you deserve only because you don't know it is there.
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Websurfer
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Also known as Myr
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Ale, it does work. It works for peopel who want it to. If you don't want it to, it won't, just liek a real relationship. Your artical sucks, it's all opinion :P
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Alpha
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peace and love.
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Myr
Jul 14 2005, 10:12 PM
Ale, it does work. It works for peopel who want it to. If you don't want it to, it won't, just liek a real relationship. Your artical sucks, it's all opinion :P

Myr, persuasive essays ARE opinions. I thought her article was great, and I'll ask you not to flame people's work.
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Ross
Inspire
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Quote:
 
Online Dating
A Persuasive Essay by Ghetto Oracle



          Online dating is a popular trend among teenagers, young adults, and adults. It has become increasingly evident in our daily lives as the years go on. It is rare to find someone who hasn't heard of someone that has done it. This realm of relationships is quite controversial, especially among opinionated teens who have been affected by it or are currently involved in e-dating themselves. I think online dating is merely a waste of time in almost all circumstances. It is difficult due to the lack of physical intimacy, inaccessibility of real world assessment, and liability of a false character.
          The nature of a relationship is naturally physical. Whether you say it is or not, we all yearn for physical touch, even if the communication is there. To even fathom a permanent relationship without physical touch is quite hard to imagine, even from an abstinence stance. Holding hands, hugging, and kissing are all stepping stones in a relationship and it is hard to meet online and then try to meet in person and transition where you are in your relationship together. I think that the physical bond you share with your partner is almost as important as your emotional and spiritual bond. Being able to be in each others company, experience their personality in a group setting, and experience physical things with them is just as important as talking to them.
          People have different tendencies online than they do offline. For instance you can't see if someone has a serious depression problem online. You can't see if the person if horribly messy or has a bad temper. A lot of things change when dealing with a person in the physical since because worldly physical factors are so much more existent. Seeing how a person acts and treats you in a group setting is very important because it will reveal their true attitude you as displayed in front of people. All of these things play into one thing, which is giving them a real world assessment. Online personas differ very much from real world personalities.
          If you do e-Date, trust must be the biggest concern. You could think you are talking to a 16 year old junior from Miami, Florida when you are really conversing with a 48 year old toothpaste maker from Minnesota. It is almost impossible to know for certain what you are getting into. I mean of course it is rare that the person you are talking to is an online predator, but they are usually so good in fooling people that it is extremely difficult to discern them from a normal youth. Security should be an important factor and right now I don't think people pay much attention to it.
          My opposition believes that you can meet online, then continue the relationship in person a few years later. Sure, this can work. But the chances of it working are slim to none. Unless you have two HIGHLY committed individuals which are 100% honest and miraculously act the same in real life as they do online then you could be right. But the chances of a relationship working like this and succeeding are extremely rare. I don't think the argument that you can just switch from online to offline with as much ease as supporters describe it as.
          The fact is that online dating is as controversial as many other topics floating around. If you have had it work successfully then I give you a pat on the back. But statistically it is an improbable conclusion to think the relationship would work due to lack of physical touch, inability to assess someone in a real world setting, and the security.

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Mistress Kame
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Quote:
 
Online Relationships


Online Relationships are hard to categorize as either good or bad. It has become an awkward cliché to define a friend as someone known from school or someone known from online. And sometimes, once the discussion of friends from across state borders comes up, members of the discussion stand up and object to the idea of having friends online. They can be very adamant in driving the point into our thick scalps that people that can be found online aren't truly real, and it could be said that they aren't 'real.' It is quite easy, as I found out the hard way, to post a picture of a girl on a site with a dominate male fan base, and suddenly be the most popular member based on the gender alone. The moment that user creates a topic along the lines of "Actually, I'm a guy," all the admirers get angry and leave, whether or not it was true, and whether or not the truth is ever proven.  However, I am a firm believer that experiencing as much as possible before death is healthy; regardless if these experiences are for better or worse.

  A friend of mine from school had been part of an online community for over a year when he found his online girlfriend. It started as a few friendly messages back and forth to each other, and progressed to exchanging buddy name information.. After continuing this process for what could be a few years, the topic came up on dating, and after some contemplation, the two decided to become online boyfriend/girlfriend. However, the real test was yet to come; he was going to her state to look at colleges, and said that he would stop by to see her. It was like a fairy tale almost; they saw, they had a wonderful time, and now they're anxious to meet again for his senior prom. Of course, the flip side of this can occur. A few days ago I met a guy who was very interesting to talk to. He brought up that he had an online girlfriend, and that she was planning on visiting him soon. The next day when I see him online he is an emotional wreck because his online girlfriend slept with another guy.

Of course, both of these examples are of students from the ages of sixteen to nineteen. Some would argue that it is a fad started by the teen generation to spite their parents, who would see how 'evil' chat rooms, forums, and web communities are. I beg to differ on all of this. Upon investigating the site www.match.com, I have found that the community does not host any information on men and women under the age of eighteen, and that registered users could be as old as 120. Just like when this idea of arranged marriages was suddenly blown out of the water by a notion of true love, online dating has made a practical and cheap way to pick up a date. Instead of guessing as to whether or not the girl at the end of the bar is your type, your age, or straight, its all set out nicely for you to drop by and look at.

As an active user of online communities, I have run across many users who have eluded that their boyfriend/girlfriend lives more than a hundred miles away. Some of these relationships happen strictly by chance; one user makes note of a favorite band, and another user agrees, sparking a conversation that turns into a friendship and inevitably an online dating relationship. Other times it is with assistance from a third party site, such as eHarmony.com, match.com, or online personals provided by most mainstream news providers like yahoo.com or msnbc.com. In an article done in the September of 2002 that was published by MSNBC, a third party organization generated statistics claiming that Yahoo Online Personals had over 34 million hits, and that most users spent thirteen hours a month. Three years later, these numbers undoubtedly have doubled. Chances are the supposed 'psycho stalkers' you find online could be the twin brother of that man you gave your phone number to last night at the bar, one of those things you are sure not to repeat. However, that would hardly discourage someone from ever dating again.

From handy little pop ups to statistics in the news, online dating will be around until the internet becomes defunct. For some people it is difficult for them to decide whether or not having an online relationship is a positive experience. I'd like to ask how would they know if it was a positive experience without ever trying? If people are afraid to use a source that matches a picture and profile to a description of your perfect mate, why not join web communities and meet people there? There are many stories from the big sites I visit of members who hooked up and are now married; and also horror stories of members who got their screen name and never left them alone. Whether for better or worse, it is a learning expierence; just like dating the school jock, the depressive artist, or the shy boy in your fifh hour class.

-----
Works Cited and Consulted:
www.eHarmony.com
www.yahoo.com
www.match.com
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3078729/
special thanks to people who let me use them as examples :)
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..:;:..
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@AlphaRob

I am Pure_Acid with a new account,

Just thought I would let you know since I submitted my essay with Pure_Acids account.
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Dan.
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Self Proclaimed Genius
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Seisa
Jul 14 2005, 03:52 PM
Ha. Me trying to persuade people about dating, of all things. So I lost my bet with myself and wrote something.

Quote:
 
He, like, asked you out?

Before anyone can assess whether or not someone of a certain age can date, they have to define what dating is. It’s a trickier task that you’d think – the very social system of the kids and teens in question often rule out the simple adult definition of anything. Something that’s held in simultaneous awe and contempt is sure to be shrouded in the bulk of the famous Middle School rumor mill, and dating rises above most of the petty concerns of today’s youth. Spending an unholy but wholly educational three years in such an environment, you learn a few things – like the difference between spending time with friends and ‘dating’

Elementary school, maybe even into sixth grade if you were lucky – those were the good days, when liking someone wasn’t at all complicated. Because who could forget their first crush, who sent you rude but funny valentines when it was time to put all the nice cards into the little decorated valentine boxes? Going out for ice cream at that age would be considered a heavy-duty date, and that’s fine: kids can have fun. Puppy love dating is fine for the younger set, though after a while a new question arises – when can kids start going out like ‘grown ups?’

Most kids want girlfriend or boyfriend by the time they hit Middle School, and it has nothing to do with meeting new people. Childhood friends, old music stand partners, that cutie vaguely remembered from Kindergarten – they’re all fair game. The idea is to be hooked up, to be official, and no one can deny your superior social status if they themselves aren’t part of the attached elite. Often, it’s more like a strategically planned war than anything, with friends and anonymous informants making up the armies. Relationships are often so by name only and last for two tender weeks. For 13 year olds, ‘light dating’ is absolutely fine – going out to the movies, spending time with your date and their friends, walking to the busses after school. More serious relationships don’t fit with the age group, but dating as a social climbing experience doesn’t seem to fit, either.

Seriously going out with someone takes time and thought and more motivation than being bored every couple Saturdays. Getting seriously involved with someone should, in my opinion, wait until you’re about 16. By then you’re most likely mature enough to handle the emotions, choices, and money that comes with it. Yes, money, because the handy darkness of theatres requires a minimum of the noble visage of President Jackson.

Going out to have fun, see a movie, and get to know someone better is fine for people of any age, but the serious stuff can wait. After all, getting funny valentines and having grape soda spilled on your white shoes is fun, innocent, and elating while it lasts. Meeting new people and getting out into the world is healthy and entertaining, but kids should be careful; the pressures of getting serious might be too much for younger teens. Dating for the wrong reasons - for revenge, money, fame, or just the favor of juicy rumours - can hurt people of any age. All in all, younger folks can go out if they like, so long as they take into account that they are the younger ones, and that growing up can wait on fun.

I really enjoyed this one, nice work.

And good job everyone, I've seen some great ones, I, myself, will not be entering, partially due to the fact I have no really extermist views on any of the possible subjects.
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Alpha
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peace and love.
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Congratulations Seisa! You've won this week's writing contest! You can put the following in your sig as proof you won and are an "SZ-Approved Writer" ^_^

Posted Image

Code:
 

[IMG]http://i1.ifrm.com/1302/186/upload/p7364172.jpg[/IMG]


Thanks for entering! I'll leave this open for a while, then close and unpin it to post the next one. ^_^
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Ross
Inspire
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Congrats Seisa :D
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Mistress Kame
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Ghetto Oracle
Jul 20 2005, 09:22 PM
Congrats Seisa :D

I'd like to second that :yes:
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