Over the last couple of years, a few of my dear friends have been internet dating. They claim they can't meet any men/women in their day to day life and are pursuing some action online. Being quite a socialble kind of person who has made friends on public transport, at the airport lounge and even at the library, I have always been a bit sceptical. "Internet dating: Why don't you just go to the pub?"

Now many of you might be thinking but some people might want more than a pub night stand. Nightclubs are full of sleaze and emptiness and drunken regret, apparently. So what about meeting through mutual friends? "All my friends are in relationships," singletons whine

Blessed with heaps of male friends, I have a strict rule about keeping the friendship pure but when it comes to dating their friends, well that's fair game. Unfortunately, many people don't have friends of the opposite gender.

Of course, sometimes it's just not much happening. Hey, there are floods and there are droughts.

Stuck in a different city with a minimal social life and little opportunity for meeting men, I thought I'd have a stickybeak at online datingto see what it's all about. RSVP is the non sleazoid standard most straight people seem to use and gaydar or girlgaydar for gay people. My criteria: Men, aged 25-35, that's it, no preference for smoking or religion or post graduate education.

The men I pulled up seemed to be largely post grad educated, professionally employed, looking for a long term relationship and very, very picky. Surely some of them had to be alright.

The first guy's I check out, Kissmebabe , lists his stats as: I am confident, funny, intelligent, ambitious and sensitive.I am after all in the chase of my soul mate...I wanna sing for her… cuddle her... kiss her… hold her…. touch her... play with her... fall for her… be there for her... and ultimately love her for what and who she truly is. Okay, Kissmebabe, that's a little full on for first up. I can't plan to feel this way about someone.

XXZ sounded much more laid back: My sense of humour is drier than the Simpson Desert and I am prone to the occasional practical joke. I was actually half interested when I read: I like drinks at a bar by the water or on the deck at home by the pool, I won't say no to a Tasmanian beer, a Marlborough sauv blanc or a Scottish whisky. Even better was I love a day at the races, reading the newspaper, weekends away & holiday. Mr. XXZ is not interested in a short term relationship and professes to: call if I say I am going to call and mean what I say. If you'd prefer false praise over honesty, call your girlfriends. Very specific stuff here.

Ah, a much more honest and good humoured profile was BrizzyGuy who likes are: Music - playing the spoons, Reading - reads beer labels, Movies: Romantic ones like Rambo, Sport: Womanizing, just kidding hee hee. He only has a high school education as well and didn't seem to be after a mythical woman. Probably great for a laugh at the pub but maybe not dating material.

Okay, I was about to eat my cyncisim when I saw Coldrock's profile: Tall, Dark and a Handful. I'm a fun, easy going person that enjoys a chat and a laugh over a drink. I enjoy socialising with friends in various settings from coffee shop, to cafe breakfast, to pubs, bars and restaurants. He was very cool about admitting he thought he'd give internet dating a go and all the best if you weren't interested in meeting him. Seems like a nice fella. Another plus, he might have post graduate eduation but wasn't after a woman younger than him and had his age range from 20-40. Awesome. Open mindedness is great.

There were a few dudes who posted pics that emphasised their double chins or bulging guts. Hmmn, without your personal charisma, I don't know if a picture would be the best way to advertise themselves to the women of the world.

I moved on to a very photogenic fellow who states he is a Great guy looking for a great girl to share my life with. Is that you? You're not bad looking Aries but I'm just perving for the moment. I like to leave the marriage talks for a bit further down the track.

Born again Christians and OverAchievers are the most specific in their pursuit for a partner. In fact, the whole thing that puts me off Internet dating is the resume aspect. Take Top End. He grew up in the Top End, likes camping, the great outdoors, riding horses, dogs, swimming and keeping fit. But, he's definately not a bogan. No, he's cultured, well mannered, post grad educated, energetic, professionally employed, glass type full attitude with no time for negative people and looking for a girl who has the same amount or more energy than him. I started to feel that I probably wouldn't cut it.

I heard from a friend who has a compulsive predeliction to getting drunk and laughing at Internet Dating Profiles, that my ex is on internet dating now, professing to love punk rock and to have "post graduate education" which is not exactly true.

I have to wonder, my ex aside, are these people for real? And are there really post grad educated, energetic, fit, worldly, cultured, professionally employed, easy going, loving and beatiful women who fit this bill or is this like a resume looking for a job that doesn't exist beyond the job description advertisement?

At least at the pub, you sort out the bullshit pretty quickly.

Yeah, I think I am a Meet At the Pub Kind of Girl.

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