Well, I have dated people from online on and off. So I don't consider it fake. There are all kinds of ways to meet people. It just not online dating don't have to be just one way to meet people. It can't to meet the person in public and get to know them if you know some dating rules safety. Dating is hard enough on its own. Now we have cyber dating, chatroom dating, web personals, and God knows what else.
Don't initiate first contact.
Answering a man's ad is to pursue a man; it's no different from approaching a man at a party or a bar, calling him, and asking him out. He knows you like him and the party is over. If he does end up dating you, you'll never know if he's dating you because it's easy and convenient for him or because he's really crazy about you.
Create a good usernam
Pick one that is not boring but not too sexy, not too ho-hum but not too marriage minded. Do not go to the other extreme either and attract a man who is just interested in sex. Strive for something in the middle. Be descriptive.
Less is more when writing your personal.
When answering the questionaires an online Web site requires, give the impression that you just threw some answers down with a cute picture on your way to the gym or work. After all you are very busy. And, do not answer questions that you would not answer on a first date. Mistakes: Women who say they are looking for love or marriage or who are willing to relocate; women who post more than one ad on the same web site (desperate); women who post three or four photos in the same ad; women who write long answers that have a Hallmark touch to them. Same goes to men as well.
Write light and breezy Emails.
Do not respond to a man who sends his profile or photo only. If an email comes with no photo, respond "Would love to see a photo. Thanks." That's it; nothing else. If he refuses to send a picture, there is a reason. When he does send the picture, if you like it, answer with a: "Thanks!" or"Nice abs" or "Cute Pic". Don't tell him that you read his ad. Do not respond to anything that was in the personal, such as i.e. my brother is also an accountant.
Never Email a man a second time if he neglected to respond to your Email. If you get an angry Email that says he wants more than three lines in an email from you, press DELETE.
Block yourself from Instant Messages.
Don't volunteer your phone number first.
If he doesn't ask you out within four Emails, Delete/Next.
Screen out Mr. Wrong.
Don't waste your time on time-wasters.
Don't force the relationship from Email to phone.
Put safety first.
Don't ad-interrogate on dates.
Thanks for the laugh, Jeremy. I needed a good laugh... 
