Maybe you're tired of having your friends (or worst yet your family) trying to set you up on blind dates. Perhaps you're too much of a wallflower to attend the singles' joints local to you. It could also be that you're simply uncomfortable with the meat-market feeling that often infuses bars and clubs. The solution seems clear: dating personals.

After all, what could be better than meeting someone online from the comfort of your own home? You can be sitting in your comfy robe and slippers in front of your computer and have loads of possible candidates for your next date right at your fingertips. You can weed out those who aren't compatible before you even meet them - all in the privacy of your own personal space.

That sounds great, but, of course, dating is as daters do, so you need to use common sense. If you want to make dating personals work for you, you need to take advantage of its unique features. In essence, you have the chance to get to know someone before actually seeing them face to face.

A few emails or some online chatting can reveal common interests, shared life experiences and goals. Some people complain that folks aren't entirely honest online. However, isn't that true of people no matter what circumstances you meet them under? If someone sounds too good to be true it normally means they aren't being completely honest.

It's also ideal to not put off meeting in person for too long. You don't want to waste your time or anybody else's by building a completely virtual relationship that may not work out in reality. After you've had a few online exchanges, meet in a public place where you'll both feel comfortable. It's not just a question of safety, but it also tends to make it less awkward if things don't work out.

Personally, I like to go for coffee on a first date. If we click, it's easy enough to plan a second date or simply decide to extend the coffee into a meal. A coffee shop also usually has a relaxed atmosphere that's rather neutral. If you're surrounded by couples in a candlelit dining room, you might feel rather gloomy if the other person stands you up or leaves abruptly.

Listen, there's no way to always insure success. However, done right, it avoids some of the pitfalls of the situations mentioned in my intro. I've been surprised a couple of times by the blind dates my friends have set up for me. I also know a loud bar or club tends to lead to choices based more on appearance than on open communication.

I have to say that in my case, albeit anecdotal evidence, online dating is a proven strategy that works. I know more than one happy couple who are still together who met that way and I've had a long-term relationship blossom from an online meeting. I'll take the advantages of using adult personals any day.