Monday, August 4, 2008

Youths date. There’s no mistake about it. Whether it’s the girl next door or the muscular jock, youths couldn’t survive without dating phases in their lives. In the old English movie, youths can be seen dating in ice cream parlours, holding each other’s hands and whispering sweet words, blushing shyly. That doesn’t seem to be the case lately. Online dating is the next big thing these days. Blind dates and match makes are so out of the window. Each and every youth out there dates hoping to find their prince charming or long-haired maiden. But is this the case for every one of them? Where do youths, particularly gays and lesbians stand in this so-called dating matter? Worry no more.

There’s not only one but various websites especially for youths, who are gays and lesbians. Such as GayCrawler.com, an online directory for gay and lesbian youths. There are also websites just dedicated to gays and just for lesbians and sites linking gay and lesbian youths. Through these websites, gays and lesbians can wonder no more whether the guy or girl chatting away happily considers them a potential romantic partner or just a same-sex friend.

‘Computer mediated communication’ has had a particularly dramatic effect on the gay and lesbian youth community, whose members may live in geographic or psychological isolation. The internet has not only opened the transgression of geographical and temporal boundaries but has also allowed opportunities for political mobilization, identity play, increased anonymity and the meeting of other gays and lesbians youth within the safety and confines of cyberspace. The internet and online dating services have reduced the isolation and fear of gays and lesbians youth which have distressed them for several years now, which accounts them to be early adopters of the internet. Gay and lesbian online users are able to build their own youthful communities without feeling harassed, isolated or fearful from the outside world; it allows them to explore new areas, meet new friends, and have freedom to do what they want with the same kind of people and ultimately be happier. So, discriminate no more. They are also a part of our big happy family in this world.



Top 5 Date-safety Tips for Youth-Lesbians and Gays

1. Trust Your Instincts
Your instincts are your best defense. Trust them. Don't let someone pressure you into something you are not comfortable with, even though you are pretty much in love.

2. Keep Personal Information Personal
Youths are especially vulnerable on the internet. Keep your personal information to yourself by using a screen name instead of your real name. Keep private your address, phone number or links to websites that might have this information.

3. Don't respond to inappropriate emails
Sometimes people just try to get a rise out of you. They might send you something sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate just to see how you will react. The best advice is to ignore the message and block that person from sending you more messages.

4. Stay away from Adult-Only site
There are plenty of good sites for gay and lesbian youths, including the Lesbian Life Forum, which has a nice mix of adults and youths. Enjoy sites that are geared toward youths.

5. Don't be a Loner
Make sure someone knows about the sites you visit and what your online activity is. If you're not out to your parents, tell a close person like a trustable youth-best friend. If your friends have concerns about your internet safety, listen to them.

Sources:
http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Online_Dating_-_Gay/lesbian_Online_Dating
http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/youth/tp/TeenDatingSafe.htm

Labels: gays and lesbians, online dating