Use some better known sites such as eHarmony, OKCupid, or PoF.
Match is best. eHarmony is the worst.
Here are my tips:
1. If she's over 30, her profile photos are from at least 2 years ago. If she's over 40, her profile photos are from at least 5 years ago.
2. Add 5 lbs to her stated weight, even if she's thin.
3. If you don't use a legitimate dating service website, the chances of hooking up with a 17 year old male WoW player who thinks this is hilarious is significantly higher than it has to be. Stick with the sites you've heard of.
Actually, I don't know much about internet dating. The only married couples I know of who met online all met on MacRumors.
The last sentence says it all. You're much too cynical and besides you have no experience.
Note: This is written from a male perspective. We are what we are and we generally care about looks, so deal.
Normally women don't even state a weight. You have to go by pictures. If all you care about is what's on the inside, then pics don't matter. But most people who state that only the inside matters are lying to themselves (attraction matters), or they're so unattractive they don't want you to focus on it. So use the pics as a guide, but assume they might not be actually representative. Most people put their best pics up. It's up to you to determine how truthful you think they are. You obtain some measure of truth, by talking to the person, finding out what they like to do, etc. Just assume they probably won't be as pretty as you thought, but the other facets of what makes them who they are should make up for that. If the person you eventually meet is nowhere near what they portrayed, end the first date and be on your way. It happens. If you really feel uncertain about someone before meeting, ask to web cam. Web cams don't lie.
Be accurate in your own profile. If you lie, then the opposite happens from what I described above.
Don't post pics of your car, house, boat, etc., unless you want to attract women that care about the material things. However don't put yourself in a bad light either. I had a friend that posted his red BMW on his profile, because he wanted a much younger woman. I didn't think it would work out, but they've been married for years now and have at least one kid. Generally women just want to know you aren't living with mom and can support yourself.
Anyway, I think online dating is a great way to meet women. You get to skip the bar scene and it makes for a way to meet people who have the same interests, especially the fact that they want to date. Think of it as a way to shop for what you want. It works.
