LOVE IN CYBERSPACE

SUSAN IEONG

"There are no strangers, only friends we haven't yet met," an Irish proverb says.

This saying is very true in our cyber era. The Internet has become not only a main, endless source of information, but also a matchmaker. As a result, it is very trendy nowadays, especially for youngsters, to chat on the net and practise 'net dating'.

This trend of on-line dating has also intruded into the University of Macau (UM). The Internet is not merely for communication, but also a means for UM students to chat and fill their free time. They simply plug in their computers and 'talk' to others.

"I've found two boyfriends through the Internet," said Winnie, 21, a UM Education student who has been dating on the net for nearly two years. "The first one was a foreigner. He came to meet me after chatting a half-year on the net. I agreed to meet my second net boyfriend after a few weeks chatting."

Winnie's relationship with her first net boyfriend lasted for half a year. Her relationship with her second net boyfriend lasted for an even shorter period of time; only one month.

"It's normal to chat with the opposite sex, and there's nothing to worry about or be afraid of," she revealed. "I'll meet them in the 'real world' after chatting for some time on the net. If I find they're not trustworthy, I'll not meet them. Moreover, I'll meet them only during daytime and only in public places."

Though Winnie claimed that she would find out about the man first before she would see him, her relationships weren't successful. Her first net romance ended after they saw each other. "We both found that we didn't suit each other, so we decided to break up," she explained.

Winnie, who has already recovered from her broken heart, explained that her second net boyfriend had lied to her many times, so she ended the relationship with him.

Having been dating on the net for two months, the 20-year-old UM Communications student, Amy, is optimistic about 'net dating'.

"I'd dated a few net friends for I was bored then," she said. "I sometimes lie to them, and it depends a lot on 'feel' whether I decide to see that person or not."

Amy, like Winnie, is not afraid of meeting a totally new person in the 'real world', the world outside the Internet.

With this belief, she met her present boyfriend and is still having a pleasant and enjoyable relationship with him. "The Internet is an important device to meet the opposite sex. Frankly speaking, without it, I couldn't have met him," Amy added with a smile.

Raymond, a 22-year-old UM student, studying in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), has been chatting on the net for four years. Only once has he agreed to meet a net friend.

"I had a female net friend about two years ago. I suggested meeting her after months of chats on the net. Unfortunately, when I saw her, I felt that she wasn't my type and that she wasn't what I had expected. That's why I don't want to make dates with my net friends anymore," Raymond explained.

He also added that for girls net-dating was actually very risky, and that they may fall into a trap.

"However, the Internet is still a very effective bridge for communication if one uses it in the right way," he concluded.

The Internet is, indeed, playing the role of matchmaker, but can it really get you a suitable spouse? This may depend only on your luck.