Dear Readers – With Internet Dating having become a viable and popular choice, anyone going this route still needs to decide how to select and be selected, judge and be judged.

I say this because of the vast amount of stories I hear about online dating disasters and disappointments. For every successful match with a prince/princess of one’s dreams – yes, there are stories of extremely happy long-term relationships, which started online – a lot of frogs of both genders clutter the path.

Here are some women’s horror stories from the online trenches. (I’ll be happy to publish men’s horror stories if you send them to me).

I’ll follow up tomorrow, with advice to those tired of it turning out this way:

Reader #1 – “I found that out of all the men’s profiles I was sent, the vast majority contained lies, mostly about age. Or about how long they’d been out of a relationship, if at all.

“One man said he was living in a basement apartment, and visiting his kids on weekends. It didn’t ring true, as he was in banking and talked about making a lot of money so I thought he’d settle somewhere other than someone’s basement.

“On the third date, I insisted he take me to his apartment, as he’d hesitated when I’d previously asked questions about his place.

“One look and I knew he didn’t live there – no photos, no work-related papers, it looked unused.

“He protested that he wasn’t there much, but when I said I was never going out with him again so he might as well come clean, he confessed he still lived with his wife…. but they never slept together. Yeah, right.”

Reader #2 – “My profile says I’m athletic, love spending time doing sports and hiking, work in the physical health and fitness field, would NEVER smoke. My photo shows a whole-body view of me in a dress – slim, toned.

“Yet many men who emailed me were visibly and heavily overweight and some were also smokers.

“Also, on the second date with a fit-looking guy who was athletic (though ten years older than he said), he suggested we stop going out for dates and just eat at home and watch TV.

“Besides that my profile noted that I love music and being out on the town, I hardly know the guy yet, so why would I want to settle down to a home routine so fast? It wasn’t about money, because I paid my way on those first two dates, and he had a good job.

“I found that guys like him, in their 40s and never been married, are just too set in their ways.”

Reader #3 – “Online dating really did my head in and wounded my self-esteem, even though I’m an independent and accomplished woman. Even if I didn’t want to get serious with a guy, the repeated rejections became upsetting.

“I hadn’t expected to be pursued by everyone, but some people were just too cold. I liked one man enough to sleep with him after a few dates, and he never even texted me the next day or ever called again.

“Nothing negative happened when we had sex. He should’ve at least sent a “courtesy text.” He could’ve later explained that he’d started to see someone else, whatever.

“I hate the “interview” people do on those first dates – what could be less boring and more useless information than “what’s your favourite colour?” It’s so exhausting, I’d come home whipped and depressed.”

Reader #4 – “Some guys thought they could impress me with money, like the Gucci Man who wore Gucci shoes and a Gucci watch, and kept talking about them. He also told me the price of everything else he had on and everything he owned.

“When I tried to make conversation, he said “shopping” was his hobby, and his only pastime.

“When I tried to talk about the great experiences gained from travel, he said if he ever got to Europe all he’d do is shop.”

Reader #5 – “On a first date, this guy was so rude to the waitress, I couldn’t believe he didn’t realize what a bad impression he was making on me. When we left the restaurant, the owner surprised me by coming over to give me a hug and whisper in my ear, “You’re too good for him.”

“I never responded to his next email.”