Oh, the pitfalls and perils of dating. It’s hard enough to meet decent people in this world to call your friends. But it’s even more challenging to find someone who could be a potential life partner. These days, high-tech options can really short-circuit a romance. How so, you ask?

• Technology killed the man: I love my iPhone but texting has replaced the pomp and circumstance behind the awkward phone call. How easy is it to text, “I had a great time. L8ter”? The ease, comfort, speed, and directness of this medium has made dating even more impersonal.

  But what’s equally worse is dating a person with an aversion to gadgets. Making plans is as difficult as drafting the Magna Carta. He’d respond to a phone call or a text two days later, claiming he was traveling or he left the phone in his room. Get off it!

• Too many options: Back then, you had two choices: you either met face-to-face or you picked up the phone. Now you can e-mail, text, Facebook, MySpace, Skype, Twitter, IM, or meet via webcam.
• Limitations and Great Expectations (smiley face): One of my very good friends described a pretty accurate scenario. “Look, I can be a complete jerk to this girl with my text. But all I have to do is add a wink face, and she’ll think it’s a joke or a tease. I’ll be forgiven in a heart beat.” He was right. The girl winked back.

  The laws behind the “two-day call back” can now be applied to the mediums I mentioned earlier. Don’t text too quickly! He’ll think you’re too enthusiastic. When can you change your Facebook status from “Single” to “In a Relationship with…”?

• Digital Get Down: Remember that 20/20 segment on sexting? Even this intimate act has creeped into our digital devices.
• Public Lover or Enemy? Remember internet famous Julia Allison of NonSociety.com? Julia’s (then) relationship with Jakob Lodwick of Vimeo/College Humor became public as they blogged their flowering romance. Having spent more than 5 years as a dating columnist, she claimed blogging was a natural progression in analyzing an evolving relationship. Your love life may be as public as theirs.

Series to be continued…