Meeting, Mating, and Cheating (PDF)

"This book is a thoroughly engaging examination of our struggle for sex and romance in the age of technology and computer dating. Andrea Orr explores and reveals the realities of the way we live and love in today's world." —Jane Juska, author of A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance Virtually overnight, online dating has gone from a fringe phenomenon to a popular and mainstream way to meet, worldwide. This extraordinary social and business revolution is touching millions of lives—but until now, it's gone largely unreported. Andrea Orr tells the unique story of how online dating evolved from a hideout for fetishists to a mainstream way to meet—and a multi-million-dollar global industry. Orr uncovers the real Internet dating revolution, in all its many forms. M reveals Internet dating at its most intimate, following people who are struggling to find soul mates in a sea of singles. It takes you behind the scenes of the world's largest subscription dating service, illuminating the business of Internet dating. It exposes the hidden underside of Internet dating: the lying and "general weirdness" that are still just a click away, and the massive use of the Web to facilitate cheating. Orr's book also tours the world, showing how Internet dating is connecting people from Belfast to Beijing. You'll watch online dating morph to serve the needs of Mormons and Muslims, elderly widows and Asian wireless users. Orr takes a look at life beyond the laptop to the next dating revolutions—Wireless dating, high-tech psychological profiling and beyond. Experience it all: meet the unlikely entrepreneurs who've built hugely successful dating companies... travel to the "Love Bunker" and get a glimpse of life at Match.com, the world's #1 Internet dating service... discover the happily married couples who met online... catch a right on the great online mating tour: from Iran to Hong Kong, L.A. to Salt Lake City as you uncover devoutly religious Iranian women searching for like-minded husbands... and get the lowdown on "restless marrieds" who say cheating was never this easy. The new romance revolution—get inside the worldwide phenomenon of online dating! WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING "Meeting, Mating, and Cheating carefully chronicles the fascinating history of online dating services and exposes the ethics, economics, and efficacy of matchmaking for every conceivable taste. Andrea Orr personalizes the quest for a partner with compelling individual narratives." —Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., ABPP, author of NOT "Just Friends": Protect Your Relationship from Infidelity, and Heal the Trauma of Betrayal "Meeting, Mating, and Cheating provides insight into a facet of the Internet phenomenon that is both fascinating and alarming. Orr's discussion of the Internet dating industry, and wide-ranging examples of people who are using new technologies in the most intimate area of their lives, reveals important aspects of technology-mediated relationships. In-depth exploration of this phenomenon in other cultures, especially among Muslims, adds an important global dimension to the book. This book is a 'must read' for anyone interested in Internet technology. It is also a must read for anyone considering using Internet dating services." —Dr. Cynthia J. Smith; Dr. Smith teaches anthropology and business at The Ohio State University ABOUT REUTERS Reuters (www.reuters.com), the global information company, provides indispensable information tailored for professionals in the financial services, media and corporate markets. Reuters information is trusted and drives decision making across the globe, based on the company's reputation for speed, accuracy and...