'Against All Odds' vs. 'Money for Nothing' Online Dating Sites Evoke Passion among Winners, Losers and Gays

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 5, 2008 -- Take your ringside seat for the biggest match-up of the year. Viewpoints.com reviewers are resoundingly opinionated about whether or not Online Dating Web Sites work. The haves vs. the have-nots are duking it out online, albeit verbally, as they voice their opinions. For many, the soundtrack to their romance started with the rhythmic tapping of fingers on keyboards. For others, the only sound is that of money going down the drain.

The titans among dating sites - heavy advertisers Match.com and eHarmony - have generated the most buzz, while Viewpoints reviewers are also pointing out dozens of lesser known free online dating and niche-dating web sites (jDate.com for Jewish singles and singleparentsmingle.com for example).

The Viewpoints format of listing pros/cons for each service or product, as well as giving some information on each reviewer, helps readers sort opinions by people most like themselves. Viewpoints reviews of #4-ranked Match.com, for example, reveal that the service is not free, and charges members their renewal fee without asking consent - not a popular move among reviewers who use the site's signature I AM tags to proclaim themselves "not cheap," "on a budget," and "not rich."

However, Match.com does appeal to people who are privacy-oriented, short on time, or lazy, as it doesn't require any tests or surveys before presenting possible matches. Most reviewers agree that the site is "easy to navigate" but several note Match.com's exclusion of gay applicants, i.e. "I'm not sure if the creators of Match.com think that allowing gay people on the site is a bad thing, or if they just think that there (SIC) business will suffer."

Overall Match.com is presently ranking 2.71 - reviewers placing it slightly above the halfway mark to 5.00 - while its main adversary, eHarmony.com, weighs in at #5 with a 2.21 rating, and double the number of reviews. The larger number of online opinions could reflect the thorough tendency of people willing to complete eHarmony's "20-page questionnaire," as one reviewer dubbed the dating site's most distinguishing feature.

eHarmony's larger number of reviews could also reflect the passion that accompanies a larger expenditure: "When they finally sent me a email stating I had a match, they wouldn't let me see her picture with out paying $60/mo," says one reviewer. Those looking for positive anecdotal evidence on eHarmony will find it, however: "I was just about to cancel my contract when I met the guy of my dreams we are due to be married in Wichita, Kansas," says one satisfied reviewer.

OkCupid.com, while not as well known, has given a knock-out punch to its big-name competitors, with a current 3.58 rating, the highest of all the online dating sites listed. According to reviewers, OkCupid requires completing tests and quizzes prior to match-making, and mandates two photos for Instant Messaging privileges, but gives free memberships. It also "provides a lot of interesting content," including journals.

Many reviews give the equivalent of a loud "Boo!" to the free trials on True.com but more than one reviewer found a love match there. Its 2.86 average (out of a perfect 5.00) is one of the highest on Viewpoints.

Second-ranked PlentyofFish.com gets kudos from an industry insider, when she says of its founder, "As the owner of a free online dating service, I will be honest and say that I have a lot of respect for all his hard efforts." One happy opinion says, "There are plenty of regular guys on this website that are not afraid to have a conversation with you." Reviewers say you can view photos and make contacts for free, which they appreciate.

MatchDoctor.com gets a positive review for both format and results. "You can take quizzes, blog, chat or post in the forums," says a poster. "It is a great singles community. I have made many friends and even a couple of love connections." One reviewer says she "found my husband" on ChristianCafe.com while CatholicMatch.com also got high marks from a reviewer.

Surfers looking for love will likely be amazed by the long list of Dating Web Sites generated on Viewpoints.com. Nearly 40 dating sites are listed, and even include a site promoting Text Dating (playdate.com) and another showcasing potential Brides from Russia. Even when love doesn't work out, other things do: more than one review extols long-term friendships having evolved from Dating Web Site matches.

Of course, success in the online dating world is never predictable, and reading Viewpoints reviews can be as entertaining as it is helpful. The proof lies in a Match.com review which states, "It's like a grab bag, and you really don't know what your (SIC) going to get. I've dated about 8 women off of there, and I can honestly say that only two were relatively normal."

For more information, visit Viewpoints.com (http://www.viewpoints.com)

About Viewpoints:

Founded in 2007, Viewpoints.com is a consumer review web site dedicated to helping people make smarter, more informed decisions. The site allows people to read and write reviews across the most comprehensive range of categories of any reviews site, from movie reviews to restaurant reviews, education reviews to health care reviews, electronics reviews to travel ratings and hundreds of other categories in between.

Viewpoints.com taps into the need for people to share their personal experiences, to voice their opinions, to show others the way, and to share insight gained from personal experience. Best of all, Viewpoints provides deep profiles of every reviewer, enabling readers to not only find others with similar interests, but also rate the quality of the reviews and reviewers.

Viewpoints.com, a privately held company, is headquartered in Chicago.

Viewpoints. Let's Review.

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