The world of Internet romance
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Apr 23/01) - Love, in modern times, takes many forms. Relationships are every bit as varied as the people involved in them.
Coupling between two women or two men is no longer as closeted as it once was, and May-December romances are as commonplace as second marriages and step-sisters.
That said, perhaps the newest kind of love is the electronic sort -- the coming together of two souls over the Internet.
Point in case: keying in the words "Internet" and "dating" on the Northern Light search engine reveals 454,802 different online dating services.
A quick visit to the first site listed -- sage-hearts.com -- provides the surfer with (almost) anything a woman or man could want, including links to Christian singles, Russian women, mail-order brides and swingers.
The site also comes equipped with hints for writing the perfect electronic personal ad, a hearty list of safety tips, Internet dating horror stories and links to companies that offer background checks.
But, is cyberlove the way to go? Is computer dating the way of the future?
Not as far as Cambridge Bay resident Richard Evalik is concerned.
"It never happens in the Kitikmeot," said Evalik, the assistant manager of Polarnet, the Kitikmeot region's Internet service provider.
"It happens down south, but I never heard of it happening up North ... unless they're keeping quiet about it," he said.
That's all fine and dandy Richard, but what about you?
Ever tempted to take the electronic plunge?
"No, I wouldn't," he said. "I have a wife."
Evalik was also quick to say that even if he was in the market for a little companionship, he'd prefer to secure it the old-fashioned way as opposed to the more virtual method.
Sherri Robertson isn't opposed to the theory of cyberlove, but wants more than a computer to cuddle with at night.
"I want a boyfriend I can hug," said Robertson, adding that some of her friends weren't as against the idea. "I had some friends doing some cyberdating, if you could call it that. But, I'd be afraid they'd hack in and find out where I live."
