This category has news about me, Shimrit Elisar, this site and any other news items that don’t fit into the other categories.
Hey, look! Everyone’s Guide to online dating has made it to a top 100 list. OK, so we’re at #60, but that’s still something, right?
An infographic by the team at CouponAudit
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Add comment March 10th, 2013
Clare Wood was killed by a man she met online. A tragic case, no doubts about it. Now Clare’s father and Hazel Blears MP are working to bring in a law that would make it possible for women to learn about their new partner’s history of domestic / relationship abuse. This is one of those proposals that appeals to the most primal of gut instincts – the Internet is a big scary place, women know nothing about who they meet, now they can find out. That is, by the way, what makes it a populist law. It’s not hard to see why Clare’s father would want to bring this law in, to supposedly stop other people’s daughters from becoming victims like his own.
But personally I believe more care should be taken before we open up people’s private police records to, well, the entire public. Now, I know the privacy implications of this law are pretty atrocious, but considering the fact that a woman was killed, I realise many would forsake the privacy of someone else (any man?) because they believe the safety of women comes first. To be fair, if I thought this was a workable solution, maybe I would tend to agree. If it went both ways, at least.
I don’t think the exact details of this proposal have been worked out yet but for now is no mention about whether men can find out the abuse history of women they meet online (domestic abuse by women of men may not be as common, but it certainly does exist and is a real problem). There is no mention of what violations would be enough to tarnish a man as an abuser.
But of course, there is also, as far as I can tell, no mention of the fact that many cases of domestic abuse remain unreported, thus unlisted in the police database. In fact, isn’t the nature of most domestic abuse that which only escalates to the police when the abused women get battered so badly, they can no longer hide it from those around them? With a bit of luck, a man can be dangerously abusive to a GF or spouse and still appear all squeaky clean on record. If this law comes into effect, such men could actually “benefit” from the new system – women would search, find nothing and conclude the man in question is absolutely fine, when otherwise they may have exercised more caution.
In many ways, this law is no different than match.com saying they’re going to background check members in the US. It’s not enough. Not only is it not enough, but it makes people think it is enough, thus making the situation worse. Short of sending the thoughtpolice to scan people’s brains and figure out if they’re prone to murderous thoughts, there is nothing you can do that’s foolproof. As always, it’s best to educate women (and men) to spot dangerous signs, rather than open the door to some really dangerous legalisation. After all, if we’ve got our hands in someone’s private data, wouldn’t we want to be sure he doesn’t have any drunk driving offences (dangerous for our future children), public order offences or drug problems?
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2 comments July 23rd, 2011
A recent survey by Age UK has shown how popular Internet usage has become for people in their 50s and older. Around 43% of the UK’s 55-74 year olds use the Internet on a regular basis. Although this rate is not the highest in Europe, it’s higher than the rate in Germany (33%) and France (40%).
With so many older people online, it’s clear that there is a need for the online dating industry to create accessible websites that will appeal to older daters. Age UK are running a campaign to encourage older people to use the Internet to connect with friends and family, but it can also be a wonderful way to find love and companionship again. There is no upper age limit for the basic human need to love and be loved.
Age UK are asking people with Internet skills to help teach the 6 million older people who have never used to Internet how to do so. But why stop there? If you know someone over 55 who is new to the Internet and is looking for love, why not teach them about dating sites?
Here are a few a few dating sites for the over 50s.
Also, it’s never too early or too late to read about the online dating safety rules. Scammers target older daters in particular, though they usually use the same stories, so are easy to spot if you know what you’re looking for.
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Add comment March 25th, 2011
I’ve recently started doing some freelance writing for Parship.co.uk , having been asked by them to provide content for their blog. You can read my dating advice and send your online dating questions to be answered by me at the Parship blog.
I’m usually very fussy about who I do this sort of work for, but Parship have impressed me with their level of customer care, plus, they’re nice people to work for. 
You can read my review of Parship in my serious dating sites post.
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Add comment January 6th, 2011
Not content with dominating the compatibility testing dating market, eHarmony.com have come up with a site that aims to compete with Match.
Continue Reading Add comment August 29th, 2010
The fact that Parship, the dating site with the most comprehensive compatibility test, has a gay / lesbian offshoot may come as a surprise to you, especially if you live outside of the UK.
Well, now their gay dating site, gay-parship.com has gone international and is available in 9 (count them) different languages.
Check it out if you’re gay and looking for a serious relationship. The way this site handles things like communications and even viewing pictures is a bit different to most dating sites you’re likely to come across. Handy if you’re tired of the more meat-market sites.
If you’re not gay, you might want to give the straight Parship UK site a go. Or, if you’re in Ireland, you can try the local version for Dating in Ireland.
No tags for this post.2 comments August 23rd, 2010
After posting about common online dating scams, this blog has become a bit of a hub of activity when it comes to exposing scammers. The blog posts regarding this issue have become very busy with comments and I think they are becoming difficult to read.
Because of this, I have started a basic forum where things will hopefully be easier. If you’ve come across a scammer, been a victim of online dating fraud or suspect the person you are falling for may in fact be a scammer, please go to the forum and post over there.
The link is:
http://www.onlinedatingbook.co.uk/forum
No tags for this post.1 comment July 17th, 2010
Well, if you tuned in to BBC Radio Oxford this morning you could have heard me speak about the merits of online dating on Louisa Hannan’s show.
I should have perhaps posted this before the event, but in the (unlikely) case you missed it and are interested in hearing me talk about the disappearing stigma, liars and the suitability of online dating for finding a long-term partner, you will soon be able to tune in online and listen to the show, where the first hour was all about finding love. I come in around 10 minutes before the end of the first hour.
Check out this link where I assume today’s show (28/6) will appear in the next couple of days.
I’m always happy to speak about online dating on the radio. Especially when reminded that the stigma is indeed disappearing and people are indeed realising that it’s actually a viable way to meet people.
I’ve met quite a few couples recently who’ve met online, including people in their 60s and 70s. The system works!
No tags for this post.Add comment June 28th, 2010
Niche dating sites are all the rage nowadays, aimed at people who value certain aspects of their lives and want to start off their search for love by looking for people who share their interests and hobbies.
Now there is a site dedicated to fans of Apple, the company and its products. The new site, Cupidtino requires all its users to be owners of an Apple device and to be enamoured with it.
Continue Reading 1 comment May 6th, 2010
Here’s a bit of interesting news – online dating apparently yields more marriages than meeting people in bars. It’s now the third most common method of meeting people for marriage.
Continue Reading 2 comments May 3rd, 2010
US cheaters’ dating website, Ashley Madison is apparently going to expand to the UK market. I can’t wait to see the response their incredibly annoying ads will get in the UK. Apparently UK cheaters looking to have affairs can already register on the site, but there hasn’t been any marketing done yet in the UK.
For the record, I think cheating is a complex issue and you can’t (or shouldn’t) judge everyone who cheats and condemn them to hell. I find it sad, more than anything else. Sad that people can be so bad at communicating, they’d go behind people’s backs rather than be open about their own needs with themselves or each other. It’s also sad that in the 21st century there are still people trapped in loveless marriages without being able to legally or safely leave.
On the other hand, I’m not entirely keen on so-called “lifestyle cheaters” – people who knowingly choose to cheat on their spouses / partners because they enjoy the thrill of the forbidden. I’m certainly not keen on sites such as Ashley Madison that actively encourage people to cheat on their partners and then pocket the cash.
Still, I’d rather people who want to cheat go somewhere like that and leave the normal dating sites to actual singles.
What do you think? Will this site get a good reception in the UK? Will ads encouraging people to cheat go down well with the British public?
No tags for this post.2 comments April 20th, 2010
The Australian consumer watchdog reports a rise of 30% in online dating related scams. Could it be because people in Australia are becoming more exposed to online dating and are throwing caution to the wind a little bit too much?
With online dating becoming more and more mainstream, there should be more information available about the potential dangers.
People often put their trust in their dating site, sometimes blindly, and no dating site likes to admit that some scammers may have gotten through.
Having worked as a moderator on a dating site I know how hard it is to catch everyone who’s up to no good. We were always aware of how important it is to catch these people before they fleece innocent daters and steal their money, but even with all the hard work we put in, sometimes these scammers managed to con people before we got to them.
Never assume the site you’re on is 100% safe. No site is. You need to arm yourself with information and learn how to spot a scammer, so you can avoid their nasty plots.
Now’s a good time as ever to brush up on your online dating safety knowledge. Here are some handy online dating safety tips from my book.
No tags for this post.Add comment March 4th, 2010
The next episode of House will see the team going speed dating, with apparently hilarious results.
It’s always good to see trends becoming mainstream enough to be featured on top TV shows, isn’t it?
You can watch the trailer for the episode here
If you’re thinking of taking the plunge yourself, you can take a look at my reviews of speed dating and singles’ events companies.
No tags for this post.Add comment March 3rd, 2010
Apparently a Polish company wants to buy the translation rights for my book. I never thought I’d get translated into another language, so this is quite exciting.
No tags for this post.Add comment October 8th, 2008
A very close friend of mine has been wrongfully arrested and detained in Dubai since the 26th of January. So far, without being officially charged.
31-year-old Cat Le-Huy, Head of Technology at Endemol UK, was detained and arrested during a tourist visit to Dubai for carrying melatonin, an over-the-counter jet lag aid. Though once in custody Le-Huy tested negative for drugs and his melatonin was cleared by officials, he is still in Dubai jail with no charges and no release date.
Full story can be found on the Free Diz page where you can also donate to his mounting legal defense fund. Talk about Dubai being a tourist trap…
All of his family and friends (myself included) are shocked and worried.
Please pass this on to friends and family. Also, please spread the word around that Dubai is NOT a safe place for Western tourists, regardless of what their advertising campaigns say.
More information about this and other similarly horrible cases can be found on the BBC news site.
No tags for this post.Add comment February 10th, 2008
Super-short notice but I will be on BBC World News’ “The world today” at about 7pm UK time, which is in about half an hour or so.
I will be commenting on this news story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6943616.stm
No tags for this post.Add comment August 13th, 2007
I teamed up with Topdreamdates.com and Gorgeousdating.com for a prize giveaway.
We’re giving away some Green&Black’s gift boxes and tickets to Amora London.
If you live in the UK and are over 18, it’s worth taking a look.
For the full details, visit: http://www.gorgeousdating.com/?region=19&article=5602
No tags for this post.Add comment August 6th, 2007
I have decided to take a break from my 7-day weeks over the last few weeks and have actually been getting out of London a bit and trying to enjoy “summer”.
This weekend I will be out of town and away from phones/emails until Monday at the very earliest.
No tags for this post.Add comment July 26th, 2007
My interview has finally been rescheduled. I will be on BBC Radio Humberside tomorrow at 9.40am UK time.
Am still unclear as to exactly what they want to talk about, but I am guessing it’s something to do with online dating and the book
Add comment July 3rd, 2007
Seeing as most of the north of England is covered in water. It will apparently be rescheduled.
No tags for this post.Add comment June 26th, 2007
I was on U105 in Belfast this Tuesday on the lunchtime show, which was cool. My mom listened in from Israel via their website and I was being interviewed from my bedroom in London (it’s the most quiet room in the house). I felt very 21st century.
We talked about the book, online dating safety, how it can help people’s love lives: all the usual stuff.
Next week I will be on a late morning show on BBC Radio Humberside on Tuesday and possibly on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire as well.
Things are slowly starting to pick up. The book is selling and seems to be picking up on Amazon. It’s all getting quite exciting
Add comment June 23rd, 2007
It’s actually more exciting than I thought it would be. It’s an actual book, with my name on it
I guess you don’t quite realise it’s real until you are holding the actual product in your hand.
Add comment May 20th, 2007
Please ignore the weirdness.
No tags for this post.Add comment May 19th, 2007
Copies should be with the retailers within a week or so. The Amazon buying links on the right should actually work now
I am back from holiday and am trying to sort out things such as press releases and publicity.
Hopefully, things are about to get busy!
1 comment May 16th, 2007
I’m going away on holiday. Service will resume when I return.
No tags for this post.Add comment May 6th, 2007
After 2 years and a few months, I am leaving Allegran. Things have been getting too busy and I forsee a couple of busy months ahead where I will need to concentrate on some serious self-promotion. After that, I will most likely be looking for part time/freelance work so that I can continue working on my writing. I’ve had some great times at Allegran and learned a hell of a lot. I never would have written the book if it weren’t for some of the great people there. It’s hard to leave all my friends behind, but I am quite excited about being able to take the time to do my own thing. Onwards and upwards!
No tags for this post.Add comment April 25th, 2007
I am introducing a news section so I can advertise things to do with the book.
Today’s exciting news is that I’ve added Amazon sales links to the site. The book is available for pre-order from Amazon (and a few other places) already.
I get more money per sale if people click on to Amazon through my site rather than going direct, so if you’re going to buy a copy, please do it via this site.
Thanks
1 comment March 18th, 2007
