Internet dating turns people into merchandise

Quite a few female friends have started internet dating and I worry for their romantic souls.

A typical scenario:

You are a good looking woman, especially in your profile picture. You get a lot, and I mean a LOT of men messaging you.

You inspect each potential mate closely for superficial blemishes before discarding those who work in finance/like Heavy Metal/have long hair.

You try before you buy, dating many in the same week, or even in the same day. If they don't tick all of your boxes (what, they don't like the Sopranos?) you ditch them - making sure you get an end-of-the-night snog to satify your ego (it's not THEM who doesn't fancy YOU). You leave safe in knowledge that there are plenty more on the list you can pick for tomorrow.

The number of weekday dates you're having is hurting your liver and your bank balance. You pray your work's I.T. department doesn't notice you're spending all day on www.mysexyfriend.com

You start to measure your worth by the number of messages you receive every day. One of your "favourites" is online, yet he hasn't messaged you. Why not? Did you come across as needy in your last email to him? Why hasn't that one you saw on Tuesday messaged you yet? Did you look fat in real life?

If you think about it, although you try not to, you know that they are a browser, just like you are. You're no more special to them than they are to you. You're just another girl on the conveyor belt.

All this is fine if all you want is a string of men to go to dinner/have sex with. But if, deep down, you think you might be looking for love, and you're not careful, internet dating is a risk to your self-esteem.

I had to get rid of my wall on facebook for similar self-esteem reasons - "why have only 3 people written on it today? Does everyone hate me?" etc. ad nauseum.

My advice? Don't expose your fragile ego to the dirty outside world too much. It'll go rusty.

P.S. P's (male) housemate spends his weeks having sex with women he meets on dating sites. At least 3 per week. Perhaps they all know that's the only thing he's after. But perhaps some of them don't.