Piker: Hey.
Liss22: Hey.
Piker: You're cute. =)
Liss22: So are you!
Piker: Single?
Liss22: Why? =)
Piker: Wanta go out?

You might be thinking, "Yeah right, it's not like that!!", but it is! Maybe it's not so common with the older citizens, who will find out stuff like first name, age, favorite sport or food, how long they've been on Whyville or who they are friends with. But when the younger people start to mimic this whole 'going out' thing, it turns out like what happened above. No joke. And it affects all types of people, whether they are newbies or oldies, young or old, rich or poor, pretty or unattractive. Same as real life.

Going out with somebody over the net can be fun; having a boyfriend or girlfriend, to send projectile kisses to and say "I lubs you!" (blech, cooties!! LoL, j/k!!). But this isn't a quest for true love, you just CAN'T find that on the net -- and most of that is due to safety reasons. But what you can find is fun -- or drama!

Talk to the person. Don't just ask them out because they're single and you think they are looking good! Get to know them a bit! Well... get to know them as well as you possibly can over the net, that is. You can't know them completely, because you'll never know what they look like, if they in fact are blonde and blue-eyed, are really 14 or if they really play a certain sport. Because they just as easily be (and we know you're sick of this example, but they COULD be) an older person PRETENDING to be a teenager -- or whatever age that suits them at a specific time.

Most times though, you're probably pretty safe. We're willing to bet that the percentage of people under 16 in Whyville is way higher then 16%. Or at least, that's what people tell Whyville when they register. Really, we think there's nothing wrong with flirting and hanging out in groups or talking one on one. But limit the information you tell them -- don't EVER give out your last name, address, phone number or school -- personal stuff like that. And if you REALLY want to 'go out', well, whatever floats your boat -- but it's not going to be as fun as real life. Like Vanilla says: "Once you have a real life boyfriend or girlfriend, you'll never want one on the net again!" Of course, the net can be a fun getaway, where you can do and say things you would never dare to in real life.

But some people will just come up to you and ask you out. That's weird, and annoying! In real life, would you go out with a stranger who simply walks up to you and asks you out? We think not.

Cheating is another issue. Some people are bent on some type of world domination (LoL), and feel that the more girlfriends or boyfriends they have at one time, the cooler they are. Physical attraction is a pretty big factor. Face it, relationships on Whyville are about looks -- plain and simple. I mean, you can think someone is funny or nice, but what if that other person you target and ridicule for their weird face parts is nice, too? That's hypocritical. Of course, there's got to be something wrong when we are looking at cartoons and labeling them "pretty" and "ugly". That just brings up another issue -- judging people. =S

There is also a serious concern that comes with this online dating and marriage. Some people just don't realize that it is ONLY a website. Maybe kids are getting a false perception about the seriousness of marriage. Cheating and mild or low grade adultery, marriage and divorce at a whim -- not really healthy, is it?

The best advice is to stick to going out with people in real life. But who are we to take away the fun and tell people what they can and can't do? That's wrong too. So in conclusion, we will refer you to an article by Astro25 & 26, titled Girlfriend and Boyfriend? He made a few great points: "People! Stop hitting on people! It's annoying!!!" and "DON'T HIT ON PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHO THEY ARE!!! Because it's annoying!!"

This guy really knew his stuff. =)