Finding Someone Compatible in the Personals

Can a personal ad tell you everything you need to know about another person? The simple answer is that it can't. Personal ads allow us to share a little bit about ourselves, but they don't tell the whole story. The only thing that really shows through in a personal ad is any extreme difference in interests; for example, if you love running and one of your responders hates exercise, you might want to let that person go). Use your instincts to read between the lines. Does the person sound fun? Interesting? Needy? Kind? Strong? The best that you can do is form a general impression and then take the plunge – you'll never really get to know someone until you go out on a date!