The Joy of Text

Emily Post can’t tell you whether it’s okay to have IM sex before the first date, but Kristina Grish will, in this witty and indispensable guide to online dating and relating.

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Dating has never been simple, but in an age of IMs, text messages, e-mails, and BlackBerry notes, it can be a minefield. In The Joy of Text, Kristina Grish, a self-confessed cyber Cyrano, provides strategic lessons on using technology as a modern dating tool to find, woo, and win the right guy-and weed out the wrong ones.How can you accurately judge a guy's potential when all you have to go on is his punctuation and-if you're lucky-a grainy, pixilated photo? Grish shows readers how to analyze text, timing, and tone in order to dissect the subtle nuances of online communication. She provides an overview of the online meat market, from general dating sites such as Match.com to niche routes based on religion or common interests, and gives advice on how to post a sexy yet realistic profile, choose the right picture, and declare your intentions, whether you're looking for a booty call or a serious commitment.

The Joy of Textfeatures tips on techno-flirting and hints on developing the relationship in the real world once you've established online compatibility. And there are remedies for mixed messages and techno-gaffes, plus a crash course in online ethics (is it okay to cut and paste an IM, or forward a steamy e-mail to 129 of your closest friends?). Smart, timely, and guaranteed to turn you into a cyberdating pro (rather than a big old dork), this is the guide you need to make sure you never hit send too soon again.