Southwest Socialite What do you think about Internet dating? Any tips? Any success or horror stories? E-mail Krisha.

You're high-tech and use every resource at your fingertips. The Internet keeps you connected, efficient, productive and at the end of the day, fulfilled. You rely on the power of online magic to successfully manage almost every aspect of your life. So why is it when it comes to dating, that old trusty standby is suddenly an embarrassment to use?

I attended the monthly young professional's happy hour — the New River Network — in one of the most wired towns in America to ask these personable techies to share their experiences.

Can you calculate a connection?

Sponsored by Blacksburg's Corporate Research Center resident Phoenix Integration, the New River Network's professional mixer boasted 50-plus likable Blacksburg residents — all young, fun and employed. Some of the crowd taught at Virginia Tech, others were in private business or worked as network engineers, and a few were graduate students. Everyone was obviously intelligent, and all were there to meet new people — and drink free beer.

Pat Matthews, the brains behind the network, wanted a venue to bring people together, even though he spends most of his time meeting them online. At 28, Pat is the CEO of Webmail.us and surfs the Net 24-7. Even though he still likes the bar scene, he believes online dating is no different than trying to meet someone in person at a grocery store or wherever. Pat says he's a pretty confident guy and is not worried about what people might think.

The Web is the most convenient way for Niki McGhee to meet men. As a single mom, she has responsibilities after work and can't go nightspot hopping for a date. Posting her profile and identifying the attributes her partner should have allows her to cast the widest net over several ZIP codes, all without leaving her son.

With online dating, people are paired with others who match up on several levels (not just physical attractiveness). The catch, however, is to make sure that the match has been honest about who they are and what they're looking for.

www dot gone

Photos courtesy Katie Jett Pat Matthews (right) talks it up with folks at a New River Network professional mixer.

There are a lot of people with profiles that are fake, says Jilian Fath, who has been meeting people online since high school. One person she went out with described himself as moral — then she found out he was enabling his best friend to cheat on his wife.

The biggest turn-offs are guys who lie and put up phony pictures. You find out by e-mailing them for a while. Plus, you can always check their facts — like where they went to school or where they work. That's the power of the Internet.

Is true love possible?

Perhaps. I know a ton of people who have met, dated and married after meeting online. Likewise, I have a lot of friends that hate bars, but meet, date and marry after meeting in a bar. I think it's all about breaking down the initial barrier. If you can do that — in cyberspace or in person — there's a good chance that compatibility exists. Whether that leads to true love or not, I'm not sure I could tell you.

MEET IN PERSON

The New River Network meets the first Thursday of each month at the Corporate Research Center’s Sigma Grill in Blacksburg. Details at newrivernetwork.com.

Krisha Chachra taught communications at Hawaii Pacific University while writing for the Honolulu Advertiser and has worked as a talk-show host and reporter for public television and radio. Using the backdrop of Southwest Virginia's social scene, her twice-monthly column explores insights on dating, relationships and other issues faced by young professionals.