Can Technology Really Move A Relationship Along Faster?

September 25th, 2000 the date Eric Johnson will never forget. That`s when he met his wife Marci.  But it wasn`t until a week later that Eric got his first glimpse of his future bride.  That`s because the pair met in a chat room.

“It was just like fate,” Eric said.

Marci and Eric weren`t looking for love when they logged in, but it was something that happened and happened quickly.

"We just clicked it was just talking and a lot of it and long nights and it was fun,” Marci said.

The innocent conversation quickly turned meaningful as the two chatted about just about everything.  After a week of long nights chatting, both knew they had found someone special.  Eric says Marci was different, she was upfront and honest. 

“With her she told me exactly what she looked like the first night to the best of her ability,” Eric said.  “A week later right from her description it was to the ‘T’ I knew it was her.”

After year of courtship and a long distance relationship they decided to tie the knot.  Now they`re look forward to growing old together, but admit if they met first in person and not online the outcome may have been different.

“I don`t know if we could have pulled [it] off,” Marci said.

That was also the case for Melanie and Ralph Hine, who found love on Facebook.

 “Sometimes when I’m face to face with somebody it is harder for me to say it,” Melanie said.  “I have to write it down." 

"It's almost like you've got a shield in front of you,” Ralph said.  “It’s almost like that like okay I can be wide open with you, say whatever I’ve got to say.”

So why is it so easy for people to find love online?  Certified sex therapist Jason Kae-Smith says it because physical attraction doesn`t get in the way on the first meeting.

“We are sort of biologically wired to be more responsible to visual cues in our environment,” Kae-Smith said.  “So there is always the chance that stuff can dominate your experience with somebody and you`re not paying attention so much or you`re not hearing so much some of the other information that may be or may not be such a good fit for you.”

And clinical psychologist David Hamilton believes that can cause a relationship to move at warp speed.

“Because there is that common goal,” Hamilton said.  “You`re already kind of primed to do that whereas otherwise it would be someone maybe someone you`d meet when you would happen to see them at work or wherever.”

Melanie and Ralph say even though their relationship moved fast, they wouldn`t change anything.

"I just had a good aura about him,” Melanie said.

"My dad said, ‘you'll know when you know’,” Ralph said. “And I just knew.”

While these two relationships worked out.  Both Hamilton and Kae-Smith say it is important to keep yourself safe when meeting someone in person for the first time.  Don`t meet in a secluded area and always let a friend know where you are going.  It can be easy to get excited about a relationship and not think clearly.  So remember to stop, think, and protect yourself.