FWIW, I met Ms enna on the net.
On the old EP site - the precursor to this one.
If you wanted to follow this example (and I don't suggest in any way that you do so) here's how it would go.
First, you would not be "looking for a partner"....you'd be in the late stages of getting out of an ILIASM deal.
Next, a casual PM might be provoked by some comment you or they made on a post.
Next, a week or so later you might have another conversation. You might establish real names, age and locality out of these contacts.
Further discussions over say a month would give you some idea of their life views and a bit more background.
You might find a friendship building.
After another month or so you might find yourself looking forward to your exchanges.
Bear in mind, 3 months have gone by now, and you haven't even spoken to each other yet.
But now you do, and the relationship is conducted by phone rather than net.
A bit of flirting might happen.
It might be reciprocated.
After another month or so your interest might be piqued enough to suggest you meet, to see if there is an IRL connection.
And in another month, you do. This being about 6 months down the track.
So you meet, and root each other to a standstill...and there is a huge connection.
Oh dear. That wasn't the plan at all !!
Another month, you meet again...you are almost out of your ILIASM deal.
Then another month (you're up to about 8 months now) you are finally shot of your ILIASM deal and can give this new deal a red hot go.
So you start on the logistics, there's another 3 months as you sort them out.
You move in together in April 2010.
And live happily ever after, with unicorns farting stardust in your front yard.
So under my model, you meet on the net in some common interest group.
You don't even talk to each other for 3 months.
Then you don't even see each other for another 3 months.
Then things spin out of control.
I think if I put up the baz/enna model as one to follow there would be a (justified) chorus of - "Worst. Advice. Ever."
Compared to such a marathon, the idea of putting up a profile on a dating site, sourcing the right person and cutting straight to the unicorns farting star dust sure does look appealing !!
But apparently dating sites don't come with guarantees either.
I've had 4 major relationships in my life.
1 - was on a blind date
2 - worked in a sandwich shop where I used to buy my lunch.
3 - was at a party (that became my ILIASM deal)
4 - was on the net.
I guess they all have their own levels of potential.