We’ve all seen, heard of, or even used niche dating sites. Niche sites exist for just about anything these days, from specific religions to financial status to lovers of sci-fi.  Niche sites allow daters to automatically weed out people they would not be interested in dating. But is niche dating a good thing? Should we be limiting our pool of potential daters based on financial status, hobbies, age, or race? Can a devoted vegetarian fall in love with a carnivore? Could a golfer not find a great match in someone who doesn’t know what a bogey is? Should we be looking for someone who shares all our hobbies, interests, political views, and religious ideals? If so, maybe Saturday Night Live was on to something with their skit on me-harmony.com.

Most of us realize that finding our perfect match, isn’t about finding someone who is like us in every way. So, why are niche dating sites so popular? Probably because we are most comfortable with what we know. It is much easier to strike up a conversation with a stranger if you know right off the bat that you both love the outdoors. Others may be drawn to niche dating sites to avoid meeting someone like their ex. If you and your ex always fought about the time you spent golfing, you might think you should only look for other golfers to date to avoid that issue in future relationships.

If you do find yourself drawn to niche dating sites, ask yourself why you are drawn to a certain niche? Is it because you are so passionate about something that it would be a deal breaker if your mate didn’t share your viewpoint? Are you running away from an issue in a past relationship? Do you feel you can only get along with someone who shares all your same beliefs?You do want to share the same interests as your partner–just not EVERY interest. And of course, you’ll want to agree on many major issues, though you shouldn’t have to agree on everything. The danger in niche dating is that you are limiting your potential daters based on superficial information. It’s better to get to know someone for who they are, their core values and beliefs, and their personality before you decide whether or not they are a good match for you. Don’t rule someone out just because they don’t like sports and you do.

Be sure you are going to a niche dating site for healthy reasons and don’t
limit your potential dating pool unnecessarily.