I first "met" my husband online and he is a great guy, so online dating is not that bad That said, I think you have to be way more careful with online dating than with dating in RL. I think it's best to be upfront and frank with the guys you don't want to date, because otherwise you can get into trouble - meeting them in RL is not a good idea.

I also think it's best to have a few chats / share a few e-mails before you meet with a person in real life - BUT not for too long. If you prolong the internet activity, you get an idea of what the person behind the other computer is like - and very often that idea is wrong. So best to meet soon. At least in my experience. But be careful anyway and trust your instincts.

I don't think online dating is pathetic, it's not easy to meet a person in RL in these busy times, especially if you don't like going to clubs where everyone is all over each other. Just my opinion.