FREE LOVE – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet

The Internet is full of interesting people with interesting stories. Free Love — True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet explores some of these. Specifically, it explores the personal ads section and why people post there. It explores all of the basic connections, be they heterosexual, homosexual, looking for Mr. Right, looking for Mr. Right Now. This book is a fascinating story of what people are looking for and why they are looking for it.

Kelleher found some interesting personal ads and then interviewed the posters, letting the people talk for themselves; that the original ad is followed by commentary from the person who wrote it helps. Although some of those interviewed are far too brief in their comments, the most interesting ones are those that go on for a little bit. A wide variety of people have been interviewed, from those that have lost their virginity thanks to personal ads to those that have been burned. It is especially fascinating, in this age of jaded cynicism, to see how many approach the personal ads section as a place to find romance, and found it.

The dating scene really does take all types, and Free Love explores a wide variety of them. Those that tried a basic, honest approach received as much, if not more, response as the humorous ads. It is interesting to hear from the veterans, so as to compare the old versus the new, and that the new is more freeing, as you don’t need to go wait for a response to come through. This is a book for those who are afraid that the Internet removes the personality from the person, as it shows that people will always be people; the medium may change, but the message that we all need someone doesn’t.