Where Did Our Trust Go?

Remember when the internet was young and every possibility lay before us? We all thought, "Now I'll finally be able to meet that perfect someone; my soul mate!" But then we saw that people are shady AF and all the horror stories started to emerge and our guard went up and really never came back down? Yet after a period of being lonely and rejected, passed over and ridiculed, or shunned and disheartened, we slowly decided that it's better to be picked up, picked on, or picked apart than to never be picked at all? Is it just me, am I the only one who just wants someone to believe in and to believe in me? Am I the only one who's tired of subconsciously pleading for someone to give me the benefit of the doubt while simultaneously doubting others? It's true: we men are more liable to throw caution to the wind and go out on a limb just for the possibility of finding someone special. But we take just as many risks as females and generally hurt just as bad when things go awry and the blows to our egos are just as damaging. But I have to believe that this place, this wonderful community where we all share some common interests, could be a refuge, an environment where my guard comes down (if only just a little bit). A place where something new and wonderful can begin to take root.

I don't know. Am I asking too much? Or not asking enough?