Finding love has never been so easy. Today, the world is at your fingertips (quite literally!) - a click of the mouse or a text message and hey! you can find a partner, start a relationship...

But funnily enough, its not all smooth sailing in today's technology-driven relationships. For a start, its difficult to check out if the person at the other end is genuine. And quite often, e-mails, instant messaging and SMS make it extremely easy for us to forget that there's a real person with real feelings on the other end.

But on the flip side, striking a balance between love and technology will go a long way in enriching relationships.

Mobile Love
The Short Messaging Service (SMS) has unleashed a sexual revolution across the world. SMS has now come to stand for "some more sex" and "textual intercourse", "hi-tech flirting" are a reality, thanks to the "electronic aphrodisiac" and "viagra with buttons". And there are enough people who claim to spend a good part of the night making SMS love!

Modern technology comes to the rescue! For the verbally challenged or culturally repressed especially. Chat rooms now facilitate hi-tech flirting- making expression of love and sex surprisingly easy. But there are experts who feel that electronic communication has many grey areas - people often mistake intensity of passion as depth in relationship.

Here are a few instances when love and technology just don't mix, and it would probably be better to play by the rules:

Call for Love
It's convenient to SMS or e-mail- but too much convenience can sometimes be most unromantic! So make that phone call when you fix up a date or to profess your love. Making "missed calls" or fixing dates through SMS just shows you up as a "cheapskate". By the way, never accept a date through SMS, as it only points to how frivolous the person at the other end is.

Mean what you say
Never send an SMS that contains words you wouldn't dare to say in person, or at least over the phone! The internet and the feeling of anonymity can sometimes make one feel very brave. But this fleeting courage also makes people say things that they wind up regretting later.

Be Sober
Don't drink and chat or SMS - nothing can be so urgent that you can't wait until tomorrow, when you're sober and are in control of your thoughts and action.

Get Physical
E-mails and SMS are just no substitute for phone calls or meeting face-to-face. So take stock of where your relationship is heading by applying this golden rule. If you've been in touch with someone for more than a month without hearing their voice or seeing their face, just move on...there's more to love than just a beep!

Also Check out: Freedom and Love