How do you feel about dating sites?

I used to be one of those people who hated the idea of dating sites and always felt as if I would be “giving up” if I joined one. However, there is a dating site that I have been looking at lately. It is tailored to my interests and, unlike other dating sites, I don’t need an actual account in order to see the profiles. I am very tempted to make an account and contact one or two of the members who have caught my eye. What’s mostly stopping me is that I have seen a few people I know on this site and while that in and of itself is not a problem, I worry that someone else would come across my profile and I would have to “explain myself” to friends and family.

So, let me ask you guys. What do you think about dating sites? If I made a profile for this site, is that the same as me just giving up?

I am a known user on this site, but I still feel strange about this subject so I do not want this question connected with my normal account.