'monster, may I offer some advice? Personals are but ONE way to meet folks into this, and not the easiest. Gatherings are. Attend one. Check the Gatherings section for events in your area, or in areas where you'd like to vacation, and attend one. Meet some folks, make friends in the community, and build the kind of reputation that will make women comfortable with meeting you.
It's possible.
I married one of us, in another country, that I met online. I've many friends who've coupled from online meetings, both within this interest and outside of it. Personals are a great possibility, but only ONE possibility. There's two others here, Gatherings and Pen Pals, and both will start you socializing within this interest, making friends and acquaintences, making you a known entity. It's hard to fear a known entity. It's easy to hang wit' someone who's known.
I'm not the most delicate fellow, nor am I attractive in any Hollywood fashion. If I can meet folks here, and find my wife, any of us can. Just takes effort, and patience. Sorry t'see that these personals aren't working for you right now. Hope you try the other methods and make friends here, and find folks to date from gatherings and from friends.
dvnc