Does This Place Really Work?

Does this place really work? So far all I get is more people contacting me when they live hundreds of miles away and from other countries when I clearly state in my profile I'm only willing to meet people in Sussex. I wonder why I get more interested people in me when they live too far and nothing local that is weird. Also there's times when my messages get ignored and the ones that do talk to me from my area suddenly stop talking to me for no reason. I'm wondering if others get the same things happening. It's bad enough when most members don't have a photo.