Online dating is truly a very new and fundamental
change in the way that we are able to look for a partner, friendships or
even sexual pleasure. Never ever in human history did we have such strong
and efficient matchmaking opportunities. Online dating as we know it, is
the fastest and easiest way that we can meet new people whenever and
wherever we want in modern society. It is straight-forward, direct and
simple. It is not bound to your city borders or local single-café or pup.
Gone are the days of blind dateing somebody that you could never lay an
eye on. Many of us still remember the bad experiences we have made with
blind dates that collegues or family members have sent us on.
Online dating removes lots of these negative
unknowns whilst allowing you to meet some phantastic people which you
would never have a chance to meet or even contact with in former times,
before the internet flash-conquered our planet.
Online dating has become so popular, especially
during the past 10 years or so, that almost everybody of the young and
middle-age generation within industrialized countries as well as numerous
TV shows and news reports deals with the subject of internet dating
communities.
After spending some time in front of your PC screen,
communicating with a person far away that attract kind of your attention,
sounds sympathic and fits into your desired dating profile checklist, you
may finally - at one stage want to meet him or her face to face. But
remember. Even though you have spent numerous hours or even days
communicating with the person of choice, and even after exchanging photos
or videos with each other it is important to make it very clear to your
mind that YOU STILL DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHOM YOU REALLY WILL MEET IN THE
END !!! You do not know his or her complete history, and even if he or she
sounds pretty sympatic and reliable - you do not know if this behaviour is
true or false. You do not and cannot know, if heīs the desired lover you
dream of - or simply a fool - or maybe even a madman!
I do not intend to scare you away from online
dating, because it really is a fantastic way to meet exactly the match of
your desire. And usually, chances that you will get confronted with a
madman, marriage swindler, rapist or murderer are near to zero. However it
should be in your interest to protect yourself, just in case... Observing
the following simple online dating safety rules will help you make your
online dating dreams not to end up in a nightmare:
1. The very first rule in safe online dating is to
meet in a public place. Do not let him pick you up at home. Never.
Besides, you should also not unveal your home or work address before or at
this point of time. If possible, try to arrange for some kind of double
date or have somebody whom you can trust, a good friend or relative for
example, sitting around nearby. You will not only feel more secure, you
will be!
2. It is much more safe to use your own vehicle or a
taxi and not to depend on the car of your dating partner. This way you
will be fully independent, either way your date comes out.
3. If you are a female and you donīt want to feel
to be under any obligation, consider paying half of the bill. If you are a
male, it is of course a matter of good manners, that you pay for the
complete bill. Even, if you have been disappointed and your dating partner
is not the kind of girl or woman of your imagination. Some may think this
is a little outdated, but really it still is a matter of decency and fair
play and it wonīt hurt.
4. Stay away from alcohol. Remember that alcohol can
affect your judgment about the person in question. Until now, you know the
person that you meet from your online dating sessions only. You do not
have a single clue or proof what type of character he or she is in real
life. Especially for the first dates you should be able to build yourself
an uninfluenced opinion. You should be clear minded in order to be able to
estimate what kind of person your dating partner really is. If you like
and to feel more relaxed and less inhibited, you can have one or two
welcome drinks with him, but thatīs it. Never ever go for hard drinks.
Better take a glass of wine or so. Be insistant on that!
5. Online dating is a great way to meet very
interesting people. But always remember that what you see on the screen of
your computer can be very different from reality. For example, if your
online date has written that he is a very religious person, that does not
mean that you can trust him. As in any other flirt or dating relationship
it takes time, before you come next to really know each other.
6. If you really like the person that you have met,
you may be very lucky. But even now do always stay alert and cautious.
Some awkward or even dangerous people are perfect pretenders! You never
know what can happen.
7. This brings us to the last, but as I think most
important rule for secure online dating. ALWAYS LET SOMEONE ELSE KNOW
WHERE YOU ARE AND WITH WHOM YOU MEET. If possible make the name and
address of the person available to your best friend or another person that
you can trust. Always let him or her know, where you are going to meet
with the person. For the first meeting, do not go elsewhere with the other
person. Always take your mobile phone with you. If at some further meeting
you go elsewhere, let the person of trust know about and tell him or her
exactly where you are going. It is also a good idea, that your friend will
call you at pre-set times, in order that he or she asures everything is
all right. So, if something bad happens, there is at least someone that
knows where to look for you.
Online dating is one of the greatest social
developments the internet has enabled. You can make use of it to find your
ideal match with an anonymous distance at first, to filter out the ones
you donīt like the easy way and finally meet with the ones on your
short-list. Most of the people, weather you like them or not, will be
decent and harmless. But do not forget, that there are also some idiots
out there. And some of them can be dangerous. So have fun, but always
remember to be cautious and responsible.
And next time your aunt tries to tie you up with
somebody of her church group, tell her that you already have a
boyfriend... in France!
