As you probably accept by now, Online
Dating is an efficient and fun way to meet new and interesting people. However,
Online Dating can be risky business and you need to protect yourself.
Most people you meet on line are
exactly who they say they are but there are the perverts and sexual predators so
you should use some good judgment while getting to know the stranger you have
just met.
Risk Management #1:
Don t Give Out Any Personal
Information until You Have Gotten to Know the Person.
Never give your real name, address or
phone number until you are sure the person you are talking to is who they say
they are. Perverts, sexual predators and just plain garden variety weirdoes come
in both sexes, all ages and in all shapes and sizes.
It s truly better to be safe than
sorry.
Risk Management #2:
Take Your Time Getting to Know the
Other Person.
You will see a picture sooner or later
of him or her. Don t be fooled by outward appearances. The real person is the
one you need to get to know.
Honest and faithful are qualities that
will last but beautiful and handsome will fade with time. You don t have to
spend 24/7 with a person to find out who they are. You do need to listen to what
he or she is saying carefully.
Once you think you know this person
well enough to exchange personal information, don t stop there. The Internet
is a wonderful place where you can learn just about anything and everything
about anybody and in just a few minutes.
Risk Management #3:
Do your Homework!
Check them out. There is an old saying
among journalists. Your mother says she loves you but check it out. That
is good advice for Online Dating and for real world dating too. Don t
take everything the other person tells you at face value.
Online Dating Mistakes You Should
Avoid Doing!
Luck doesn t necessarily have much
to do with making a great relationship when you are dating online.
There are lots of things that you can
do right and even more that you can do wrong. If you really want your online
friendship to turn into a real and romantic relationship, you need to follow
some guidelines.
Online Dating Mistake #1: ProfileDiscrepancy?
The first one is that if you are going
to post a picture of yourself or send a picture to an online friend, make it a
picture of you and not some really beautiful/handsome friend. Sooner or later
you might meet this person and the truth will come out anyway. So be honest.
Don t describe yourself as thin and 5 3 or really buff and 6 1
unless that is true.
Online Dating Mistake #2: Not Being
Punctual!
When you make a date to chat online or
talk on the phone, be there and be there on time. You need to put forth the
effort to keep the relationship going, too. If you don t, the other person
will soon lose interest and move on.
Online Dating Mistake #3: Detouring
the Conversation into Timbaktu!
Make your conversations interesting
and realistic. Don t just joke around and make cute remarks. Find
interests you have in common like music or movies. You ll need to get around
to talking about goals and values. Pay attention. You can learn a lot about a
person s views on love, respect and commitment.
Online Dating Mistake #4: Expecting
Perfection from Your Partner
Don t expect to find Mr. or Miss
PERFECT. They do not exist. All humans are flawed. The point is to find ones
with flaws you can accept. It s the little quirks and idiosyncrasies that make
each of us different and interesting.
Online Dating Mistake #5: Rushing
Your Relationship on a Freight Train
Rushing into any relationship is
always a mistake. Take your time.
Get to know the person well enough
that you feel comfortable and at ease when talking to them and really hate to
see a conversation end.
Then, and only then, will you be ready
to meet them in person and take your relationship to another level. You need to
be the best of friends before you can be in love.
