The Quest For True Love Plus Being Safe With Online Dating
May 18th, 2008 by Pam Baldwin
It can be hard to find that one true love you’ve been looking for, especially in today’s crazy world. Conventional ways to meet dates, such as going to a bar, can be time consuming and unpleasant. The internet is a wonderful resource for meeting just the right person. Here are some tips on how to stay safe in the online dating scene.
Websites such as Date com and PerfectMatch help you in your quest for love, but it can be scary to talk to a person you’ve never me before! So, here’s how to stay safe in the online dating scene. After all, you probably don’t want to go on a blind date, so why date a stranger who you know nothing about? Here are some tips to help you out.
Finding a real certified website is important. And there are so many options you just need to look for one.
Invest in a webcam. You can find cheap webcams for around $30. This way, you can use an instant messaging program to see the person you’re talking to.
It is also smart to buy a microphone. A microphone will save you from all those bills from long distance calls since we never know where the person we will meet will be from.
Always keep your personal information that allow others to reach you directly, like your phone or address, to yourself no matter how nice the person we are talking to seems to be.
If you plan to meet someone you’ve met online, bring a friend or meet in a public place during the day.
Listen carefully. Make sure your online date isn’t giving you different stories. Was he/she a lawyer one week and a dentist the next? Online scammers are common, but usually easy to spot if you listen.
Be positive and have a good time. Although you might have some disappointments not all the people are out there to get you some are honest nice people looking for the same thing as you.
Dating can be fun, but safety is key. Create a safe environment in which you can learn more about the person you’re dating. Whether online or offline, initially you don’t know a lot about your date at first. You want to be in a comfortable and safe place where you can learn about them. Always listen to your gut instinct. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
One of the biggest worries people have with online dating is whether the other person is sincere. Is that wonderful person as great as they pose to be? Are they being really honest with you? Experience has shown me that some people lie, some out of insecurity, some so they look better. It is not easy to know who lies and who is honest. And this is where I find the webcam and the microphone pretty useful since with a little attention and experience you can usually notice when people lie, from their face and voice.
A crucial safety measure is to never give up personal info that can get them to reach you directly such as a phone number or your address. You should really pay attention to this as you can endanger yourself by ignoring this. If you feel like giving out a phone number use your cellphone first, as they cannot track you or your home address as easily with this phone number. If you want them to send anything then use a PO Box. This little precaution can go a long way in helping you be safe.
Also very important is to always meet in public places.If you think you finally found the person you want to start going out with and cannot wait to meet them for the first time, you can go ahead. But having that first meeting in a public place is always the best thing to do to protect your personal safety. It is much easier to avoid a bad experience while surrounded by people. If they are OK with it, you bringing a friend is also a good thing. Try suggesting a place where you can have a good excuse to bring a friend, such as bowling.
Also bring a positive attitude and enjoy your date. It not a great relationship starter to tell your date you already used Google to check their background. Not everyone is trying to lure you to some scam, after all. Some people are honest and good people and more important they want to find love as much as you do, so don’t scare them away.
How to stay safe in the online dating scene doesn’t have to be complicated. So long as you follow the tips given above, you should be able to easily enjoy a nice dinner and movie with that new Mr. or Mrs. Right. Just remember to meet in a public place, listen carefully, follow your gut, and don’t give out too much information too soon. Have fun out there!
