How to Have a Virtual Date Online

Virtual dates can be romantic, enjoyable and revealing. Have fun but remember that an online rendezvous is not a substitute for a face-to-face encounter.

Things You'll Need

• Internet Access
• E-mail Accounts
• Pens
• Spiral Notebooks
• Computers

Instructions

1. Find a potential romantic partner in cyberspace.

2. Suggest an online date when the friendship leans toward romance.

3. Pick a place, a time, and a situation: a candlelight dinner in Rome, for example.

4. Share the decision-making process by "building" the date together.

5. Rendezvous in a private chat room at the appointed hour.

6. Take turns describing the surroundings and ambiance: food, wine, decor, music.

7. Use humor to overcome shyness and embarrassment.

8. Be romantic and accommodating; make your date a memorable, revealing fantasy.

9. Plan another virtual date if you both enjoyed yourselves.

Tips & Warnings

• Take notes on your partner's likes and dislikes.

• Chat for a while at the end of the date about the experience.

• Allow your partner to arrange an entire date, then you take a turn.

• Think about what you learned about your cyber-lover after logging off.

• Virtual dates can be entrancing, but they can also develop into a mutual obsession.

• An online rendezvous can intensify the power of "instant intimacy." Do not mistake the warm feelings that come from a successful cyber-date with real love. The "L" word should not be used seriously until after several REAL dates.