How to Use Online Dating Sites Safely

You are tired of sitting home night after night watching TV or talking to friends on the social networking sites. So what do you do? You sign up for an online dating site to meet people that share the same interests as you do. You really want to get out and have fun. However, when is the right time to meet in person? Learn how to use online dating sites safety and still find someone to share and spend time with after you feel confident that this might be the one for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make your profile, but do not give away any personal information. The last thing that you need is someone knowing more than they should about you without you knowing who they are or what they are all about.

2. Communicate through emails, but never give out your phone number on the fist communication. It takes at least a month to get to know someone writing back and forth. You could use IM to communicate as long as your personal information is not displayed.

3. Take time to talk back and forth. Take at least one month and get to know what each other likes and dislikes. Find out what makes him or her tick. Do they like kids? Do they have kids? You must know these things before revealing personal information.

4. Set up a face-to-face meeting if you think that this person might be the one you want to meet. Do not have the person pick you up or call you on the phone. Pick a place that is quiet, but one that has traffic. A local restaurant not to close to your home will do. Meet separately and enjoy some conversation.

5. Never leave with the person to go somewhere else on the first date. Even if you feel comfortable, this is not a good idea. Never let the person take you home. You can take a cab or drive yourself. Maybe you can have a friend pick you up.

6. Take precautions if you have kids. Wait to see how things work for the two of you before you introduce anyone to your kids. Never leave your kids alone with anyone you do not know very well for months.

7. Tell family and friends that you are going on a first date. Give them the specifics and tell them to keep the information. This might sound a bit overly cautious, but you do not know that person you are meeting. You know the person you communicated with online. They could be two different people in one body.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not be untrusting, but do not be too trusting as well.
• You never know who you are really meeting from an online dating site.

[amyrah]

on 8/5/2009 good tips