HEALTH TIPS, GUIDES AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

Five Tips On How NOT to date online

We have all heard the stories; I met my wife through online dating.  The advent of the internet has made it very easy for people to meet each other.   However, there are precautions that one must take when starting the online dating process.   Many people feel that online dating is unsafe and can put you and your family at a high risk of domestic violence, rape and theft.  The truth, however, is that with some common sense, you can date safely without danger worries.  It just takes some common sense.

It Starts With Your Profile

All dating sites require pictures and a description of you and safety starts here.  When you post pictures of yourself make sure you do not show descriptive images of where you live or work.  You don’t want to put the outside of your home, the name of your work, or other items that can lead creepy stalkers into your life.   Put pictures with a neutral background that does not give away any location tips. 

Do not put pictures showing cleavage, butt, or any other intimate part.  Not only will you give them a wrong impression of who you are as a person, but you will also potentially lead an online stalker to you.

On your profile you should also not be too descriptive about what you doing.  If you’re a retailer just say you work sales; if you’re a CPA, just say you’re an accountant.  Do NOT mention where you work.  You do not want someone coming to your workplace to stalk you.

Important! Use a screen name you have never used before as an account name.  Sometimes people use the same screen name on every web site and instant messenger.   If you use the same screen name someone may do a google search and find out more information than you want them to find out.  This can often lead to your real name, address and phone number being found.  You don’t just give this information out to anyone you meet on the street – so don’t give this information out to just anyone you meet online!  For the same principles, use an email account that is separate from your main account.

Where Art Thou

Dating sites also require you to put the city you live in.  When you are online you should consider not being fully truthful about putting this information in as it will give a potential stalker another way to quickly locate you.  It’s okay to put another very close town in, or if you in a suburb to put the major city that your suburb belongs to in your profile.  When you get to know someone you can then give them better details on where you live.

Do Not Meet Alone

When you meet someone alone for the first time do not meet alone.  You should always bring a friend with you and have a double date.  Also don’t meet at one of your places, meet somewhere public like a restaurant, sporting event or coffee shop. 

Be sure you have really got to know someone online before meeting them in person.  Spend weeks getting to know the person online through conversation before you even give them your email of phone number.  Remember that by having your phone number and email it is much easier for the person to find you.

Get A Throw Away Phone Number

When it comes time to have your first phone contacts with the person you are interested in, consider getting a throw away phone number.  These phones are cheap and easy (and can even be had for free).  There are many prepaid phones out there for you to get at relatively cheap prices and Google has even opened up Google Voice to the public which can give you a free phone number for you to use, and it even allows you to block those people who creep you out from ever calling you at that number again (or your parents if they don’t like the person you pick).

Get Their Background

Don’t be afraid to check the background of the person you are interested in.  It is not a matter of trust when you are just getting to know someone.  You can Google their screen names, full name, email address as well as check their criminal history through many online resources.  Many states allow you to check out the criminal histories of people for a small fee.

Just Be Safe

The most important thing when dating is to be safe and take it slow.  Be sure to communicate what’s going on to your friends, set firm boundaries for the person you’re interested in.  Good luck on finding the one you love.