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Online Dating: Are there really monsters lurking on those sites?By Donna Talarico
Au contraire to what most people would have you believe, free online dating is no different from offline dating and you need a little bit of common sense to be safe through both pursuits. Most women would be wary of going out with a leather clad man who epitomizes the Hollywood induced bad boy image and there is no reason why people should change their rules online either. However, there is marked difference when you are trying to assess a person through two computer screens in between, you can't see him/her; which means that the veracity of the person can only be ascertained through a tete-a-tete. Now, this is where you need to be careful and use your head to protect your hide, here are some valuable tips: Check out as much as you can about your online love before consenting to meet him/her: If you have been chatting for a while (even if that is just a few days) and are now planning on meeting, chances are that you may have this person's telephone number and also his/her address. Use this information to verify some of his claims; there are a number of websites that would provide this information for free. Take a look at the list of sex offenders and criminals in the state: The internet and the anonymity that it offers can be both a boon and a curse depending on the situation that you are in. The last thing you need is to walk into a trap; so to be safe while online dating, it is imperative to go through the list of sex offenders in state that you beau resides in. Hopefully, he will be miles away from the list. Choose a safe and public meeting place: It's just the first 'real' date, so why not go to a public place. Try a picnic or one of your favorite restaurants; the more the number of people around, the safer you are going to be. Decide to meet for breakfast or lunch and not dinner: Do not set a dinner date; daytime is more suitable when you are planning on meeting your online date. Let somebody know where you are going: This is a very important point to remember; let one of your friends or family know where you are going; preferably show them a picture of the person you are going out to meet. If you are too embarrassed to reveal your penchant for internet dating to your friends; although its is one of the most convenient ways to connect with people these days, at least make a point to leave a note in your home that states where you are going, the name, email id and other contact details of your date As you can see, most of these safety tips on free online dating area easy to follow and if your online friend should have no problems with any of them; as a matter of fact, if he is a reasonable person, he will appreciate and understand your concerns.
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