How to Date Online
Be Informed and Be Safe When Registering With an Internet Date Site
Dating online can be an exciting, original experience and it should never be ruled out as a method for meeting new people.
Some people try online dating when they think they have tried every other avenue to meet that special someone or to find a date for Saturday night.
As time passes, it becomes increasingly harder to find a match for ourselves and people have become more jaded by past scenarios, relationships or dating experiences. People fear rejection and one of the best ways to avoid this constant feeling of disappointment may be to try dating online.
Online dating does not make the sport of dating any safer, but it does help you figure out what type of person you want to be with before all the fussing and planning of the first date. It can relieve you of those "before-date jitters" and save you from meeting someone who is a bit "off" in a restaurant, dance club, bar or supermarket.
In the latter scenario, we meet people and tend not to learn too much more about them than their name or their occupation. Over time, you learn more and discover you have different values, goals and dreams. When dating online, you can ask these questions beforehand and know what the other person is looking for in a prospective partner.
As with all such endeavours, there are no guarantees. You may just as easily meet bizarre people online as well as off, so one must remember to be safe.
Here are some quick tips to staying safe and enjoying the process:
- Sign up at a reputable dating website i.e. Lavalife, Match.com, Eharmony.com
- Sign up for another email ID account just for online dating so you do not get responses mixed in with work or personal email i.e. Yahoo or Hotmail
- Be honest about yourself. You would rather someone like you for who you are right from the get-go.
- Look at their goals, hobbies, and values and see if they are similar like yours or intriguing.
- If anyone asks you for a phone number too soon make it known you are not comfortable enough yet. Set your boundaries early and they will be respected. If they're not, then the person is clearly unsuitable.
- It is important to make the effort and to take the time to talk, write online and learn about someone.
- If you decide to meet, meet in a public place. It is best to switch cell phone numbers instead of home numbers. Tell a friend who you're meeting (their name, and description) and where.
- Enjoy the experience! It can actually be really fun and you can meet new friends as well as a new love.
- If your first date doesn't go as well as you'd like, don't be disheartened. Be friendly, considerate and honest with the other person and don't make promises you can't keep. When you leave, say something like "It was lovely to meet you." and leave it at that. Most people will take the hint. However, if your date presses you for a second meeting, gently say something akin to "I'll have a think about it, but I'm not sure we're the best match. But thank you for today/tonight!"
Just keep these little tips in mind and you will be fine. The online dating experience can be truly a blast and can differ for many. You just never know who might be a click away. Your true love might be waiting for you and you wouldn't want to rule out online dating as another way to meet your soul mate, would you?
