The world of online dating can be fun and exciting, but it can be dangerous at the same time. It doesn’t matter if you’re straight or gay to online stalkers and predators. A few simple things, along with a little common sense, can go a long way in helping you stay safe in your online business.
To start with, you should always contact your potential partner via email or instant message for first contacts. Do not rush to give your phone number. You should be able to get a feel for the person through emails and some chat conversations. Obviously, there are no guarantees, so you’ll need to use your own judgment here before giving your number. Trust your first instinct, if you feel comfortable, go ahead and give your number, but if you feel a little unsure, wait a little longer and continue communicating through chats and emails until you feel more comfortable.
It’s a good idea not to mention where you work in your profile. You can list your general profession or position, but don’t be more specific than that. Also, don’t use a picture on your profile that may be somewhere else online with your name, ie Facebook, MySpace, etc. This will make it more difficult for an online stalker to track you down. You’d be surprised how easy it can be for someone to “hunt” you online with just a little bit of information. Don’t make it any easier for them. Unfortunately, those kinds of people are out there.
Okay, you’ve gotten in touch, gotten some emails and chatted via IM a few times, and you’re ready to meet that special someone. So where to find us? I recommend a first meeting in a public place for coffee like Starbucks, the local bagel restaurant, or perhaps the food court at the local mall. You need to meet in a place that has a fairly large number of people around and during the day.
Meeting someone for the first time at night somewhere is not a good idea. And neither is meeting for the first time in a bar or nightclub. It’s all too easy for someone to have a friend or for someone to be there with them and slip something into their drink while you’re busy chatting with your new acquaintance. Trust me, this happens more times than you’d like to think, every day. Don’t take chances. If you insist on meeting at night, or in a bar or club, at least take a friend with you, don’t go alone! Going on a first time date with someone you put online at night is just not safe in today’s world. Have fun but be careful!
