Meeting Your Online Date in Safety

Here are some common sense safety tips for meeting your online date in person. Your instincts will play a strong role in keeping you safe too, so listen to them and take action if you feel uncomfortable or alarmed at any time. Remember, there's also a good chance that your date is perfectly genuine. Tread a sensible line between optimism and caution and your date will be safe and enjoyable.

Meet when you're ready:

Don't be pressured into meeting your online date. One of the big attractions of online dating is that you can find out the important stuff - be sure there's a real possibility for a relationship ? up front, so take your time and make the most of it. Your offline date should confirm and enhance your feelings, not lead to disappointment, or nasty surprises!

Meet in a public place:

Hopefully most of you are yawning at this. However, when you've built up some trust online, and happen to share an interest in lonely country walks, say, a lonely country walk might seem like a great idea for a first date. Give yourself a severe reality check when arranging a first date. First dates should always be in well-populated, public places.

Meet in a familiar or well-known area:

You need to be able to find your way home, or back to your hotel room, quickly and easily. Don't travel into unfamiliar neighborhoods and if you've traveled to an unfamiliar city to meet your date, choose a hotel in a central area that's well known to taxi drivers and locals.

Meet in a place where you're not well known:

For first dates, avoid favorite hangouts where everyone knows you and your business. Your date can return to pry information out of your favorite bartender or friends, or turn up uninvited ? bad news if you decide not to pursue the relationship.

Travel independently:

Revealing where you live, where you're staying or getting into a strange vehicle puts you at risk. Be sure to make your own way to and from your date, and don't be persuaded otherwise. If you make your travel arrangements ahead of time, you'll have a good excuse for refusing any offers to pick you up or drop you home, and if your date's half the person you think they are, they'll respect your independence and caution.

Make your own arrangements:

Don't let your date take over and make all the decisions about where you go, what you do, and, if you're traveling from another city, where you stay. Make your own travel arrangements (I've said this already, but it's important), book your own hotel, and make sure you and your common sense get to play a big role in deciding when and where your date takes place.

Tell a friend or relative about your date:

Make sure someone knows who you're meeting (their full name and phone number), when, where and at what time you expect to be back.

Take your cell phone:

If you don't have a cell phone, borrow one. Arrange for someone to call you at a certain time to check up on how your date is going, and how you're feeling about it. Agree beforehand on some phrases that will let them know, without giving the game away to your date, whether it's going well or whether you need to put a pre-arranged escape plan into action.

Don't drink too much:

Sure, a drink can calm your nerves but be careful not to overdo it and lose your ability to make safe and sensible decisions.

Leave if you feel uncomfortable:

You're excited about your date, you want it to go well, to give it every chance of success but (and it's a big but) don't let this tempt you into ignoring or excusing the fact that something doesn't feel right. If it doesn't feel right it probably isn't. Trust your instincts, admit it and get out of there. If necessary, enlist the help of a waiter or manager or some other person that can help you make a get away, perhaps feigning a call from home or showing you an alternative way out of the building. Remember though, it's not necessary to explain yourself to your date. Simply leave.

Watch for strange behavior:

When you meet offline, dating should fall into a natural, comfortable pattern. Stop dating if it doesn't. For instance, if your date always wants to meet some distance from where they live or work, is reluctant to introduce you to friends or family, or has strange rules about how and when you call each other, something's very wrong.

Copyright 2004 Caroline Mackenzie

Caroline Mackenzie is Co-Owner/Webmaster of The Dating Muse, a guide to online dating services and personals featuring reviews of the top online dating sites plus tips and ideas for finding friends, dates, soulmates and sexual adventure online. You can visit her site at http://DatingMuse.com and subscribe to her newsletter at http://datingmuse.com/subscribe.htm

---

Why I Prefer Online Dating

The next most likely place to meet your match is... Read More

How to Make Women Want You

You don't need a guitar, rock-hard abs, or even a... Read More

Why Date Someone You Wouldnt Have As Your Friend?

Sometimes in dating we so often settle for people that... Read More

5 Signs Why He Wont Leave His Wife

LadiesYes, we all have a friend who is or has... Read More

Choosing an Online Dating Service

The task of choosing the best dating site to join... Read More

Dress for Dating Success: Clothes to Attract the Man of Your Dreams

In order to attract the man of your dreams, it... Read More

Meeting Other Singles By Doing Something You Love

Meet Other Singles by Doing Something You LoveHere's one the... Read More

Ways to Say I Love You in Another Language

Have you been looking for romantic and provocative ways to... Read More

Why Not Average Joe: Exploring Melanas Choice

Admit it. You snickered, rolled your eyes and laughed out... Read More

Latin Dating - Beauty and Romance

Like any other society, Latin culture is one that is... Read More

Dating Dilemma: The Man Who Said Hed Call and Didnt

You went out with the guy. You both had a... Read More

Googling for Love

Google: (GOO.gul) v. To use an Internet search engine such... Read More

Dating Personals! Incredibly Successful, But How Does It Work?

Dating personals offer online dating singles a quick and easy... Read More

Take Your Time

How long do you think it takes to really get... Read More

Change Your Body Language to Be Relaxed When Approaching Somebody New

Get a Girl To Seduce You By Changing Your Body... Read More

A Single Mans Astrological Guide to Single Women

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - She's aggressive with... Read More

How a Blind Date Can Increase Your Psychic Abilities

So how can a blind date increase your psychic abilities?... Read More

How to Carry Yourself With the Body Language of an Alpha Male

Watch Brad Pitt, George Clooney, or any other man with... Read More

Instant Dating Strategies Anyone Can Use

Most of us walk around caught up in our own... Read More

Creating An Effective Personals Ad That Gets Results: Dos and Donts

Creating a great ad means selling your strengths and attributes.... Read More

Online Dating Tips ? Creating Personal Ads

Creating a personal ad for online dating services is not... Read More

How To Have Sex On A First Date

Guys have all different motives for trying to be successful... Read More

Mom Says

So, you're a member of every suitable on-line dating site,... Read More

The Best Way to Pick Up a Girl

You see her across the room. Ah, so attractive. But... Read More

A Revolution Has Come To Online Dating

There is truly a revolution going on in the online... Read More

Dating Tips - Prepare To Impress

At first dating is fun but as you go on... Read More

Online Dating: How I Met My Mate

Do you think online dating is only for the young... Read More

How to Get a Date

Step #1- The first impression. Before you approach a girl... Read More

The Dating Game

Why is it some people look at dating as a... Read More

Little Known Dating Tips, Secrets, and Dating Mistakes

I hear it over and over-"It was going so great,... Read More

Getting The Most From A Romantic Relationship

Romantic relationships happen because of the hopes and dreams a... Read More

Healing the Midlife Love Crisis

All I wanted was to fall in love and live... Read More

Online Dating Safety Tips

Online dating is as safe, and in some ways safer... Read More