Dating guide to help you find someone special-SAFELY!

Safe and secure online dating
Online dating is quite possibly the safest way to meet single men or women.

Yet because of the stigma of "mystery" and "danger" that online chat rooms somtimes suffer from, singles, especially single women, can still feel apprehensive about joining an online dating site.

The following are some basic, common sense safety tips, to keep in mind when dating online. Follow these tips, and you will be perfectly fine.

You'll be fine anyway, but by following some safety precautions, you'll make absolutely sure that you are not doing anything that could be dangerous.

• Do not, under any circumstance reveal any personally identifieable information in your online dating profile, in your personal ads, or in your private e-mails to singles

Such information includes your real name, specifics about where you live ("I live in Chicago" is ok, though,) or any other info that could be used maliciously.

• Use only the communications tools provided by your dating service. They now offer private e-mail, chat, and even instant messaging. You should not invite singles to e-mail you at your regular address, at least until you get to know them better. Use your judgement here.

• When you e-mail singles in private, you may want to consider using an anonymous email account at a free site such as Hotmail when you begin getting to know new people. Take your time to establish communication and move at your own pace.

• Be careful with your signatures. Many of us use multiple signature lines for our personal and business e-mail correspondence that include our phone numbers and addresses. Obviously you'll want to leave this information out when first contacting any singles you meet through the personals.

Your best option might be opening an entirely new free email account, to use just for your communications with singles you meet online.

• Remember: you are in control. No one should ever pressure you into revealing anything about yourself that you want to keep private. Anyone who does, is not respecting your boundaries, and is probably not worth contacting further.
 

Use basic caution when you meet singles
We've already discussed basic online dating safety, but that is not the only time when you'll have to be aware of some safety issues.

In fact, probably the most important time for you to be careful, is when you first meet singles in person.

Although you will probably feel very comfortable already, having spent quite a bit of time chatting on your favorite dating service and/or talking on the phone, you should not forget that you are in essence meeting with a stranger.

Here are some things to keep in mind when meeting for the first time:

• Tell Someone About Your Date: let a friend know who you are meeting, where you are going and when to expect you to return. You should also consider calling and checking in with your friend at some point during your date as well as when you return home.

• If possible, bring a friend along. If you don't find it difficult, ask a friend to come along with you. There is no harm in taking this extra precaution, and both your friend, and your new date should understand your apprehension.

• Arrive Separately: Always provide your own transportation throughout the entire date-especially if you choose to go to a new location you are not familliar with. Under no circumstance, should you have your new date pick you up at home.

• Meet singles in public: Select a public place at a time of day when there are other people around. This will provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere for you to get to know each other better.

• Keep it Short & Sweet: Make your first date an enjoyable one and plan on spending an hour or two together. Take the opportunity to get to know each other better in a relaxed environment. And remember, this is supposed to be fun!

• Sticky Situations: If you ever feel uncomfortable in any way, excuse yourself and get assistance or leave the location entirely. Never feel embarrassed about protecting your wellbeing. Anyone who values your friendship will support your instincts 100%.

If you decide to travel out of town to meet your new friend, there are some additional precautions you should take to maintain your safety:

• Stay in a Hotel: This will be the most comfortable situation for you both. You should also keep your room number private until you have had an opportunity to spend some time together.

• Give a Friend your Itinerary: Make sure that you tell at least one or two people exactly where you will be staying, and plan on checking in periodically.

• Your First Meeting: You may want to plan on checking into your hotel before meeting your friend and arrange to meet in a public place. Chances are that if your relationship has progressed to a point where you are willing to travel to meet each other, you will have already established a certain level of trust, however it is always best to err on the side of caution.