Online Dating Tips Part I : General Tips

Considering the large number of people who have met online for sex and dating, the occurrence of violence is relatively low. But there are some people who cruise with intention to harm. If you are targeted by one of these people, it is important to know it is NOT YOUR FAULT. Nobody has the right to violate your boundaries or commit violence against you. The following tips may help you identify when someone you are meeting has negative intentions.

Trust your gut.
When meeting up with someone new from online dating site, if you get a feeling that something isn’t right, trust your instinct and exit the situation. If you are afraid of offending the person, you can do so politely.

But what if I am overreacting? Sometimes I feel uncomfortable but can’t actually name a reason.
Trust your gut! It has gotten you this far Sometimes, we get a feeling of discomfort or fear based on cues that we can’t identify at that time. Our survival instincts sense danger faster than our logical mind. You may not be able to identify what made you nervous until later.

Get a face pic and phone number before meeting them:
A picture is better than simply a physical description. If they send you a picture, but the person who shows up looks nothing like it, that is a sign that you should probably exit the situation. If the person knows you have their photo in your email inbox, it could make them wary of doing something to harm you. A phone number allows you to talk beforehand (more on this below) and is another piece of information you can leave around or give to a friend.

If/When you decide to meet someone in person from online dating site, meet in public:
If you are only conversing online, you may not have enough information to assess someone’s intentions. If you agree to meet up with only one person, but multiple people show up, do not go with them. If you meet up and the person doesn’t look like the picture, ask them about it. If they don’t have a satisfactory answer, exit.