Online Dating Safety

Online dating services are a great way to meet men, there is to a degree a darker side to these places. But then, you could also say the same about any other place that men go to meet other men. However, one of the things about online dating services, pick up spots, chat lines and other similar places, is that quite often one is given either complete anonymity or the sense of anonymity.

Being anonymous can be nice, but with it comes an element of risk when it comes to finding dates online. People should always use a pretty selective process in just who they will meet.

Lets face it; all sorts of people log onto the Internet and some of those people are just plain creepy to say the least.

Theres a lot of people that haven't been lucky. Fortunately, none of them met with actual violence. They did receive threats though; which was scary enough.

For instance, it's a little much to expect a guy to give you their phone number, (home and/or work) so that you can verify their story and existence, if you're not willing to do the same. A lot of these tips or "rules" tell you to do just that -- get their info but don't give out your's. A general rule of thumb...If you're not willing to divulge some aspect of your life or a specific about yourself; don't expect to receive that type of information from the other guy.

The best piece of advice given by the traditional dating safety rules, is to use your best judgment and exercise some common sense; regardless of how you meet other men.

Other safety tips:

. Ask for a recent photo of the guy; if you've got questions in your mind ask for photo ID.

. Agree to meet in a mutually chosen location; one that has a lot of other people around.

. Let someone know that you're going on a date with someone you've just met. Give them, (a friend possibly) the "Who, What, Where, When" details.

. Write the details of your date down on a piece of paper and stick it to your fridge or someplace that people will find if the worst actually happens.

. Try and find out a little about the other guys background or life; that way you can look for any inconsistencies either before or during the actual date.

. Don't go someplace or do something that you're not comfortable with.

. Trust your gut instincts! If something feels or sounds fishy; don't ignore it. Actually, this rule isn't optional.

Remember, going on a date and meeting guys online is supposed to be fun but be careful out there so that you can keep on having fun meeting neat, interesting and sexy guys.