Online Dating

With any luck you'll end up a happy couple.

Online dating has stopped being the sort of illusory replacement for a real relationship that most people thought it was (and they thought wrong) and has become the vehicle for many singles to finally find a partner. Part of the recent legitimacy of online dating comes from the fact that it has become (without the shadow of a doubt) into a booming and very profitable business. There is no shortage of websites and online services offering from mild conversation to more intimate escapades that cater to the whole spectrum of customers.

Meeting for the First Time

After spending some time chatting with someone you reach a point where you (and hopefully the other person) feel like it is time to move things forward and meet in person. This is no surprise since the whole goal of online dating is to be able to produce real couples or get people together who might not have known each other otherwise. Just as you should take precautions when you start out on your dating service of choice, however, you should still take precautions for this exciting moment.

• Location, location, location. You should always meet in neutral ground. This means you should pick a safe and public location where there is more people around. Also, make sure you give the full details of time and place (when and where you will be arriving and when you will be leaving) to a trusted friend or member of your family just in case. Cell phones are certainly a godsend here, as you can call if you need to change your plans on an emergency.
• Never have the other person pick you up on his or her car. You need to either drive your own car or find another way to get to the location. The first is preferred since you have a quick and easy exit strategy in case things don't turn out for the best, but even the second is better than getting into the car of a person you barely know. It might be that he (or she) is just a regular charming guy, or perhaps just has a tiny obsession with astronaut costumes, but it's always best to be on the safe side.
• Set up the encounter at a place and time where you will feel comfortable. A person who is particularly pushy about where and when to meet is a red flag indicating that something is wrong, so be careful.
• Don't stress over every little detail and don't spend a full day picking your clothes. While you should put on an outfit that sells there is no need to pull out any sexy Princess Leia costumes yet. Try to look your very best without advertising for intimacy. A fancy dress that funnels attention to your strongest asset or a smart and casual suit that says both elegant and chic are the way to go.