Online Dating Tips

Okay, so you?ve decided to take the plunge and post your profile on a dating site. You?ve perused the different sites, and found one that interests you.

You enter your profile, fudging only a little bit on the details like height and weight, because you really do plan to work off those five pounds before you go on any dates, and everyone knows that height is subjective.

You posted a picture that is fairly recent and shows you when you were having an extremely good hair day. Your best friend, brother, etc., checked out your profile and let you know whether anything needed to be changed. What?s next?

The next step is deciding which person among the matches you have received is the best one to start getting to know. You may have a wide variety of choices, with lots of information like pictures, background info, hobbies, jobs, etc. It is sometimes hard to decide which person you want to approach.

The fact is, most people fudge a little on their profiles, and some people fudge a lot! And while we all know that honesty is the best policy, not everyone follows that rule exactly.

So hopefully, the biggest surprise you get is that when you meet your date in person they look nothing like their online photo. There are other things that you need to consider.

It is really easy to get to know a lot about someone through online chatting, but even though you know who their favorite movie star is, what they think of their co-workers and that they were all knees and elbows in the seventh grade, you don?t really know them.

Online chatting, exchanging emails and frequent IM use can give you a false sense of security with someone. They are actually strangers, and that old adage your mother always told you about being careful what you say to strangers still holds true.

The first and perhaps most important rule in online dating is to exercise caution. Err on the side of safety. Do not give your trust so easily to someone who is a virtual stranger. This means that you don?t give them any personal information, especially if they are really pushing for it.

Telling them your first name and the city or state you live in is enough. You may want to share more, but the sad truth is that not everyone has your best intentions at heart. Psychos date, too, you know. Probably not very successfully, but they do date.

If things do progress to where you plan to meet in person, drive yourself to the date and suggest a date that can be done during the daylight hours, let someone else know exactly where you are going and when you will be back, take your cell phone and do not, under any circumstances, leave with that person.

Taking a friend with you to the first meeting never hurts and they can give you a much more objective opinion of your date?s qualities. You know what they say about a second opinion!

The bottom line is, take it slow. Get to know them before you give out personal information, and don?t agree to anything you aren?t comfortable with. Keep in mind that not everything you read about them or that they say is true.

Everyone wants to present their best self, and sometimes people ?arrange? the truth to suit their needs. Use common sense, and you might just actually find the right person you were looking for all along.