|
Online Dating - How To Protect Your Privacy in Cyberspace
Online dating is becoming
more and more mainstream, as people from all walks of
life plug in and find their soul mate in cyberspace.
Here are six tips to finding that special someone while
still maintaining your privacy and safety online.
1. Avoid large, public chat rooms where
anything can (and does!) take place. Some people frequent
these areas just to see what they can get away with.
Instead, focus on smaller, more targeted web sites or
chat rooms that match your interests or lifestyle. There
are many online dating sites that cater to specific
hobbies and several offer free trial memberships.
2. When you find a chat room, dating
site, or forum that matches your interest, introduce
yourself with only as much information as you feel comfortable
giving. Don’t plaster your phone number, address
or any other personal information on the site. Wait
until you meet someone with whom you truly “click”
and have spoken to them for awhile. Common sense and
that “gut feeling” are great indicators for
when something just doesn’t seem quite right.
3. Participate in the forum or chat
room regularly. Keep it “low-key” until you
start forming friendships with the regular members there.
Be honest, and be yourself – after all, being natural
is what will endear you to a particular mate.
4. Keep your correspondence limited
to e-mail and chat until you get to know the person
well enough to feel comfortable sharing your phone number
and talking for the first time. If you need a good ice-breaker,
start off the chat by talking about the forum or chat
room where you met and any special interests that brought
you two together.
5. If you decide to meet each other
in person, choose a neutral, public place. You may even
choose a town or city that’s not the same as the
one where you live. Restaurants, parks, theaters and
other public places where people gather often are a
good place to start. Alternately, you could choose to
attend a special event in your area together, perhaps
a concert, festival or fair. Either way, let friends
or family know where you’re going and who you’re
going with, as well as what time you’ll be returning
so they’ll know how and where to reach you.
6. If you’re interested in a few
online “matches” that come your way, consider
setting up a post office box and a free e-mail account
to share information with each other. That way, if you
come to find that you really don’t “click”
with this person, you won’t feel as if you’ve
given any personal contact information away.
If you follow these six tips, chances
are you’ll have a great time with your cyber date.
Remember to be honest and be yourself! If you do, chances
are that you’ll find that perfect special someone
who enjoys you for who you are!
1howto.com
--------------------------------------------------
Please
Share Your Tips with Us
|
