Safe Online Dating Tips

Online dating is becoming quite a fad nowadays, especially with our fast-paced society where men and women are more focused on their careers than on looking for love the old-fashioned way.  There are a lot of online dating websites in the Internet that offers to help you find your perfect partner.  Let us say that you did find someone you feel comfortable talking sweet nothings to online, the next step is to meet up with him personally to gauge if he is who he purports to be.  How then can you safeguard yourself against a potential creep before you end up marrying the guy?

Before Meeting Him

Never, ever let the guy pick you up at home so as not to give him an idea of where you live.  Instead, agree to meet with him in a very public place but never in parks as parks can be quite secluded.  For your safety, you can bring a friend along or invite him to double date with your friend and her date.

Bring your own car to your date and never rely on him for transportation.  Make sure that your gas tank is full also.  It is better to ride a taxi home or other public modes of transportation to get home than get in the car of a stranger, however close you feel you might be during your conversations online.

Let someone else know of your plans that night, tell them of the details, who you are going to meet, what he looks like, where he says he lives, etc..

During the Date

It is much more advisable if you go Dutch during the date.  You pay for your bill, and he pays for his.  In this way, the feeling of being obligated to return the favor is eliminated.

Secondly, never get drunk with him.  Alcohol lowers down your defenses and takes away your inhibitions.  Alcohol also influences your judgment.  If you get drunk, you might regret doing something you will wish you never did come the morning.  Always keep your alcohol level at a minimum, if you are going to order alcohol with your meal.  You have to be aware also of always keeping your drink in your sight as there are some cases of date rapes wherein the guy puts some sleeping powder in the woman's drink.

After the Date

Use your own car home, and never get in the car with him because he is still virtually a stranger to you.

If he asks for your number, it is advisable that you give him the number of your cell phone, not your home phone number.

Trust your gut instinct.  If it says not to trust him, then do not push your luck.