Online Dating Safety Tips

Online dating is as safe, and in some ways safer than meeting people offline. Online dating services protect your anonymity at all times (your real name, contact details, and so on) and provide tools to block and report bad apples, as well as online dating safety tips like these. The rest is up to you. If there's any danger at all, it's that you feel too safe and forget to use your common sense. So, here are some reminders to help keep your online dating experiences safe and enjoyable.

Remain anonymous:

Never, ever include your real name, address or contact details in your profile or personal ad, or communications with other members. Remember, there's absolutely no reason why anyone would need these details. Online dating services provide plenty of options for communicating, safely and anonymously.

Be wary of anyone who presses for information:

At online dating sites the focus is on personalities, interests, values and so on ? the type of information that helps you determine if someone's "the one." Specific details, like your exact address, or place of work or study aren't relevant and you should be immediately suspicious of anyone who pushes for this type of information.

Keep it vague:

Telling someone that you workout out at the gym every night is fine. Telling them at which gym, at what times, and that you're afraid of the dark alley behind it is not!

Don't paint a picture:

Remember, some people are very good at putting two and two together to learn more about you than you'd like them to know! Again, keep it vague.

Go slow:

Take your time getting to know someone. If someone seems too good to be true, they probably are. With time, you'll spot any inconsistencies and realize that things don't quite add up.

Act on your instincts:

If you're uncomfortable communicating with another member, move on. There's no need to explain. One of the big advantages of dating online is that you can block other members, making yourself instantly inaccessible, zapping them out of your life!

Report bad apples:

The better online dating services devote money and personnel to quality control but appreciate your help. They have systems in place that make it easy to report members who are spoiling their service for others.

Choose a quality dating site:

Last but not least, choose a well-established, popular site with plenty of members. Popularity is a good indicator that a dating service is doing plenty to keep it's members happy, including tools and policies that keep you safe online.

Copyright 2005 Caroline Mackenzie

Caroline Mackenzie is Co-Owner/Webmaster of The Dating Muse, a guide to online dating services and personals featuring reviews of the top online dating sites plus tips and ideas for finding friends, dates, soulmates and sexual adventure online. You can visit her site at http://DatingMuse.com and subscribe to her newsletter at http://datingmuse.com/subscribe.htm

---

Google News Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:05:30 GMT Schwarzenegger: Palin delivered 'fantastic' speech - San Jose Mercury News KGET 17 Schwarzenegger: Palin delivered 'fantastic' speech San Jose Mercury News - 1 hour ago AP SACRAMENTO—Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday said Sarah Palin hit a home run with her acceptance speech for the Republican vice presidential nomination. Video: Governor To Californians: Bug Lawmakers About Budget kcratv California nears record in spending plan stalemate Sacramento Bee San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Los Angeles Times - New York Times - City Watch all 302 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:14:17 GMT McCain takes stage, turns down heat - Boston Globe The Gazette (Montreal) McCain takes stage, turns down heat Boston Globe - 1 hour ago By Joanna Weiss For a man at the top of a presidential ticket, John McCain had an unusual task last night: to remind the nation that he was the star of his own show. Palin Assails Critics and Electrifies Party New York Times GOP welcomes McCain with enthusiasm Milwaukee Journal Sentinel CBS News - Kansas City Star - ABC News - TIME all 1,387 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:20:31 GMT Wal-Mart acting on shifts in consumer spending - BusinessWeek Los Angeles Times Wal-Mart acting on shifts in consumer spending BusinessWeek - 3 hours ago By CHUCK BARTELS If the mood on Wall Street is grim, then consumers must be feeling even more bleak, right? Fuel prices remain high, inflation has hit food prices hard and consumer confidence is down. August another disappointing month for retailers Los Angeles Times Lower-cost stores gain from US shoppers' thriftiness Financial Times Forbes - The Associated Press - Wall Street Journal all 673 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:48:39 GMT Data on defective genes make tailored remedies possible - Baltimore Sun Voice of America Data on defective genes make tailored remedies possible Baltimore Sun - 41 minutes ago By Frank D. Roylance Researchers cataloging the genetic codes of deadly human brain and pancreatic cancers say they have found several dozen defective genes that appear to work in concert to set off the tumor growth that eventually kills their victims. In Long-Awaited Maps of Cancer, The Breakthrough Is the Problem Wall Street Journal What You Need to Know About Mapping the Cancer Genome U.S. News & World Report Reuters - The Associated Press - Bloomberg - Science Daily (press release) all 209 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:24:12 GMT Boeing Workers Are on the Brink - BusinessWeek Wall Street Journal Boeing Workers Are on the Brink BusinessWeek - 1 hour ago Despite being offered a relatively generous package by management, Boeing machinists are ready to go on strike. Here's why by Joseph Weber When a stunning 87% of Boeing machinists voted on Sept. Motown Blues for Boeing? Wall Street Journal Boeing, machinists union meet with mediator The Associated Press Seattle Times - Bloomberg - Reuters - Chicago Tribune all 1,406 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:54:59 GMT '1967 lines not up for discussion' - Jerusalem Post Sydney Morning Herald '1967 lines not up for discussion' Jerusalem Post - 32 minutes ago By JPOST.COM STAFF The July 4, 1967 lines are not up for discussion and are the very foundations from which direct talks between Israel and Syria will start, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Friday. Video: Sarkozy in Syria : the press is divided france24english Syrian sets terms of role on peace Philadelphia Inquirer New York Times - Boston Globe - International Herald Tribune - Voice of America all 1,039 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:32:39 GMT Rice set for historic Libya visit - BBC News RTE.ie Rice set for historic Libya visit BBC News - 3 hours ago US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is set to begin a historic visit to Libya as part of a North African tour. She is expected to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as part of the trip, which will also include visits to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Rice set to begin historic Libya visit AFP Rice set to make history in Libya The Associated Press Aljazeera.net - International Herald Tribune - WZTV - Bloomberg all 425 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:41:55 GMT Add RSS Feeds To My Web Pages Increase Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Blind Date

Very few singles have ever gone through life without having... Read More

Internet Dating ? It?s Not For Geeks

Six months ago an old school friend and I were... Read More

Why Do So Many People Date Online?

Once upon a time, online dating was a last resort,... Read More

How to Be a Great First Date

Okay, you've scored a date with a sexy somebody for... Read More

Single Sites Are A Great Tool To Network And Develop Fun And Spontaneous Relationships Online

If you're tired of the boring and repetitive local dating... Read More

Dating Tips For Animal Lovers!

Did you know that experts say the way people treat... Read More

Dating Tips from Hollywood

Halle Berry voted as one of the most beautiful women... Read More

Do Men Want Classy Women?

Ladies, this one is for you. Your mother always told... Read More

Dating After Fifty

Dating at an older age is not too hard. And... Read More

Dating Tips: Share a Little More Personal on Yourself

Have you been dating for a long time but felt... Read More

Love Eluding You? Let Go and It May Find You

How many times have you heard someone say it was... Read More

Finding Fun Date Ideas

The three most usual choices for what to do on... Read More

8 Deadly Dating Mistakes To Avoid!

Are you dating or in a serious relationship? Did you... Read More

10 Reasons to Use Online Dating Sites

There are many more reasons than just ten that I... Read More

10 Fast Ways to Re-Igniting Romance

Research shows that people who put each other down and... Read More

What You Must Know About Dating a Non Christian

Inevitably, when the topic of dating comes up among Christian... Read More

Adult Personals ? Fulfilling Your Fantasies Through Adult Dating Websites

People are talking about adult personals. There's no doubt about... Read More

10 Important, Easy Dating Rules to Ensure Your Success

1) Leave the mobile phone off! Do not answer it... Read More

She Rejected You: Some Reasons Why It Happened & What You Can Do?

There is just something that makes women NOT get attracted... Read More

Choosing an Online Dating Service

The task of choosing the best dating site to join... Read More

Fatal Flaws- How to Have a Happy Relationship and Keep Your Values Intact

If you are knee deep in trying to find a... Read More

Free Dating - The Real Cost of Free Dating

Nearly every dating site on the internet claims to offer... Read More

Healing the Midlife Love Crisis

All I wanted was to fall in love and live... Read More

Online Dating - 8 Sizzling Tips To Make Your Profile Standout!

We know one of the hardest part of creating your... Read More

What To Put On A Dating Site Profile And What To Leave Out

Your dating site profile is the most important tool you... Read More