Advice for Women about Safe Dating Online
Get a free anonymous e-mail account. NEVER post your real name anywhere online. Remove it from chat programs, and any email accounts that you use for recreational correspondence. A good free anonymous email account can be found here.
Take your time! Nothing will give you better prospective than time! Have your date's habits, mood or language inexplicably changed? Are you becoming more suspicious of something with time; perhaps something just doesn't feel right?
Get a phone number! Chat on the phone a few times... what can you hear in the background? Do background noises match the information you have? Is the household supposed to have children, pets, etc.? This is a very important piece of dating advice: Listen, Listen, Listen! Remember to block caller-ID's until you chose to give your number and that every time you use an 800# its likely that your phone number will be recorded.
Verify the phone number! Call Directory Assistance and insure that your date's phone number matches the one they gave you... If your date's number is unlisted, Directory Assistance will verify that 'so and so' has a number, but its unlisted. Also, try web sites like switchboard.com to verify addresses and phone numbers.
Call at unanticipated times! Someone who cherishes you will always delight to take your call! Does someone unexpected answer the phone? Does your date seem irritable that you are calling unexpectedly? Perhaps they have something to hide.. Don't be a pest, but try a couple of unanticipated times... just to sense the temperature...
Ask to have a family photo! Is your date a 'family man?' Is he proud of the children? Do the kids seem to match the details you were told?
Get a physical address and mail a card. Use a return address that will not reveal your identity or your physical address (i.e. just use your screen name and a PO Box or work address) and see if the card is returned for any reason. Allow a minimum of 10 days to receive returned mail.
Ask about previous relationships. Was your date previously married? In any long term relationships? Why did they end? Does there seem to be any remorse? Should there be? Does your date seem to have recovered from the separation or dissolving of the relationship? Always ask "What would the other person say about you?" Again, this is a very important piece of dating advice Listen, listen, listen! If it feels right, ask questions. If it all feels wrong, ask questions. Clarify! If it doesn't seem to add up, it might not!
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