Dating
Advice
ChristianDatingInfo.com
has been designed and created to be a platform to provide
a friendly and convenient tool for people to meet other people
and hence potential partners. Just like any other new service
it is important that you know and understand how to use the
new internet medium to find the right and suitable partners.
This includes finding like-minded members on the site, communicating
with them and finally meeting up with them.
New
to the online dating scene? Worried about compromising your
privacy? and your safety? You’ll be happy to know you’re not
alone. Users new to the world of online dating report fear
of exposure as one of their number one concerns with using
the internet. With a view to make your Christian dating a
memorable experience we have put together some important guidelines
for you to follow to make the whole process of online dating
to be enjoyable and easier!
(1)
When starting a relationship with someone online that
you have never met before it is important to be smart, cautious,
and to use your common sense. Treat this "online" relationship
like you would any other new relationship. Let the person
earn your trust before you provide them with any personal
information such as your full name, email, phone number, or
address. Always, Always Have a Separate Email Account for
Dating Services and Talking With People You Meet Online.
Most online dating services recommend this and for a good
reason too. It’s nicer and easier to scan through a list of
emails that only relate to your dating life than to have them
interspersed with all your other emails. But, the biggest
reason of all to have a separate email account is to know
clearly that your address book is not anything else but about
dates only. This can save you from any embarrassment caused
if you use your other email address books and accidentally
forward the wrong email to any of your contacts.
(2) Start slow and watch out for someone who
seems to be good to be true. Begin by communicating solely
via email, then pay attention to the person's behavior and
the way they describe themselves. Look out for any inconsistencies
in the information they provide, this is a sign that the person
is not being honest with you. Trust your instincts and your
intuition and discontinue further contact if you do not trust
the person or if they make you feel uncomfortable.
(3) Find out information. Ask many questions to get
a better idea of what the person is really like. Find out
where they grew up, their line of work, what they do for fun
and how they are involved in the community. Remember that
some people may paint a different picture of themselves in
order to win you over, they may misrepresent their age, looks
etc. Try to keep a record of the correspondences that you
have had with them so you can refer back to information as
needed and check for inconsistencies.
(4)
Exercise caution and common sense. Careful, thoughtful
decisions generally yield better dating results. Guard against
trusting the untrustworthy; suitors must earn your trust gradually,
through consistently honorable, forthright behavior. Take
all the time you need to test for a trustworthy person and
pay careful attention along the way. If you suspect someone
is lying, he or she probably is, so act accordingly. Be responsible
about romance, and don’t fall in love at the click of a mouse.
Don’t become prematurely intimate with someone, even if that
intimacy only occurs online. If you mutually decide to cross
the point of no return, be smart and protect yourself.
(5)
The key to success. Honesty is the key to developing a
good and healthy relationship. It is important that you are
direct and honest about who you are and what you are looking
for in a relationship. Try to include photos and essays in
your profile as they convey more information about you and
build trust amongst viewers looking at your profile. Request
a photo. A photo will give you a good idea of the person's
appearance, which may prove helpful in achieving a gut feeling.
In fact, it’s best to view several images of someone in various
settings: casual, formal, indoor and outdoors
(6)
Marital status and physical appearance. If the people
you are communicating with have not yet posted a picture of
themselves, ask them to do so. If a person is unwilling to
post or send you a recent picture, they may have something
to hide. Ask the person you are communicating with directly
if they are involved with anyone. Also, after you have decided
to exchange phone numbers, find a reason to call out of the
blue. This may provide you with more information about this
person and what they are really like.
(7)
Talking on the phone is a great way to get to know someone
better. A call can reveal much about an individual's personality,
social skills and the way they communicate. Consider your
security and refrain from giving your phone number to somebody
you do not know that well. Wait until you feel comfortable
and trust has been built into your relationship before you
begin giving out your personal information. However if you
must, try a cell phone number instead or use local telephone
blocking techniques to prevent your phone number from appearing
in Caller ID. Only furnish your phone number when you feel
completely comfortable.
(7)
Meeting. Meet when YOU are ready. The beauty of meeting
and relating online is that you can collect information gradually,
later choosing whether to pursue the relationship in the offline
world. You never are obligated to meet anyone, regardless
of your level of online intimacy. Spend time getting to know
the person so you can find out as best you can about the person
before meeting them. Don't be pressured into meeting someone,
only meet them if you feel completely comfortable. Always
follow your intuition and if the person makes you uncomfortable,
stop corresponding with them. You can always find other suitable
matches in ChristianDatingInfo.com that meet your criteria.
(8)
When you decide to meet. When you meet, it's a great opportunity
to get to know the person even better but you must look out
for your safety at all times. Try
to follow these guidelines:
- Inform a friend of where you are going, what time, whom
you are going with and when you expect to return.
- Set
the meeting in a public place where you are familiar and
comfortable.
-
Always take your own car or find your own means of transportation.
This way you are able to leave at any time if you do not
feel comfortable. Pay attention to all the information the
person gives you.
(9)
Watch for red flags. You should be concerned if your date
exhibits any of the following behavior without providing an
acceptable explanation:
- Provides
inconsistent information about age, interests, appearance,
marital status, profession, employment, etc.
- Refuses
to speak to you on the phone after establishing ongoing,
online intimacy.
- Fails
to provide direct answers to direct questions.
- Appears
significantly different in person from his or her online
persona.
- Never
introduces you to friends, professional associates or family
members.
(10)
Get yourself out of a jam. Never do anything you feel
unsure about. If you are in any way afraid of your date, use
your best judgement to diffuse the situation and get out of
there. Excuse yourself long enough to call a friend for advice,
ask someone else on the scene for help or slip out the back
door and drive away. If you feel you are in danger, call the
police; it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Never worry
or feel embarrassed about your behavior; your safety is much
more important than one person’s opinion of you.
While
liars, cheaters and imposters certainly ply their craft on
the Web, you’ll also find them in nightclubs and offline dating
services, cocktail parties or even sitting across from you
at your local café. Regardless of where you meet someone,
dating is never a risk-free activity, but a little caution
will reduce your risk in matters of the heart. Now it's time
for safety-conscious you to use a quick search to find a quality
date!
A
final note. All of the above advice has been compiled taking
into account all the factors which come into play while dating
on the internet. It has been done so that you are on the safer
side and cautious to the requirements. However you must know
that every situation is different. Judge the situation and
follow your gut instinct. Or ask your close one if you find
yourself in a tight spot. We wish that your dating life is
free from complications and problems. All the very best and
may your dating experience be a happy one!
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