Dating Guide: Starting Online Dating And Growing The Relationship
Online dating can be fun, but do not neglect safety and common sense when you try to hook up with a mate. At minimum, take caution in the following areas.
Computer Security
Make sure you have some kind of computer security before hitting the dating sites. You should have both a firewall and an anti-virus program for your email and when you browse the dating sites. A free firewall is made by Zone Alarm and a free anti-virus program is AVG.
Personal Safety
Take care of yourself, too, by choosing appropriate dating sites. Seek and choose a reputable online dating service. How? Begin by asking around with friends, neighbors, co-workers and others you may know who have tried online dating, and see which places they recommend. In addition, search “online dating services” and keep a notebook of their URLs or website links, the fees, rules and regulations, complete contact information of each and any other useful information that spikes your interest. Then compare each place. Try only those places where you feel safe. Avoid the others.
Remember, safety first. Protect your computer and yourself with the right tools and knowledge and you will have a fun experience.
Now that I have covered safety, I want to talk about how you grow an online relationship. Just like regular real-world relationships, online relationships need tending, to grow over time. Here are some quick growing tips.
1. Make time. Does your online date try to contact you on a regular basis? You need to do the same. Ignoring emails and chats is abusive. You need to treat each other with respect. If you see that respect is not there, you need to end the relationship.
2. Communication needs to “feel” right for both of you. If one of you is too pushy about meeting, for instance, that can give off bad vibes. So do not rush. Take time to learn more about each other and develop trust.
3. Respect each others privacy. Do not share personal email addresses or digital photos online, for example, if your online date sent you the information in confidence.
4. Share things both online and offline. Offline – send greeting cards, postcards, and small items from your area (like a picture of your state flower). Online – send greeting cards, links to your favorite websites, photos of your pets, and your favorite music and videos.
Think of your online relationship like a flower. Water it with care and in time it just might bloom.
