How To Keep Your Online Dating Experience a Safe One.
The overriding themes here are care, common sense and intuition. The list below is not conclusive, but it will cover most things that you should consider when looking for a black date or indeed any date online. In addition many of these safety tips should be applied if you have decided to use traditional methods of finding a date instead of using the Black Sex Club online dating site.
Keeping Yourself Safe When Dating Online
Use Free Email Accounts When Online Dating
There are many companies offering free email addresses now so there is no excuse for not signing up for one. The three most common of these are Yahoo, Microsoft Hotmail and Google Gmail. When you are dating online ensure that you sign up for a free email address because this will help preserve your anonymity and keep you safe from unwanted emails later.
When deciding an email address don't ever use your full name only your first name or an alias should be used. That is to say it would be better to use karen0101, happylady01 or some other relatively anonymous account name than karenwilkinson01 for example. The benefit of having a free email address is that if a potential date becomes a nuisance you will be able to just delete your email account without it affecting the contact you would normally have with family and friends.
In addition if you want to keep your online dating experience private from family and friends this will be easier to do if you check your emails online rather than having them download onto your computer.
Never Share Personal Information, Protect Your Anonymity When Dating Online
The Black Sex Club online dating sites and all those operated by the Internet Dating Network (www.idatingnet.com) are partnered with online dating experts dedicated to keeping your details private. However in addition to the extreme measures that we use to keep your identity safe you must take some responsibility for this too.
As with the free email account, never use a full name in any communications if asked don't give it. Your potential date should respect your decisions regarding your safety, if they don't then they are possibly not worth pursuing. In addition keep all other identifying details private, details such as address, telephone number, place of work etc should not be given until you are comfortable that you want to form a relationship. Probably you will need to meet them one or more times before you should divulge any personal information.
Remember that when you set up your account with an online dating service you can always use a nickname.
Always Ask For A Recent Photo
Most online dating sites will provide the facility to include photos, whilst there is no guarantee that a photo is actually of the person it will give yo a good indication. You will be able to see if people are being entirely honest about their appearance.
If when asked to send a photo your potential date refuses, or comes up with excuses as to why they cannot, then it is probably best to cease communication with them.
Initially Do Not Offer 100% Trust
As mentioned already, most people who visit online dating sites are honest decent people looking for a date, but just because that is the case does not mean you should not exercise care offering your trust.
The same anonymity that protects you can by some unscrupulous people be used to give themselves a different identity. They may not be the age or weight they say, the single 25 year old male could be a married 40 year old male they may say they are an airline pilot when actually they are still looking for work.
Remember not all lies make them evil, perhaps they are embarrassed that they don't have a job and think you won't like them but it is always important to start a relationship on honesty so just use your intuition and be wary.
The long and short of it is that things may not always be as they seem so exercise prudence and withhold a little of that trust for a later date.
Always Trust Your Intuition
The gut feeling you get when you first meet somebody either in person or via electronic methods may not always be correct but it is a good place to start. Ultimately when considering your safety don't worry if your intuition might upset the other person because you cease communication with them. Your safety is paramount so if you feel uncomfortable end things before they begin.
Always read between the lines and do not take emails at face value also keep alert as to what they have said before, if things they say or write do not match your beliefs, their storyline is inconsistent, their are unanswered holes in their story or you just don't feel right then move on to the next person. Online dating like all other forms, require that you take it slowly and take your time to find the right person, not the wrong one faster.
Report Your Concerns To Your Online Dating Site
If you have any concerns whatsoever with your online dating experience speak to the customer support team they will hopefully be able to put your fears to rest or help you with them.
Take Things Slow
When using online dating sites, take things slow, remember just because it is easier and quicker to meet somebody online it doesn't mean that you have to take it to the next level right away.
It is important when dating somebody online that you take the time to get to know them the best that you can. Not only can you gauge better whether this is a person that you would like to meet up with but also if they are not being 100% straight with you this could become apparent as lies are more difficult to maintain over a period of time so inconsistencies in storylines will become more apparent.
Remember, never be afraid to ask for proof of a story that bothers you, trust is an important part of a relationship and if you don't feel that you can trust them you are best to quit whilst you are ahead. Remember if they are genuine, they will understand your concerns and will not mind trying to offer you the evidence to make you feel comfortable. If not and they decide to break off contact then you have lost nothing, move on to the next person.
Talk To An Online Date On The Phone
When ready to go beyond emails and Instant Messaging (IM) you should talk to each other on the phone. It may be that both of you feel uncomfortable about giving phone numbers so remember these guidelines. Never give your personal home phone number to your potential date, it is too easy to go online and discover where you live from a home telephone number. It is preferable and more secure to make initial contact either from a mobile phone or from a public telephone.
Only when you have met enough times for you to feel comfortable should you give your telephone details.
Meeting For The First Time
These safety tips apply to your meeting irrespective of whether you met your date through an online dating site or a more traditional method.
Choosing a Location
The beauty of online dating is that you only have to take your date to the next level when you want to. Over a period of time you may want to meet with the person with whom you have started to feel comfortable, don't let this comfort lull you into a false sense of security.
You should use this benefit of online dating to your advantage. As this is not a chance meeting it means you can arrange a safe place to meet, choose a busy public location such as a high street cafe and arrange to meet them there.
Tell a Friend Where You Are Going
Always tell a trusted friend where you are going and when, you could even have them sit somewhere else in the cafe to keep an eye on you if you feel more comfortable. The first time you meet you will be sure to have a gut feeling about your date so trust your intuition, if you have doubts you can always make your excuses and leave.
Drive Yourself To Your Encounter
Never accept a lift, you remember what you were told as a child, "don't accept lifts from strangers" well this person is a stranger, so until you know them better make your own arrangements to get there and back, it is good if you can drive yourself as you can easily leave when you want to.
Avoid Alcohol or Limit It
Initially it may be better to avoid alcohol, this is easily done if you have driven yourself there. Alcohol impairs your judgment and makes it more easy to be taken advantage of, also it means that you may not be on your best guard.
Never Leave Drinks Unattended
Never leave drinks unattended as people can always slip something into your drink. This is a rule for anytime, not just a first date, always leave somebody you trust to guard your drink if you have to go to the toilet, if not then take it with you.
Never Give Your Address
This is a good rule to remember on a first date, the same is true if you have travelled outside of your area and are staying in a hotel, do not disclose the information.
Be Careful But Remember Dating Is Fun
Remember, the safety tips above are there to protect you from getting in trouble not to stop you from having a good time with your date.
Whether you are a member of our black dating site, one of our many other internet dating sites or you have met your date from elsewhere remember, the majority of online dates are kind friendly people with whom you will no doubt become friends or lovers and have some good times.
