Whether it's because we now witness tragic events daily in the media, or perhaps the world has become a more dangerous place, protecting yourself when out on the dating scene is always an important issue.
Being responsible when you're trying to let loose and have a good time isn't always the easiest task to accomplish. In many cases, people who find themselves in the direst of situations are not normally foolish, but made some very bad decisions. Being smart about how you approach meeting new people is advice that pretty much any person should consider when opening their life to others.
With so many people meeting on the internet it's easy to understand how people have become concerned about internet predators. Knowing a few basics about how to keep your flirting online safe and worry free may be the best way to begin, even before taking that fabulous profile picture:
- Hold onto your personal info as if it were a wallet filled with your money. You wouldn't trust just anyone with that right, in fact you wouldn't trust most people with it, and the same applies here.
- If you come across someone who pushes you to do things you do not feel comfortable with when chatting, simply put an end to that relationship. You have, literally, millions of people to choose from, why start out on the wrong foot or possibly keep in contact with someone who is dangerous.
- Choose the right site for the kind of relationship that you're looking for; read user forums or browse some online dating reviews before picking a spot that might be well known for a predatory community.
- Use common sense about anyone who may be too good to be true. No one wants to believe that the new romantic or platonic friend that they made online is a liar, but in some cases you have the face reality. In many cases if a person seems to agree with everything you say or seems to share all of the same interests you have, it's a lie. Now remember that true love does happen, but you may want to be cautious at first by asking the other person to tell you their opinion on some things before your reveal your own.
- When heading out for your first real life meeting, always choose a public place where you can leave at any time and if possible go with friends to keep it casual and above all safe.
- Always let someone, who cares about you know exactly what your plans are and when you will be home to check in. If something should go wrong on your date this will raise the alarm immediately which in the right circumstances could save your life.
Crossing that on/off line into the more common meeting places for singles is just as dangerous, if not more. In most cases using good common sense and buddy system will turn away your average predator, but it is important to remember that horrible things do happen and you must always use your head even if your heart is the one on the market:
- Setting up a designated driver can be important for more reasons that preventing an accident. A member of your group who is sober enough to keep an eye on his (or her, it does happen,) friends can also prevent some disastrous consequences.
- Watch your liquor intake because many people begin to open up too much when they drink. A good method to follow is drink, glass of water, drink and so on if you have difficulty determining your limit.
- Designating a mock boyfriend can also be helpful for women if you're out with a group of friends that includes a few males. A man who you trust can help to detour any persistent fellows who just can't take a hint without causing any real drama during the evening.
- The buddy system had probably saved many singles from being placed in dangerous situations. Simply keeping an eye on a friend, who also keeps an eye on you, can be an excellent way to stay safe. Never leave your buddy alone at a party or a club or even allow them to wander off far enough that you would have trouble finding them. Most predators need to get their victims alone before they can cause any real harm and if you put an end to this, by simply stopping their efforts to spirit your friend away, you may just save their life.
- Let others know of your party plans just so they have an idea of where you should be. In many cases of abduction time is the deciding factor on whether or not a person can be saved. The sooner those who care about you suspect that you're not where you should be the better chance you have of being rescued if something terrible should occur.
- Possibly the most important rule to follow in a party or club atmosphere is not to trust strangers. Not with your drink, not with a ride and not with your life. It's horrible that so many people have to worry about this when they are trying to have fun, possibly find true love, but playing it safe is better than playing it sorry and if you have met the man or woman of your dreams, there's no need to rush, you have the rest of your lives.
Understanding the dangers and what you do to better protect yourself from them can make all of the difference in the way your evening turns out. Always keep in mind that if you have a funny feeling about someone there's nothing wrong with turning them away, sometimes it is that inexplicable reaction that prevents truly horrible consequences. Wherever you choose to have your adventure, whether out to the clubs or onto the net, remember that your safety is priority number one.
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