1. Trust your instincts. As humans, we have all been blessed with a complex psychological tool we colloquially refer to as our ‘gut feeling’. This tool uses a combination of conscious and sub-conscious observations and prompts to let us know when to get out of a given situation. Never ignore your instincts. Refer to your ‘little inner voice’ every time you read a profile, a response to an email, have a phone conversation or meet in person.

2. Take your time. In the initial stages of online dating, it is best to keep your personal information private. This includes your name, surname, home telephone number and home address. It may seem prudish to withhold this information but there are some scary things you should be aware of, namely:

· With your home phone number, any person could find out where you live, what your income is and even the value of your home.

· Your full name can allow people to ‘Google’ your name and perform an internet search that may result in them knowing where you work, what you do and even what your phone number is.

· With both your home number and your full name they can find out basically everything.

3. Use anonymous communication methods. Set up a free email account with Yahoo, Gmail or Hotmail to facilitate your email communication and use a prepaid cell phone account or Skype for telephone conversations. This will allow you more time to get to know the person in question better before divulging any personal details.

4. Use a reputable online dating service. There is a saying that goes ‘you get what you pay for’ and this is true for online dating as well. Free dating services are all good and well, but take into account that ‘free’ means that people who use the site are completely unidentified since they don’t need to provide any credit card information. This provides a greater opportunity for potentially dangerous individuals to misuse the platform.

5. Be on the lookout for odd characteristics. Once you start communicating with a potential mate via email or telephone you should be wary of any odd characteristics you may notice. Are they easily affronted, do they seem controlling, etc.? If you notice anything that is not above board, that should be your cue to tuck tail and run.

I knew a girl who was on Match.com. She would talk to a guy for a week online, and then go on a date with him. It wasn’t that she did that. What was worse is that she would give her real home address, jump in his car, and have drinks with him. There were so many times that I try to tell her how dangerous that was, but she didn’t listen. It’s definitely something that is a big “No No” when doing online dating..

1. Trust your instincts. As humans, we have all been blessed with a complex psychological tool we colloquially refer to as our ‘gut feeling’. This tool uses a combination of conscious and sub-conscious observations and prompts to let us know when to get out of a given situation. Never ignore your in … Posted via web from Love and the City

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I noticed this past weekend that Chemistry.com was having a free communications weekend, so I decided to check it out. If you don’t know, Chemistry.com is Match’s version of eHarmony, for the people trying to find love. I tried it once two years ago for the personality test, and then never went back on the site. When it first started, I didn’t like the layout, and there weren’t that many people on it, so I never gave it a chance.

This time around, I must say that I was impressed. The visual UI is great and it’s easy to navigate. Like eHarmony, Chemistry.com goes through a series of steps before you can have open communication with someone, but it’s so much more user friendly and less time consuming.

So far, there are three guys who I like. The one I like the most is geeky (the way I like them), so I am hoping that he responds back to the short answers I sent him. I am now asking guys up front if they are emotionally healthy because the last guy I was into turned out to be a HOT MESS!

Definitely will keep you updated on how Chemistry.com turns out.

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• Five Safety Tips for Online Dating

Online dating can be a daunting experience, especially when you are being introduced to dating after a long hiatus. You sift through tons of profiles, and respond to the ones you like. You finally decide to meet one of the potentials and decide on a meeting spot. After one (or possibly two dates), you never hear from that person again. This continues until you are ready to give up and crawl into a dark hole. You don’t know what else to do. You are a highly successful single who has a busy life and hasn’t found much success in leaving it up to destiny. Additionally, you are selective in who you date and want to find someone who complements you. What other alternative is there? Matchmaking services are a great way to find high-quality singles in your area. Matchmakers provide a personalized service that will eliminate that headache and time caused by online dating.

Problem #1: Fake profiles

You come across the perfect profile. She is beautiful, intelligent, and has a great personality. You message her and hopes she responds back. Two things either occur: 1. She turns out to be a porn or stripper service trying to lure you into using them or 2. You meet her in person, and she is a complete opposite of what you saw online.

Solution: Matchmakers meet each individual

By using a matchmaking service, you eliminate these issues because the matchmaking team meets each and every individual who wants to use them. They screen and run background checks on everyone to make sure that they are legit. It’s great because you don’t waste time with spammers and people misrepresenting themselves, which is a huge relief.

Problem #2: No help in finding the right match

If you are being introduced to dating, you are pretty much clueless as to how to go about it. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone assisting you through the entire process? Some online dating services claim they offer help in finding the right match, but they are usually generic advice that is offered to everyone. Not everyone is going to date the same, so it really doesn’t do much in the end.

Solution: Matchmakers are your guides

Matchmakers are with you every step of the way. They offer you advice on things you are doing well and need some adjusting. Their advice is tailored to your needs, so you are not getting the advice someone else received. Additionally, they follow up with you after the date. You never feel like you are going through this dating process alone because there is always someone they’re checking up on you. You are never alone to decide because there is always someone there to assist you.

Problem #3: Identity theft is an issue

Identity theft is an increasing issue in this country. Online dating services are not able to fully protect you from this crime because there is no background checks run on the people using them. Therefore, there is no verification of identification, so you never know who these people really are. Additionally, there are no federal regulations on how online dating services should be used and who is using them.

Solution: Matchmakers make sure they know the people they are working with

As stated previously, matchmakers run thorough check on everyone who uses their service. They want to ensure that they have the best people in their community. We’ve all heard horror stories about rape that has occurred during online dating. By using a matchmaker, you minimize this tragedy from happening because the matchmaker knows whom they are dealing with on a personal level.

Problem #4: The frustration of dealing with profiles

Profiles can be a frustrating experience. One thing is that the more appealing people get flooded with emails, which frustrates them, and they quit. This causes many profiles to appear as active, when they really aren’t. Therefore, you never know if the person you write is ignoring you, or just stopped using the service.

Solution: Everyone you meet is real

People who use matchmaking services pay a good amount to be part of the community. Additionally, the matchmaking team speaks to each and every person, so you never have to waste your time checking out a profile, only to find out that there is no one behind it.

Problem #5: Wondering if person wants a serious relationship

With online dating, you never know if the person wants a serious relationship unless they write in their profile. There is also the risk that the person is really married and is trying to commit adultery.

Solution: People using matchmaking services are usually looking for a long-term relationship

If you went to a matchmaker, then that means you are serious. No one who doesn’t want a serious relationship would waste their time using a matchmaker, especially with all the other dating service alternatives out there. You always have a sense of hope using matchmakers because many of the headaches caused by online dating go away.

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