Meeting In Person
After spending adequate time chatting with someone,
you have reached the point where you want to meet.
After all, with online dating this is the goal in the first place,
so seeing it come to fruition is exciting!
Meeting for the First Time
Just as you took precautions when first starting out on a dating service,
you now need to use a new set of precautions when meeting in person.
Always meet in a safe public location, where there are other people around.
Typically, a restaurant or coffee shop would be the best choice.
Make sure a friend or family member knows where you are meeting,
the time you are meeting, and the time you will be leaving.
If you are not sure how long the meeting will take,
use your cell phone to call the friend or family member when you leave,
so they know you are on your way home.
If you change your plans, always let someone know.
"Practice Safe Dating;" so do not have the person pick you up in their car.
Instead, it is advised that you need to drive your own car,
so you have the opportunity to leave if you feel uncomfortable
or things do not go as planned.
Set up the encounter on a day and at a time when you are comfortable.
Do not feel pressured into meeting at a precise time or place.
If the other person insists that you meet where they say and when they say,
then cancel the meeting altogether.
Do not feel bad if you decide to cancel at the last minute.
Too often, people from online dating services are eager to get things going,
bypassing the friendship or courtship phase.
It's important to follow your instincts.
If the person is not understanding about you changing your mind
or becomes angry, then you know it was not meant to be.
If you need to fly or drive to another city or state to meet this person,
make your own hotel arrangements in a reputable hotel.
Rent a car at the airport upon arrival
so you can drive yourself to the hotel. If you are unfamiliar with the area, you
may want to take a taxi. Under no circumstances, should you allow your date to pick
you up. Remember "Exercise Safe Dating!"
Be sure that you have someone in your hometown alerted at all times as to your where-abouts
and plans. Keep a cell phone fully charged and with you at all times in the event
you need assistance. Be sure to alert the hotel desk that your hotel room number
not be given out to anyone. Also, do not accept accommodations at your date’s home.
Avoid visiting your date's home unless you are accompanied by someone you know well.
Favorite Places To Meet
Coffeehouses – 47% meet at a coffeehouse
where the atmosphere is relaxed and low-key, inexpensive, and provides
the opportunity to talk in a safe environment.
Restaurants – 28% choose to meet at a restaurant, preferably at lunch or early dinner.
Choose a warm ambiance, so you can both feel comfortable and at ease.
Bar – 22% meet at a bar to have a few drinks and perhaps dance.
While this is not a bad option, it does have disadvantages in
that talking is usually difficult because of the music and noise.
Additionally, the scene of the bar usually creates too many distractions,
so you and your date are not focusing fully on each other.
Home – Only 3% meet at home and in reality, this should be 0%!
This is never a good option in that you really do not yet know the person.
Parent’s Home – About 1% will meet at the parent’s house but again,
even though the individual seems nice and everything seems to be on the up and up,
you do not know this person.
Therefore, this is also a bad choice.