21st Century Dating Tips That Keep You Safe
December 7, 2009 by Dorthy Weatherbush
Filed under Free Dating
Dating should be a way of channeling our attraction for each other, meeting needs for physical excitement and enjoyment and finding short- and long-term partnership. However, especially in the cases of blind dates or meeting someone for the firt time, it is always better to consider safety precautions before you take the plunge. Here are a few tips to keep you safe when dating.
Choosing a location of your date is a concern that you need to look deeply into. Never give exact information where you live and never invite someone to your house for a first date. It is always better to set up your first date in a public place, where you can be surrounded by people, such as art galleries or a restaurant. This way you will not be on your guard always, worrying about something dangerous that might happen. You might also feel comfortable choosing to meet an earlier time of the day, better yet if the sun is still shining.
Conversation is key on a date, but avoid giving out too much personal information, such as where you work. It is acceptable to be a little vague in the beginning, telling them what area you work in – such as an accounting firm, is better than giving them details of the company name.
Don’t be talked into something that you are in no way comfortable doing. Take charge of yourself and don’t be deceived. That could mean turning down an offer of anything, for example, coffee at your date’s place at the end of the date. You might be persuaded heavily but always make trust your instincts and make sensible judgments and decisions. There is no need to rush into anything at an early stage.
Always remember to inform a good friend of who you are dating and where you are going. Just to get the doubts out of your head, you can schedule a time for your friend to call and check everything is alright. Always have your mobile phone close to you at all times. Just to make you feel reassured, make a friend wait at you place for your return.
Make your own travel arrangements when setting up a date. Your date might offer to give you a ride home; until you get to know them better, politely refuse and take a public transport, or if you have your own ride, take it by all means. You could also have a friend drive you to your destination and back.
Keep your first date to a specified time limit. Letting them know that you have other arrangements later on in the day will allow for an “exit” point.
Take it easy on the alcohol. This can go for anytime, but more importantly when your dating someone who was previously a complete stranger, you don’t want to make yourself vulnerable and allow them to take advantage. Drinking too much alcohol could lead to things that you really don’t want. Know your limits and stick to them.
These rules might sound like coming from your overprotective father, but you will never know when you will get entangled with the activity of introducing yourself to a complete stranger, especially at the height of online dating. Following these and other safe dating tips you will be able to take your mind of the worry about being safe on your date and focus more on the dating itself.
Dorthy Weatherbush got her best friend to sign up for e-Harmony because she is single and looking to mingle. With www.eharmony.com, she has been able to meet new people and has gone out on lots of interesting dates.