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After you've established a relationship with someone
you've met online, it's natural to want to meet that
person. Before you do, here's some ideas to consider.

Idea One: Talk on the phone first. Ok, the other
person's picture looks fine - so let's take some time
getting to know the other person on the phone. It may
be that they look great, send nice emails, but are hard
to understand, or sound like "something's not right."
Pay attention to your instincts. Talk to them on the
phone, at least a few times, before agreeing to meet
them in person, in a very public place.

Idea Two: Questions to Get Started With? Here's a few
icebreakers that you'll want to know about in your emails
and phone call to that other person:

1) What do you like to do on your weekends?
2) Do you like to go out a lot, or stay home?
3) What do you like best about someone you're dating?
4) When you eat out, where do you like to go?

Idea Three: Ask them upfront: After a few emails and
a couple of phone calls, you may be ready to meet them
in person. It's up to the both of you. If they are evasive
or hesitant to meet, ask them why. It may be simply that
they're shy. As long as you can phone them without
problems, that may be fine. But, also look for red flags
(eg answering machine always one, phone not answered regularly).

You may want to ask them upfront, how they'd like to
go about this, to see what their ideas are. After talking
on the phone a few times, you should know whether or
not you'd like to meet. Make plans, in a safe public
place. See our safety tips for ideas. Then, have fun
meeting them at a local restaurant or mall.

Idea Four: Being Ready for Romance Getting started
in a new romance is both thrilling and a time of great
uncertainty. Myself, I like to plan on finding a woman
who's both a friend and someone I'm attracted to.
Getting from a photo and description, to "first contact"
by email, to phone call and then meeting in person, is
lots of fun. Being ready to meet someone also means
you may need to juggle your schedule a bit - as dates
take up time, as you're having fun on the town with that
new person in your life!

Idea Five: How Often Should I email or call them? On
the one hand, you don't want to seem overly desperate.
Then again, you don't want them to think you're not
interested. Finding a middle ground depends on what
each person feels comfortable with. Remember, one
woman may want to send emails twice a week, another,
every day. Each person expresses themselves differently,
and works on a different schedule. Part of becoming a
good dating partner is finding out who you're compatible
with, and adjusting your style to fit the other person's.

Emails: It's disappointing if an email isn't returned
within 24 hours. It also looks over-eager if emails are
returned within 2-3 hours.So, find a middle ground.
Same with phone calls - always return calls within 24
hours, but don't call back immediately, unless you're on
familiar ground with that special person you're talking
with.

Remember, while liars, cheaters and imposters certainly
ply their craft on the Web, you'll also find them in
nightclubs, among the membership ranks of off-line
dating services, at cocktail parties, and occasionally
sitting across from you at your local café. Regardless
of where, or how, you meet someone, dating is never
a risk-free activity. A little caution will reduce your risk
in these matters of the heart.