Your 10 Online Dating Safety Tips

The best way to stay secure when using online dating services is to ensure your anonymity. There many information websites and services out that make it easy for internet savvy folks to find you via your email, phone, or address. You can stay anonymous and guard your privacy with these ten tips to stay safe when online dating. 

1) Stay anonymous in your profile. When writing your online dating profile, make sure that you stay completely anonymous. You can give potential dates information about your personality, but never, ever reveal any information that gives them any indication as to where you live or how to get in touch with you. 

2) Sign up for a release email address. Visit Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail to sign up for a release email address. By signing up for a free email address, you ensure that you stay in control of communicating with potential online dating partners. If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can close the release account and conclusion communications. Be sure to make sure that the email address you chose doesn't reveal anything personal about yourself. 

3) Keep your address private. Never reveal your genuine name , home address, or phone number until you're completely comfortable in doing so. Make sure that you communicate via email until you feel comfortable with your potential date. 

4) Get a P.O. box and/or unlisted phone number. You might need to sign up for a p.o. box at your local post office and/or unlist your phone numeral . Your safety is extremely important and signing up for these gives you added safety. 

5) Do not use sexy references. When selecting your email address or user name , steer clear of any 'sexy' names. You'll get noticed by using one, but generally by the wrong folks . 

6) Tell the truth. You need to protect yourself, but be honest at the same time. Let your potential dates get to know your personality, your likes and dislikes, and your thoughts and feelings. Do not let them know your private information such as location or anything that would identify you. You might also be nervous about using a photo, but rest assured that it's ok to do so as long as you keep your other private information out of your profile. 

7) Trust your gut. If you feel unsure, threatened, or uncomfortable, DO NOT respond to any further communication. You know when you feel uncomfortable. If you feel that way when talking to a person at the beginning, it's not going to change and you might be putting yourself further in danger. 

8) Beware of the red flags. Watch out for obvious 'red flags' when talking to people that you have met through online dating. If they're acting suspicious, they probably are not who they say they are. Use common sense and you'll be safe . You can view several online dating red flags here. 

9) Use your email block note . If you're uncomfortable with any email or IM messages from a member of the dating services, use your block note to keep them from contacting you again in the future. 

10) Don't be afraid to report them. If you come across any potential dates that are lying, threatening, or mis-using the services, report them to the company.

How to Resolve Dating Conflicts

When you go on a date, it is important to be able to resolve any conflicts that may occur. Two of the most common conflicts that occur on dates deal with race and religion. If you're dating a person that follows a different faith than you, it is important to realize that they'll have a belief system that might dramatically differ from your own. Both you and the person you're dating must have an open mind. 

If you do not, this will cause problems that can not only make the date unpleasant, but it can too halt the relationship from progressing. The same conflicts can occur among partners who come from different racial or cultural backgrounds. To resolve any conflict that you might encounter on a date, it is first necessary to have an open mind. Pushing your belief system on another person is an immature form of behavior, and it is something you will want to avoid at all costs. 

As you date someone, they might make a comment or a statement that you don't agree with. How you respond to it is very important . If you are too harsh or blunt, you might hurt the feelings of the other person. If your date states that they feel a certain way about an issue, ask them why they feel this way. Asking them this is much more mature than saying "I don't consent with you," or "that doesn't make any sense." 

More often than not, an individual will elaborate on an opinion they have. You can tell them that you understand why they would feel that way, but you're not sure you agree . You can then elaborate on the previous sentence to explain why. The best way to avoid conflicts on dates is to be open with the person you are dating. Don't be so set in your way of existence that you are unwilling to see at things from the perspective of another person. 

When you behave in this way, you'll limit yourself, and you may lose out on an opportunity to construct a powerful relationship. No matter what the differences are in-between you and your date, you should see past these differences and focus on what the two of you've in common. This can allow you to build a strong relationship.

Online Dating, The 4 Unwritten Rules Revealed

With over 40 million folks having ventured into the online dating arena, it would be a gross understatement to say that Internet dating is big business. I'm sure you're aware that you must protect your privacy on the Internet - you know better than to provide personal information and to trust any Tom, Dick or Harry that comes along. 

But did you know that online dating too has unwritten rules and that adhering to these rules is crucial to your online dating success? 

Lower Your Expectations 

Unfortunately, over 95% of those who enter the online dating scene do not actually find their match. These are the people who throw in the towel after a couple of disappointing dates. It is important that you persist . Online dating is a process. Finding the right person will likely take time and persistence. This means you will need to have a lot of patience to search, screen, email, chat and date before you succeed. Therefore, it is important that you keep your expectations low. After all, would you not rather be pleasantly surprised than deeply disappointed? 

 Take Your Time to Respond 

Your instincts will probably tell you to respond to emails from prospective dates right away ... But let me tell you that you need to slow down. You do not need to come across too eager or desperate and taking your time to reply will also allow you to formulate a thoughtful and appropriate response. Responding during the weekend and on holidays is also one thing you need to avoid to maintain the right image. 

Be Yourself 

When you compose your online dating profile, it isn't unthinkable that you might be tempted to tell little white lies. Whether it concerns your age, altitude , weight, hobbies or career - don't give in to temptation! Trust is necessary in all relationships and you don't need to risk sabotaging what might be a great one early on, do you? 
Once you meet him or her , the truth will come out and you can say farewell to living "happily ever after" together. Additionally, lying requires a great memory and will add unnecessary stress to what ought to be a fun and enjoyable online dating situation. So do not do it! 

Ladies, Let Yourself be Chased 

It is a cliche because it is true: men are born hunters, so let them hunt. Yes, this is the 21st century, you have equal rights and to all intent and purposes, we live in a civilized society. Nevertheless, don't chase him per email. Instead, be enigmatic and sophisticated and let him come to you. Trust me, being chased will enhance your online dating experience! Thanks to the Internet, the world has shrunk to a single neighborhood. 
The teenager or female next door that you need to date may actually reside in another country or in a suburb close by. Online dating makes all of this possible. Keep in mind these unwritten rules as you cast out your net and you'll certainly increase your chances of landing that one fish that you are searching for!

Tips to Improve Relationship Skills

Have you ever been to a function in a room full of strangers and discovered yourself lost for words? The art of introducing yourself to others and creating small talk may come natural for some, but most people confess to feeling shy, embarrassed and don't know where to start . There are four levels of communication: Small talk , fact disclosure, share viewpoints and opinions and share personal opinions. 

1) Small Talk - In new relationships or acquaintances the safest place to start is to opposite about surface issues. For instance, make a comment about the weather, current events or the surroundings you're in. This is called 'small talk', and is used to 'size up' the other person to determine the comfort zone in-between the two of you. 

There is no need to disclose any personal information with the other person at this stage, as this initial interaction assists you to determine how 'safe' they are on your first meeting. If you are comfortable with each other at a surface level you can easily slip into the next level of communication: fact disclosure

2) Fact Disclosure - Fact disclosure is slightly deeper than small talk in that you disclose facts about yourself without triggering topics of emotional interest. The purpose of fact disclosure is to find out if you have one thing in common. You can use these common areas to build a friendship. You may need to talk about your career, occupation, hobbies, or where you live. 

Avoid topics like marriage, divorce, politics, sex and religion in this second level of communication. If you find a topic of mutual interest you may need to progress to the next level of communication: sharing viewpoints and opinions. 

3) Share Viewpoints and Opinions - Once you've established that the other person is 'safe' through tiny talk , and have discovered areas of common interest, you can construct rapport by sharing your opinions and viewpoints. By sharing your viewpoints and opinions you permit yourself to become susceptible to the scrutiny and objections of the other person. 

Enter this level of communication once you're comfortable that you both share positive feelings through the first two levels. Be prepared to hear to the opinions of your unused ally . This will enable your friendship to survive. Make sure you don't use your opinions as a form of 'character assassination' of other folks . You might be thought of as a negative person and this may cause your new friend to distance himself/herself from you. 

The fourth level of communication is sharing personal feelings. Solid friendships over time generally enter this fourth level of communication. 

4) Share Personal Feelings - After building upon believe , finding things in common and listening to the viewpoints and opinions of others, you might be able to share your personal feelings. This is when an acquaintance becomes a genuine ally . Things of deep value to you can be shared lacking feeling threatened. You listen closely to each other without the need to 'solve' your friend's problem. 

You are happy to reflect their feelings back to them forming a bond of empathy and compassion between the two of you. At this level of communication, it is necessary that you provide a little distance between yourself and your friend . If the distinction in-between yourself and your ally becomes unrecognizable, it is possible for your relationship to go sour. 

If you know how to handle your own feelings, attitudes and behaviors while maintaining your friendship at this level, you will construct a successful friendship that can last a lifetime.