The e-mail is flying back and forth, and you think -- no, you know -- it's love. Maybe so. But it may also be time to take a step back and assess the situation, according to cyberlove experts. An article from ABC News says that online dating options are increasing at a healthy pace.
Some are services that try to hook people up based on preferences and similarities. Others are online personal ads, some of which include photos.
Psychologist Kate Wachs, who owns an introduction service and works for AOL's relationship section, notes that dating can be hard work, and having the online options ease the sense of desperation some feel upon being single. But she adds, there can be pitfalls.
First, she says, some people will lie. They make a lot of money, they look like Heath Ledger, they dance like Fred Astaire. Maybe. Or it could be nothing but falsehood. She also says e-mail can create a false sense of intimacy, one that wouldn't survive the rigors of real world dating.
The article emphasizes using caution. Don't give out specific identifying information until you are sure of who you are meeting. Set up the first meeting in a public place. Let people know when you are leaving and when you expect to be back from your first date.
For more dating safety tips, you can read this article from HomeArts. After reading that, if you still want to give it a try, you can check out these links from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Dating and Relating.
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