Online Relationships

If you want to be one of the lucky ones who makes it to a success story on the site, no matter the distance involved with your potential mate, follow dating and relationship rituals and rules that you would otherwise follow with someone you met in person, but with a few addendums.

If you find someone who really sparks your attention and vice versa, move to your favourite chat program, email, webcam or phone.  It doesn’t matter if they live two kilometres away or 2,000 kilometres away, get to know the person first through the internet, no matter how excited you are.  It is better for everyone involved to ensure that both of you are compatible.  If that works out and you are confident in your new suitor, move on to an in-person meeting.  Do something simple like going out to dinner or going bowling, whatever makes both of you feel comfortable.

If things blossom after a few meetings, the closer the both of you are geographically, the merrier.  It is far easier to have a relationship with someone who is closer than with someone who is an ocean away.  If you feel strongly enough for someone who is quite some distance away, keep up with the above mentioned tactics to maintain communication, maybe a bit more often than before.  But if you are to be successful and take things to a potential life-long partnership level, try to meet up in person as much as possible.  The next step, if it’s really serious, would be for one of you to relocate.

Safety

Another concern, especially for women, is the safety of these sites.  Will you meet a complete creep in person who was lying to you the entire time you were exchanging emails?  I cannot guarantee that you will not meet someone who fits that description, but if you meet in a public place, the risk is minimal.  Many paid sites (and the occasional unpaid site) will run a background check on new members when they sign up, usually including a criminal history and checking to see if they are legally married.  If they do not pass either litmus test, they will not be allowed to join.  Before you sign up though, read the fine print to ensure that your chosen site goes to such lengths to ensure your safety.