People will sign up to a dating site for all manner of reasons. They might be hoping to widen their social circle. Perhaps they’re curious about interacting with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. But the main reason for joining dating sites is to meet kindred spirits – other singles seeking a relationship. In the online environment, you have a wide choice of who to connect with, and you can spend time getting to know other site users better, developing a sense of chemistry. But what happens when you decide to meet in the real world? Online dating experts from this website compiled a list of dos and don’ts of going offline.
Do
Keep an open mind about where this might go
While it is only natural to be full of confidence and optimism when the time has come to take your online relationship offline, it is equally important to keep everything in perspective. Don’t automatically assume that you are going to get on like a house on fire, and from this point onwards everything is going to be fantastic. It would be far more advisable to approach matters with a degree of caution, keeping in mind that not every relationship takes off.
Continue your conversation using emails
There is only so much connecting that you can do in the online environment. If you want to make your transition into the real world as seamless as possible, a good idea would be to exchange email addresses. This is a more personal method of communication than simply exchanging messages using the dating site’s default platform. You can be much more intimate, achieving a greater sense of chemistry.
Use online chats as a pointer to offline activities
As you are debating possible date locations with your newfound partner, pay particular attention to comments they have made while you have been engaging in conversations in the online environment. If they have mentioned that they have a passion for musicals or a particular type of cuisine, then this would be an ideal starting point for your offline partnership. If you can suggest meeting up in a suitably relevant date venue, you will gain extra brownie points for having been paying full attention!
Don’t
Present your date with anything unexpected
A crucial point about online dating concerns the profile you initially present to the outside world. Never be attempted to stretch the truth or even claim aspects about your character or interests that are completely untrue. You don’t wish your partner to be taken by surprise by anything when you meet up for your date, or disappointed that you look nothing like the doctored profile photograph you’ve been using!
Divulge your phone number at an early stage
While you might get the impression that you and your prospective partner are getting on fabulously and find yourself inspired to give them your phone number, this would not necessarily be recommended. The exchanging of such an intimate form of communication should only occur once you have established a good rapport, after several dates. If things don’t work out as well as you were anticipating, you could be in a situation where somebody has your phone number who might turn out to be a nuisance.
Let it slip you’ve been snooping
When we are getting to know potential partners, it is often difficult to resist the temptation to do a bit of online detective work. This is a fairly innocuous pastime, and for the most part, we might restrict these activities to giving Facebook posts or Instagram pictures an occasional once-over. But you don’t want to let it slip that you have been taking an active interest in their activities
