Internet dating is a novel invention that provides a quick way to meet new people with many advantages compared to traditional dating.
So, you’ve dipped your toe into the wild waters of internet dating. Maybe it didn’t quite go how you pictured it. No fireworks. No “you complete me” moment. Just… crickets. Or worse, weird messages from people named DragonSlayer911.
Don’t toss your phone into the sea just yet. Sometimes, the problem isn’t you – it’s just a few sneaky missteps that get past even the best of us.
Let’s chat about a few of those little dating slip-ups. You know, the kind that sneak in, mess things up, and leave you wondering why no one ever messages back. Dodge these, and your love life might just start doing the cha-cha instead of the sad trombone.
Profile Photo mistakes:
- You will need at least one photo with your face totally visible.
- A profile that stands out above the rest will usually have many photos.
- Smile on your photos. You want to project a positive, approachable image.
- Avoid photos with other people in them. Other daters may not know who you are because there is multiple people in the photos.
- Don’t post photos that are many years old or of someone else. If you eventually meet new people they may feel cheated if you don’t look like your photos and your first meeting with them will in all likely hood be your last.
- Don’t post photos with you absent in them. Posting photos of objects or something other than yourself makes no sense. It won’t make a positive addition to your profile.
- Make sure that you have quality photos. Photos taken with a camera that are 20 years old may not make the cut. Use a modern digital camera or mobile phone with a good camera.
Profile Mistakes & Online Communications
- Poor spelling and grammar. Make sure you use proper spelling and grammar when creating your profile and when messaging online. Bad spelling or improper language could give the other person a bad impression.
- Being nasty or rude. Being nasty or rude will only result in you being ignored. Nobody has time for nasty or rude people.
- Giving out your number and contact details to soon. Don’t give out your number to soon – If someone asks you for your contact details, make sure that you take time to get to know the person before disclosing any personal information. Ideally you should have built a reasonable amount of trust with the other person.
- Never give out personal information. Never give out your physical address, banking details, credit card details or other personal information. Keep your personal information private. Never provide any information to the other party that you would normally not provide to a stranger. Never, never, never give money to anyone you meet online.
The First Date When You Meet New People – Personal Safety Mistakes
- Not telling someone where you’re going. Always tell a friend or family member who you are meeting and where you will be meeting them. Ask your friend or family member to check up on you at a certain time to make sure you are fine when the date is finished.
- Never meet someone at their house or your own living space. The ideal meeting place is in a public area with lots of people around. Examples of places like these are coffee shops, restaurants, bars, etc.
- Never leave your drink or food un-attended. The other person might drug you. Remember that the other person is a total stranger and you don’t really know them that well.
- Never ignore your own gut feelings. If you feel unsafe with the other person for any reason whatsoever, leave immediately. If he is following you, drive to the nearest police station.
The First Date – Other Mistakes
- Be positive, enjoy yourself and have fun. Forget about any kind of stigma Internet dating may have. The other person you are meeting is a real person just like you.
- Share the conversation. Never dominate the conversation. Let the other person talk and listen to them with interest. People find other people that listen to them with interest very interesting.
- Keep the conversation light and fun. No need to dive into deep stuff like politics or religion. That’s heavy, and it can throw off the vibe real quick. Instead, ask simple questions. Tell a small story. You’re just feeling things out, right? It’s like dipping your toes in the water before the full dive. Maybe there’s a spark. Maybe not. But you’ll never know unless you give it a real shot.
- Avoid alcohol. Getting drunk in this scenario will most definitely not be a good idea and may end in unintended consequences.
- Leave text messages, phone calls, etc. for another time when you are alone. The only time when a phone call or text message would be fine would be if you’re checking up on your kids or something else that could be deemed as really important. Make sure you apologize for interruptions if they occur. You don’t want the other person feeling unimportant because you’re busy with your phone halfway through the date.
- Don’t curse. Always mind your manners. You want to portray what a good mannered gentleman or lady you are at all times.
