Online dating for all species
Online Dating - Tips and Safety
1. Creating a profile: An interesting profile will ensure more messages!
1. Creating a profile: An interesting profile will ensure more messages!
Plan your profile - Think about what you actually want to say. Be clear and to the point. Adding too much detail can sometimes be boring. You also want to retain some mystery! However, too little can be seen as an unclear profile or a lack of genuine interest on your part.
Be honest. It keeps disappointment to a minimum for yourself and with whomever you are corresponding.
Remember to protect your privacy. Do not give out any personal contact details i.e. your phone number, address or e-mail address, or where you work.
Feel free to have a look at profiles posted by other members to give you an idea of what you are looking for, and how you can develop your own profile.
Post a photo! It is more likely that you will get a genuine response. Make sure you post a photo of yourself alone (you can use our cropping functions if you need to separate yourself out of a group photo). Remember to smile - you won't believe the difference it makes. Also, ensure the photo you post is a recent and true likeness of yourself.
2. General cnline advice
This site has been designed to offer you a safe environment in which to meet people. We screen all submitted profiles and do not allow offensive content. We also monitor the chat rooms and can ban members if they are ruining things for other members.
There are a few things to keep in mind when chatting online.
Always remember that everyone online is anonymous, everything you are told may not be true
Do not give out your main email address. When you are ready to communicate off the site with another member it is still advisable to use a yahoo or hotmail account rather than a work or home address that includes your last name.
Do not give out your home, work or mobile numbers until you feel you can trust the person with whom you are corresponding.
Never divulge any personal information that could assist in finding out where you live. Your last name and the area you live in is all that is needed for a determined person to find out more about you.
If another member is pestering you, use your Blocking option to prevent them from having any further contact with you.
3. Safety when meeting up
When it comes to meeting another member face to face, take some time to exchange several messages beforehand, and follow some basic advice to ensure your safety.
First and foremost, always trust your own instincts. If you have any doubts, call the meeting off. You can always rearrange the date for another time.
Always remember to be rational with your expectations. Someone you have been chatting with online may not be what you expect in person.
Let somebody know where you are going, and who you are meeting. Even if it is a note or an e-mail. Better still, ask someone to call you at a certain time to check you are alright. Try and let them know when you will be home.
Always meet your date in a busy public place, perhaps a bar, tourist attraction or café (see our dating suggestions area for some ideas). You can always move the date on somewhere else if you feel comfortable. Lunchtime meetings for the first date are always a good idea as you have a great excuse of getting back to work if things aren't going that well!
Until you feel you know your date well enough, do not feel obliged to invite them to your home or go to their home.
Above all, be sensible! Use your common sense, and think about the basic rules of personal safety. It's not over the top to have a certain level of suspicion.
Unfortunately, there has been a terrible increase in the use of 'date rape drugs' such as Rohypnol. Never leave your glass unattended. In light of recent developments in this field, the police are advising that cigarettes can also contain drugs which could lead to you being more vulnerable than you want to be. Use your common sense.
