Date Safely on the Internet

Dating disasters are a part of life. They are caused by a failure of our expectations to match up with reality. This sounds like a mouthful, but its not really. When we date, we are looking for someone who matches our expectations. Someone who we can have a relationship with. When a "potential" fails massively in this regard, a dating disaster is the result.
The dangers of dating have existed forever. They are not new because the internet age has arrived. They exist because dating exposes you to people you don't really know yet. Its as simple as that
When you go on a date with someone incompatible, you have a pretty bad time. Its not fun. But thats the extent of the damage. It costs you one night of your life to learn someone is incompatible with you and that is it. Sometimes though you meet people who are not only incompatible, but are out to harm you for their own benefit. In these situations you could be in danger, your person or property could be at risk. It is from these occasions that dating disaster legends and myths are born.
Apart from the obvious damage these occasions cause for the innocent participant of the date, the recounting of the story creates another issue. Often, when these stories are recounted third and fourth hand, they get worse and worse in the telling. Unfortunately they can leave other people (the ones hearing the tales) scared to date, afraid to go out and meet new people. The loneliness this causes for these other people then becomes an added injury to the one sustained on the date.
When internet came to dating, nothing changed in regards to the dangers of dating. If you are someone who is interested in finding love, at some stage you have to meet people in real life and spend time getting to know them. The only thing the internet changed was the method of introduction.
If you have missed the fact that internet dating is just a forum to meet people, you may make one of the following two mistakes:
1. You think internet dating is actually dating. That is, you forget you only really get to know someone once you meet them in real life and spend time with them.
2. When you meet someone who isn't right for you, you blame the internet rather than the incompatible personality
These mistakes are often exacerbated by a number of niche (but very popular) dating sites in the adult dating industry. Here, finding a no strings sex partner (or partners...) is called dating. It is not dating. In fact, internet dating itself is not dating. All online dating sites are, are introductions services.
Internet dating sites are the modern form of a newspaper ad, the olden days social event, or the blind date set up. Its a forum to meet people. That's all. The quicker you understands this, the safer and more successful your internet dating experiences will be.
When dating, I believe everyone should put safety first. You don't really know the person you are dating yet (Ie. that's the whole point of the exercise), so don't assume they are as trustworthy as you. You can never have a successful dating experience anyway, if you have doubts about your safety. So to help, I'd like to suggest you adhere to the following 6 guidelines when using the internet to help with your dating experience:
1. Understand the role dating sites play. Ie. They are there to help you find people. That's where their purpose ends.
2. Recognise that niche online dating sites attract the personality types they cater to. Only join the ones you think will attract the people you are interested in.
3. Use internet communications as an initial screening process, but not at the expense of your usual real life screening processes and common sense
4. When you progress your dating into the real world (Ie. when you decide to really meet someone you found on the internet) recognise the person you have been communicating with may have been a facade. So approach the situation with the same caution you would with any first date. And start to get to know the person. YES. This is your first date. NO. Those long chat room sessions were not.
5. If you are ever unsure, particularly in the early stages, put safety first.
6. When you have a bad dating experience, learn from it but don't give up. Don't forsake your long term happiness because you met one bad apple. There are plenty of good people out there.

Damian Papworth, concerned with incidences of internet dating predators, promotes safety primarily with online dating, particularly at adult dating sites