It's Best to Become Friends First the Dangers of Dating a Stranger ...

I’ve read enough crime dramas to know that meeting someone you’ve been talking to online isn’t always the best idea. I’m not saying that online dating is all bad or that you can’t meet your soulmate there, but anytime you head out on a date with someone new, it pays to take precautions so you stay safe and have a really fun time. Here’s why it’s dangerous to date a stranger. By that I mean, someone you know nothing about or that hasn’t been introduced to you by a friend or family member. Read: the guy at the club that wants you to go for a midnight drive with him.

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A Violent Physical Attack

Let’s just get this one out of the way first. While it doesn’t happen with every couple that meets online, there are enough cases of victimization to warn you to be very careful. Sometimes a predator will pose as a nice guy online, but when you meet up with him, he may turn into a monster who will violate you or even worse. If you are planning to meet someone, make very sure it’s in a public place until you get to know him better.

Losing Your Valuables

I recently read a story about a woman who was robbed blind by a man she met online. He gained her trust, then came to her home and stole a bunch of her valuable belongings. You can never be sure, but it might be a good idea to introduce this guy to friends before allowing him in your home. Often others can see what you can’t.

Stolen Identity

Identity theft is a very real danger and one that online dating can open you up to. If you are contacted by a hacker (without knowing), your personal online data may be at risk. Additionally, when you meet up with someone you don’t know well, you may wind up with a stolen credit card number or cell phone without suspecting your date. Use caution and take measures to protect your personal data.

How about Hurt Feelings?

At the very least you might wind up on a date with a man who criticizes you or makes fun of you throughout the date. Early dating definitely involves getting to know one another better, but your date should never hurt your feelings. I know this isn’t a life or death danger, but it could happen and that can make dating even more difficult for you. Bottom line – don’t accept date requests from men who don’t seem thoughtful and kind.

Mental Health Status

Many men can make themselves out to be proper gentleman online, but harbor mental health issues that are potentially dangerous. Maybe you meet someone who is kind and funny, but has OCD and will make your life miserable when you spend time together. Or, you are making friends with a schizophrenic who hears voices and can be unpredictable and maybe even dangerous.

Cyberbullying

This is a common problem among teens, but it can also happen to young women online. Cyberbullying is when people harass or stalk you on the Internet. It can be minor like being called names or it can progress until it takes over your entire life. Be very careful what information and which photos you share online because those things can be used to stalk you. People have committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying so use extreme caution.

Future Abusive Relationship

Surely you’ve watched a Lifetime original movie in which the woman meets the man of her dreams, they get married and then he begins to abuse her, either emotionally, physically, or both. Men who are abusers are very tricky and will suck you in and then you’ll have a hard time getting away.

Experts suggest screening potential dates before meeting them and staying in public for the first few dates, just in case. What other precautions would you take when meeting a stranger for the first time?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

To those persons who are offended by #5 probably do not have experience with the mental health population. I worked in the mental health field for 5 years and quite frankly it is an interesting crowd. I once had a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia mention to me that the voices in his head told him to harm me. Another experience I had was I dated a guy with bipolar disorder who was on medication. He constituted to me becoming depressed. He was either high or low and very verbally abusive. There were times I felt fear because I never knew when he would have snapped. I think the author of this article has a very good point for every thing discussed especially where online dating is concerned.

As someone suffers bad her mental health,#5 came off as insensitive though I sure the author wasn't intending it to read that way

@Shel. I do not know you either and yet you are still writing about my without knowing. To some people few things are sacred like relationship and marriage. I come from a good family raised right. Yes i am a bit religious but know one should lure into meeting a girl. Trust me this guy was a sex predator and I will say again YES he was a sex Predator. I would not waste my time and write this. He was looking to rape what does that mean lets go to my room? It is a predatory act when he is meeting me for the first time. I have documented proof of what he did. How he harassed me and also continuing stalking oh yes I get that. It took me a while to get back to this when I saw your comment today. I would not waste my time writing this if this was not true. How ever I am not saying all guys are like that. There are a few guys worth knowing and being friends with. I dont care if you like me or dislike me physical relations will be only with my husband and i will say this again and again! This guy conned me and my friends warned me before not to even meet anybody on line. Oh well i understand how guys time these work and sooner or later they will be caught. If authorities enquire i promise you I will co operate fully i am sure the location matters too. If you dont like my comments just ignore my comments. I am entitled to stating my opinion and actually set good examples for new generation. If you are not ashamed of what you said you should say it literally!

I was raped by my controlling sociopathic ex.He was also schrizopenic and he admits to having people telling him to do things in head.To sum it up, my ex is a narcist, sociopath, schrizopenic and a rapist.Mental illness can be very dangerous and violent sometimes.Im replying to the girls whom believe all or most people with mental disease are harmless especially young men.I was a mentally and physically healthy young woman with a bright future, I suffer from 8 disorders now and some are mental illness due to the traumatic rape.Life is a bitch!

#5 is just rude, the other ones are common sense

I met my fiancé online been together two years. But still got to be careful. I was depressed and suicidal when i signed up to online dating everyone has a story dont we

Always bring cash$$. Just in case I need to go home in a cab.

I feel number #5 is advocating stigma towards mental health

Wtf, How do we edit or delete a comment on here? Haha. I'm on my ipad I accidentally clicked the send buttin. LOL. Anyway what I was trying to say is I sometimes actually envy the state of unaccountabilty these mentally ill people have! Hahaha. I mean, they are actually at the stage wherein they are totally oblivious to pain & suffering right? So... I rest my case... 😆

Scary to say the least... Be careful ladies we just don't know anymore with who we meet online at the grocery store anywhere... Just be careful

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