Contributed by: Erika on Friday, September 25 2009 @ 07:03 am
Last modified on
You’ve got something that those young whippersnappers don’t: a lifetime of experience and common sense. But how can you play this to your advantage when it comes to getting back into the dating scene?
Dating has changed since we first ventured out there. While the ideas of courtship aren’t completely dead, the lines of propriety have been blurred. You should never have to worry about your personal safety when it comes to dating, however. By using that lifetime of common sense you’ve accumulated along with a few tips, you’ll be in the mix of things and enjoying the process of getting to know new people. Now, that’s better than worrying, isn’t it? Here’s a list to get you started with safe dating (and while these tips aren’t just for seniors, we won’t tell anyone!) :
Go Public. Especially if you’re on a first date with someone from an online dating site or a blind date, keep your business out in the open. Arrange to meet someone at a local coffee shop or bookstore, some place there will be other people around. It’s also good to set a time limit for your first date ahead of time. If it goes well, there will be plenty of opportunities for that second date. If it’s not a match made in heaven, you’ve told your date from the get-go that someone is expecting you somewhere at a certain time.
Confide in Friends. Whether you’re a guy or a gal, letting a friend know where you’ll be is never a bad idea. Let them in on as much information as possible about the person you’ll be meeting. Recommended information to share is: Name (full, if you have it), email, phone and identifying details about the person. Want an extra layer of protection? Use a camera phone-based application like FaceFile.com (free!). With FaceFile, you can take a photo of your date and it uploads it to a secure database. No one sees the photo, but their likeness is on-file should they decide to be a less-than-respectful date.
What Kind of Disclosure? Be careful about the type of personal information you choose to share with your dates early on. This includes details about income, employer, children’s names, the type of care you drive, where you live and more. The Internet makes it very easy for people to learn more information about you. If the time comes where the person you’re dating has earned the right to more information, your gut will tell you what’s right to share. Early on (and especially the first few dates!) isn’t the time to share deep details.