Articles by Richard T. Kessinger

Even though online dating is one of the safest ways to meet people, there are some rules you should follow such as: always wait two weeks or more before giving out your telephone number, talk on the phone before meeting in person, meet only in public places when first meeting, beware of tricks and date rape drugs if drinking alcohol, be honest and careful with personal information you share, and don't say something about yourself that's not true.

If you want a response, a picture of yourself is helpful. The picture should be not give away information that could be used against you later. Without a photo, you may send a message that you are hiding something or that you are unattractive.

From downright good, honest, hard working, innocent people to city slickers, criminals, ex- cons, sexual predators, and others, you have to be very careful when using online dating services. If you've heard, 'You get what you pay for', well then, this applies even more so, to online dating.

Find an online dating service that does not limit you to fully explain who you truly are. Profiles that only contain check boxes and multiple choices offer limited choices to choose from and don't provide a chance for people to get an idea of who you are.

It looks like online dating is going to be a permanent option. Before online dating was invented, most people met strangers in bars and just hoped that something positive would develop from the encounter.

Be careful when you give out your phone number to someone you meet online. Some people on the Internet may use your number against you. Make sure you use all of the safety measures needed to confirm that the person you are talking to is honest, trustworthy, and not scamming you or your phone number.

One rule of thumb that you should use is to chat with someone for at least 14 days before giving that person your telephone number. There are numerous creepy people and criminals of all kinds on the internet.

Although online dating offers you a larger number of people to meet and choose from, it also means that there are more chances to compromise your personal information and identity if you are not careful.

When putting together your profile, you want your photo to say a thousand good things about you. If it doesn't then you have to explain to the reader in your own words, who you are, inside and out. You want the reader to get the best impression of you possible.

Remember, if you think this guy's too slick, he's probably married. If you wonder why you haven't met any of his friends or family, since you've met him two weeks ago, he's probably married. If this guy's just too secretive and doesn't tell you where he lives, he's probably married.