Gay Online Dating Services: Playing It Safe By David Faulkner | 24-10-2007 http://www.goarticles.com

Many of the people who use gay online dating services tend to be more careful in their participation than those who are involved with straight dating services. Why?

It may be that they have not yet come out to their family and friends; they may be cautious because they are concerned about STDs and the histories of the people they meet online; or it could simply be that they never know when they are sharing with other gay, or with homophobes who intends to do them harm. It has been known to happen, and with unfortunate frequency.

Exercising Caution

If you have decided to join a gay online dating service, you can take some steps to protect yourself. Take as much time as you need to become comfortable with the idea of a face-to-face meeting with another member. To not be too quick to provide any personal details which will make it easy for another person to identify you; you can be truthful in the details you do provide, but caution in their specifics.

Any members of a gay online dating site who are genuinely interested in pursuing a relationship with you will understand your initial caution, and not pressure you. While you may swap photos with one another, you should limit your other correspondence to the website or email. When both of you are comfortable enough with the idea, you can begin to have telephone conversations; and you are as comfortable on the phone as you were in corresponding, continue to spend time talking.

Meeting Each Other

Even when you are thoroughly comfortable on the phone and decide to arrange a face-to-face meeting, proceed with caution. Always choose a very public setting for your first get-together, where help will be available if anything is amiss. Before you leave for your meeting, make sure you leave clear details about where you have gone, and with whom. That way someone will know where to begin looking for you is something goes wrong.

If you decide to take a walk together, do so in a public area, and know what you intend to do if you start to get a red-flag feeling from your situation.

Gay online dating services have provided many lesbians and gays with loving, committed partners, and they may do the same for you. But you will have a much better chance of that happening if you exercise a few precautions while you are exploring your new relationship.