Is it just me? S/O

[lookingup]

This is a spinoff of pigeon's "Can someone remind me?" thread.

Am I the only one who thinks there is really no difference in meeting someone on the internet and meeting them face to face in a random place? I mean you could meet a perfect stranger in a bar that could lie to you about his name, what he does, where he lives, how old he is, etc. Is there a reason that you feel it's more dangerous or risky to meet someone from the internet?

[bullygirl979]

No, I agree with you. I meant more is this a stranger vs. a friend of a friend (i.e. could vouch for the guy).

[missbetty1]

I just mentioned "online" because that is how she said she meet him not that it would have made any difference had she met him in person. The guy I met "in person" a little over a week ago still doesn't know my last name let alone where I live. He jokes about it but hey I let him keep joking because I'm not telling him until I know him better...

[doriswe]

I'm super cautious about stuff like this because 1. I have kids at home 2. I worked at Probation and Parole so I know what kind of sickos are out in the world.

It takes me a lot to even give out my last name, let alone let someone into my house!

[heavenly]

I think it is different but not that one is safer over the other. In person, you can visually see how the person carry him/herself vs. online tends to know internal self expressions since it is via typing and then calling.
When you meet the online person face to face, at least you have an idea about who he is before seeing the whole package.
I met my ex via eHarmony and recall I enjoyed my online time with him. This time around, I opt not to date via online or random strangers that are not in my greater circle of friends. Only, because I am still pretty scarred from some scary moments from my past so it just a personal decision and not a general thought.

[bookworm]

Yeah I agree with you. My friend mentioned that she couldn't imagine dating online. I said I don't think it's much different than meeting a guy at a club or bar. They could be a serial killer for all you know in either situation.

[lookingup]

Jun 19, 2012 14:43:57 GMT -5 @missbetty1 said:

I just mentioned "online" because that is how she said she meet him not that it would have made any difference had she met him in person. The guy I met "in person" a little over a week ago still doesn't know my last name let alone where I live. He jokes about it but hey I let him keep joking because I'm not telling him until I know him better...

This makes me feel better. I was really just curious because everyone pointed out that she met him online.

I guess I'm just not too overly cautious, and I'm ok with that.

[stephbfan]

Where I live there is a HUGE stigma with online dating. People say that online dating is for ugly people or serial killers.
Its sad because online dating would make things much easier for me.

I do think lying is easier when you meet someone online though.

[missbetty1]

Jun 19, 2012 14:58:05 GMT -5 lookingup said:

Jun 19, 2012 14:43:57 GMT -5 @missbetty1 said:

I just mentioned "online" because that is how she said she meet him not that it would have made any difference had she met him in person. The guy I met "in person" a little over a week ago still doesn't know my last name let alone where I live. He jokes about it but hey I let him keep joking because I'm not telling him until I know him better...

This makes me feel better. I was really just curious because everyone pointed out that she met him online.

I guess I'm just not too overly cautious, and I'm ok with that.

I think cautiousness is a good thing and very important! The new guy asked me when could he make me dinner I told him July 21st...he said "that far out"... I basically said "Yup dude" lol

[lookingup]

Jun 19, 2012 14:55:16 GMT -5 bookworm said:

Yeah I agree with you. My friend mentioned that she couldn't imagine dating online. I said I don't think it's much different than meeting a guy at a club or bar. They could be a serial killer for all you know in either situation.

Exactly. If a person wants to harm you for some odd reason, they will make it happen regardless of where you meet them or how much information you give them. I mean if you hang out at the same spots regularly, some weirdo could be watching you for weeks and follow you home to find out where you live without you even noticing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm always aware of my surroundings and I don't just give all my information to anyone and their mother, but I would just rather choose to believe that most people are generally good people than the other way around.

ETA: I don't accept drinks from anyone's hands but the bar tender and I don't leave my drinks unattended, either. In case you were wondering.

[dakotadangerdog]

Hah okay you guys are making me feel like I'm reckless or something! With my last boyfriend I met him online, and went to his house on the first date. He came over to my house a few days later. The guy I'm seeing now I went to his house on the second date, he came to mine the third.

I think in my head serial killers are all middle aged so since I only date 27 year olds I'm fine haha.

[missbetty1]

Jun 19, 2012 15:05:05 GMT -5 lookingup said:

Jun 19, 2012 14:55:16 GMT -5 bookworm said:

Yeah I agree with you. My friend mentioned that she couldn't imagine dating online. I said I don't think it's much different than meeting a guy at a club or bar. They could be a serial killer for all you know in either situation.

Exactly. If a person wants to harm you for some odd reason, they will make it happen regardless of where you meet them or how much information you give them. I mean if you hang out at the same spots regularly, some weirdo could be watching you for weeks and follow you home to find out where you live without you even noticing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm always aware of my surroundings and I don't just give all my information to anyone and their mother, but I would just rather choose to believe that most people are generally good people than the other way around.

ETA: I don't accept drinks from anyone's hands but the bar tender and I don't leave my drinks unattended, either. In case you were wondering.

Me too with the drink thing! haahaa

[doriswe]

Jun 19, 2012 15:08:43 GMT -5 dakotadangerdog said:

Hah okay you guys are making me feel like I'm reckless or something! With my last boyfriend I met him online, and went to his house on the first date. He came over to my house a few days later. The guy I'm seeing now I went to his house on the second date, he came to mine the third.

I think in my head serial killers are all middle aged so since I only date 27 year olds I'm fine haha.

I'm shaking my old lady finger at you right now!!!

[dakotadangerdog]

Jun 19, 2012 15:11:52 GMT -5 doriswe said:

Jun 19, 2012 15:08:43 GMT -5 dakotadangerdog said:

Hah okay you guys are making me feel like I'm reckless or something! With my last boyfriend I met him online, and went to his house on the first date. He came over to my house a few days later. The guy I'm seeing now I went to his house on the second date, he came to mine the third.

I think in my head serial killers are all middle aged so since I only date 27 year olds I'm fine haha.

I'm shaking my old lady finger at you right now!!!

I think I'm more afraid of your old lady finger than being murdered on a date lol

[missbetty1]

Jun 19, 2012 15:08:43 GMT -5 dakotadangerdog said:

Hah okay you guys are making me feel like I'm reckless or something! With my last boyfriend I met him online, and went to his house on the first date. He came over to my house a few days later. The guy I'm seeing now I went to his house on the second date, he came to mine the third.

I think in my head serial killers are all middle aged so since I only date 27 year olds I'm fine haha.

No you don't have anything to worry about...we are just a bunch of old paranoid women! LOL...No but seriously it is important to put your safety first

[doriswe]

Jun 19, 2012 15:13:50 GMT -5 dakotadangerdog said:

Jun 19, 2012 15:11:52 GMT -5 doriswe said:

I'm shaking my old lady finger at you right now!!!

I think I'm more afraid of your old lady finger than being murdered on a date lol

lmfao!!!

[pigeonmol]

I kinda can see why some people would be very careful. I feel like yah, I trust easily. Call it my Midwestern upbringing lol. I can see how it can be viewed as reckless. I know I probably should have been less trusting. I have only dated two men in my adult life that were not met online and one of them was a blind date. I did not pick up weird vibes from the guy so, I went with it. But, this isn't the first time I had the guy over (or went to his place) on the first date. I see both sides and will put more hesitation on it in the future ;D

[doriswe]

Ted Bundy was pretty charismatic, just sayin'

[lookingup]

Jun 19, 2012 15:13:50 GMT -5 dakotadangerdog said:

Jun 19, 2012 15:11:52 GMT -5 doriswe said:

I'm shaking my old lady finger at you right now!!!

I think I'm more afraid of your old lady finger than being murdered on a date lol

Hahaha I love it!

I went over to a guy's house on our first hangout, too. We literally just talked for two hours. But he does have a sleeve devoted to Jesus, so maybe that made a difference in my judgement? lol

[stephbfan]

Jun 19, 2012 15:21:30 GMT -5 lookingup said:

Jun 19, 2012 15:13:50 GMT -5 dakotadangerdog said:

I think I'm more afraid of your old lady finger than being murdered on a date lol

Hahaha I love it!

I went over to a guy's house on our first hangout, too. We literally just talked for two hours. But he does have a sleeve devoted to Jesus, so maybe that made a difference in my judgement? lol

I think it should have made you run even faster!

[pigeonmol]

In stark contrast to my date last night, there is this one guy that my mother and I refer to as creepy movie guy. He keeps inviting me over to watch a movie with him. We have never meet or gone on a date. Yah, that guy I do not trust one bit!

[lookingup]

Jun 19, 2012 15:23:24 GMT -5 stephbfan said:

Jun 19, 2012 15:21:30 GMT -5 lookingup said:

Hahaha I love it!

I went over to a guy's house on our first hangout, too. We literally just talked for two hours. But he does have a sleeve devoted to Jesus, so maybe that made a difference in my judgement? lol

I think it should have made you run even faster!

Hahaha he's a really cool guy. He's got lots of other tats too, but it would be kind of scary if they were all religious.

[gozf]

Wow.

I'm going to get a migraine from giving all of this side-eye.