I had a colleague once who was dating online. He had met a woman a couple of times for coffee, then arranged to go on a real date to a concert. He suggested they take his car. She countered that she’d prefer to take separate cars and meet there.
He was so insulted. To his mind she was treating him like a criminal. As far as he was concerned, if she didn’t trust him then he’d have nothing to with her.
If you’re a man who shares this point of view, here’s another one to consider:
Three dates does not make you a trusted friend. It makes you a new acquaintance.
Now consider this:
1) Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted (U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey)
2) 1 out of 6 women have been victims of rape or attempted rape (National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.)
3) 73% of sexual assaults were committed by a non-stranger (U.S. Department of Justice)
So the next time a woman you’ve met online is hesitant to trust you, understand that the more she trusts you, the greater her risk of assault. Here are just some of the online dating safety tips that women are encouraged to follow and that a good suitor needs to be conscientious about:
1) Exchange emails before meeting in person because they’re a great way to pick up on red flags.
2) Don’t give out your phone number. Opt to do the calling instead and block your number.
3) Meet in a public place and have a friend call you to make sure you’re feeling comfortable.
4) Never leave your drink unattended.
5) Never get in a car with a new acquaintance.
6) When you head home, be sure you’re not being followed.
Keep in mind this is a short list of safety tips. There are so many and every single one is important to a woman’s well being. So if you’re out with a female who you’ve just met, be grateful that she considers you worthy of taking a risk. And by the way, however small that risk may be, remember that the consequence to her could be life changing.
For more information on safety tips for women, please read Online Dating Safety Tips Every Woman Needs To Know. I wrote it in collaboration with my local police department.
A tip of an entirely different kind.
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