The Web Wizard

Not unlike buying a pair of shoes or joining a social networking site, gay dating online can be fun and exciting. It is also necessary to take some precautions before getting started to ensure that online gay dating is a positive and safe experience for all involved. By following a few simple tips, your personal information as well as your feelings can be protected when entering the online gay dating scene.

The first task is to make sure that your computer is armed with the latest and most effective antivirus software. This will help weed out disreputable sites that may compromise one’s computer and sensitive information. The next step would be to seek a reputable, legitimate lesbian or gay dating service. It is important to do your research before publishing a profile on any dating site. Seeking online reviews and especially bad press should turn up any red flags. 

Once a service has been selected, it is infinitely important to create a strong original password to prevent hacking. After the profile has been created and you are ready to receive responses from prospective gay or lesbian partners, it may be wise to create a separate email address to receive those responses. It is also important not to include your name or any personal information in the email address. This is not only a good way to make sure that your personal email inbox is safe, but it is also a good way to track emails from possible matches.

If you have got to the first date stage in your online dating journey, you are doing well. To make sure things continue to go smoothly, here is some advice about things to avoid on your first date.

It sounds obvious, but it is surprising how many people do the ‘fashionably late’ thing on first dates. Being late is rude and creates a bad first impression. You could be just about to meet the love of your life – do you really want to start off on the wrong foot?

Ladies, don’t wear anything too seductive and sexy, it may create the wrong impression. Same goes for gentlemen, don’t wear shirts open to the navel to show off your six-pack.

If you are dining in a restaurant on your first date, don’t split hairs over the bill. Most dating couples agree to go halves on the first date.

Remember your manners. It is impolite to be making or taking mobile ‘phone calls whilst on a date. Don’t be impolite to waiters or bar staff. Acting rudely to service staff will reflect badly on you and your date will not be impressed.

Some topics of conversation are off-limits, especially ex-partners and money. Maybe when you get to know each other better, these subjects can be dusted off. Most of all, try your hardest to prevent silences. Throw in questions, talk about the weather, the last film you saw- anything. Silences can ruin a date.

Going on your first date well prepared with all this advice committed to memory, you are virtually guaranteed a happy outcome.

Many dating sites offer advice on everything from creating a profile to introducing your children to a potential mate. However, some questions about protocol in the early stages of connecting with someone can cause a sense of panic. One of these is when to move up to a new level in a relationship.  

A common question for online dating is: when does a couple graduate from email correspondence to a phone conversation? Before a phone call, one tends to “hear” the other person’s voice in your head, and the reality of someone’s voice can be a surprise. Therefore, it is important to forego any preconceived notions and embrace the true self of the person on the other end of the line. 

 Make sure you feel extremely comfortable with a person before sharing a phone number. Once the two of you answer all the first date questions in email and move past that point into deeper discussions, it might be time for the important phone call. It is vital that both of you recognise that there will be a certain awkwardness to a phone call that disappeared from email correspondence a long time ago.  

However, never give your phone number out unless you feel extremely comfortable. If there is any doubt in your mind, stick to emailing or try the dating site’s chat function before having an actual telephone conversation. A phone conversation is a unique opportunity to establish a deeper connection as a prelude to the first face-to-face meeting.

In a first date situation it is all too easy to be judgemental about looks, but it is personality that is important in a partner and a good personality will shine through and make a girl all that more attractive if she is right for you.

Make sure you choose somewhere that will make you both feel comfortable when you meet for the first time.  The best advice for any first meeting is just to be honest, to take your time, and to ask lots of questions about her to get the best impression of her and allow yourself the best chance of seeing what she is like.

Decide on an outfit for your evening, and don’t leave it till the last minute.  Be confident, but remember to listen to her and not be over-confident so as to put her off or give her the impression that you are arrogant.

Online dating these days incorporates all sorts of features such as live chat and video calls, so you will probably have a good idea of what she is going to be like before you meet up.  But remember – you can afford to be picky.  Don’t go on a date unless you are sure there is something there, or it will just end up being awkward and, quite frankly, a waste of time and money.  The world of online dating is so vast you’ll be able to meet someone perfect, so don’t settle for anything less.