Chatrooms are a great place to meet potential friends, and perhaps make new long-term relationships and even better you don't have to dress up and pass visual inspection to go there.
The anonymity of a chatroom means that if you mess up or you don’t want
to continue to get to know him you can just leave the chatroom and don’t
go back or you can change your login nickname. This is not a license to
be obnoxious, but it does give you plenty of room to practice making friends
with strangers.
Here are some tips to help you out when using chatrooms.
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
If you want total control of the information that is too often revealed
to the world through chatrooms, don't use your personal or your work-related
e-mail. You should sign up for an e-mail account specifically to use for
chatting online. You can use a number of free e-mail services.
DON’T REVEAL PRIVATE INFORMATION
Be careful about the information you give in casual conversation. Don’t
give any hint of your work place, your hometown or other personal info
that can be linked to where you come from.
LISTEN TO YOUR HEAD
Use your common sense and judgment. If someone sounds creepy or a bit
dodgy, there’s a good chance they are. If your flirting is getting a bit
out of hand, speak up or change your e-mail address and nickname.
BE HONEST
If you want people to be open and honest with you, you must also do the
same. You don’t have to go into personal details but don’t pretend to
be someone your not otherwise you will only attract the people that are
looking for the type of person you are pretending to be.
DON’T EXPECT TOO MUCH
Remember that you are using a chatroom so you have no idea what this person
really looks like or what his personality is like. You may build a mental
image of him. Don’t because 9 out 10 you will be wrong and will feel disappointed
if he doesn’t live up to your expectations. Keep an open mind and you
won’t be disappointed.
DEVELOP COMMON ACTIVITIES
Make dates with each other to share activities, like playing online games
or sharing a forum. Talk about how long you expect to communicate online
before meeting.
DON’T FAKE PHOTOS
If you decide to swap pictures, send a current picture, which is flattering,
but doesn't hide or distort your true appearance. Misleading pictures
are probably the leading cause of disappointments in relationships that
start on the Internet. What ever you do make sure that you give him a
photo of you and not someone else or you’ll never be able to meet him
because he will think you are someone else. Don’t rely on the first image
you see in his online personals.
MEETING
If You get to the point in your online relationships where you decide
you want to meet each other, arrange to meet in public where you will
be comfortable and safe. Meet in a busy place, over coffee or a casual
meal. Be prepared in case you don’t like him and have a back up plan.
Ask a friend to phone you an hour after meeting him and you can tell her
you will phone her later if you two are getting on well. If you aren’t
getting on well you can make an excuse and leave. Remember to always let
someone know where you are at all times.