How dangerous is it to meet people off the internet?

[lightningandsnow]

Just kind of a hypothetical question.

I mean, I was always told that you NEVER EVER EVER meet someone from online, but you guys have meetups and all seem to be OK.

I'm a wee bit confused.

[TZ]

1. I think that you need to be careful

Most of the meetups we do are in public forums. I have occasionally done a online date thing..Same deal, meet somewhere public.
You can meet people offline..You just need to take precautions.:)

[madinmaryland]

9. Especially when turtlensue is involved!!1!!

:P

[TZ]

10. Pfft!

So we get to the REAL truth on why you wussed out on my get together! You are afraid of me!:P

[madinmaryland]

13. ...

You can never be to sure about redskin fans who have been spurned by Tono Romo (and Jessica Romo)

:rofl:

:hi:

[XemaSab]

2. I haven't had a problem

You need to use common sense though, and not like, agree to meet someone in a dark alley in the sketchy part of town.

I mean, hell, I've gone to stay with people on the other side of the country and haven't had a problem, but they were people I'd "known" online for a while. :shrug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear AspieGrrl...

You know, I guess I have been incredibly lucky...

But I have met some absolutely wonderful people here, who are now friends off the board...

I have never had a problem. EVER.

But I remember one friend telling me, a long time ago...

Meet in a public place...

And talk on the phone before meeting...

If there's any hint of something not right, cancel!

I've always done those things, and I've never had a problem.

:hug:

[CreekDog]

4. You can meet me in a dark alley ;)

but don't try that with anyone else, some of them are DuStrange. :crazy:

[bicentennial_baby]

5. I did that once...and now...

I'm married to him! :rofl:

[arbusto_baboso]

6. A few tips (which some other seem to have covered a bit)...

1) ALWAYS meet in a public place.

2) ALWAYS tell someone else where you are going to be and set-up a time when you check-in with them. If you don't check-in, have your friend call the authorities to report you missing and possibly endangered.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. It's not safe unless you invite them to your house, way late at night, when your parents are gone.

And make sure not to tell anyone that you're meeting someone.




:P

No, of course don't do that. As others said, make sure you meet them in a public place, let other people know what you're doing (and maybe even bring a friend), and do it during the day when that public place will actually have enough people to be public.

I've had some great meetups with DUers that way.

[BeachBaby]

8. I bit the bullet and tried it two years ago......

he just officially moved in with me a couple weeks ago! :)

[Mike03]

11. Please be very, very careful.

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea at all, based on what I've seen.

But I have on rare occasion seen it work out well, when two people live in fairly close proximity and meet under neutral circumstances--with loved ones such as parents/brothers/sisters fully aware of how to contact both parties by phone.

Just please be cautious.

Transparency is a good policy.

[billyskank]

12. People off the internet have invited me into their home.

Neither I nor they came to grief.

[Haole Girl]

14. When you are young...

Very.

Watch a couple of episodes of America's Most Wanted. I dare you. Then, get back to me on that. ;-)

[Mr Creosote]

15. Well...

I met someone I only knew from the internet. And married her (and it wasn't a dating site either).

[LeftyMom]

16. I would answer if that crazed axe murderer flvegan hadn't killed me and fed the body to his dogs.

Needless to say, that worked out fine. But half the internet (and a few IRL people) knew where I was going.

[pitohui]

17. how dangerous is it to meet people IRL? it's exactly the same

people are people, and everybody is online these days, so you have the full spectrum of humanity

often times it is safer to meet someone after you have discussed with them online for some time, because if they are really a crazy, you can tell by the frequency and intensity of their emails and PMs and you can give them the brush-off before ever meeting them in person -- or before ever revealing your real name!

i've met tons of people IRL that i first met online, these days, if you don't ever meet people from online, you're prob. the oddball

[Forkboy]

18. You could meet someone like me...so it's pretty dangerous.

:evilgrin:

[Connonym]

19. as a minor I would tell someone to never, ever, ever meet someone from online

but as an adult one hopes you have good judgment and have figured out a bit about how to tell when people are bullshitting you. But always, always meet in a very public place and let people know where you're going and who you're meeting. I've done the internet dating thing, always in a neutral public place and I've never felt any danger signals go off. To tell you the truth only one time in my life have I ever had a "blind" date that creeped me out and he was the friend of a coworker which turned out to be a scary thing because he started stalking me at work. I guess the moral of the story is that there are weirdos anywhere and not just on the internet. Use good judgment and never, ever, ever, ever, ever meet with someone in secret or in a nonpublic place regardless of whether you met them online, in the line at Starbucks or walking your dog in the park.

Just be cautious and don't give out too much personal information. Oh and if you know someone who works for the police department have them run a search (I'm not even kidding, I have a friend who works for the city who will run checks on potential dates -- it's all legal public knowledge information so there's no violation of the law or privacy, but you can find out all sorts of stuff about whether they pay child support, whether they've been in jail, etc.)