When dating anyone, whether online, a friend of a friend or someone you just met it is important to know what the “red flag” warnings are when to leave. Anger, jealousy, lying, deception and drunkenness are all obvious traits to avoid, and here are some more just for online daters.
When dating online, if you get a response that doesn’t specifically identify you, your photo or interests, it is possible that you just got a form letter. If it feels impersonal, and everything you ever wanted to hear, be cautious. To-good-to-be-true usually is.
Talking about sex or asking for a phone number right away is also a red flag. There is usually some flirtation that goes on when getting to know someone online. If someone wants to bypass all the online stuff for real interaction, then why did they join the site? It’s why you are here, to get to know someone safely before you decide to meet.
Look for restrictions in their profile. If there is a long list of what they don’t want, those traits can clue you in to things you’ll deal with in a relationship with this person. If they are very specific- must be 5’7 to 5’8, 125 to 130 pounds- then they aren’t really looking for sparks. Be wary of those looking for perfection. Whether it’s a high-income demand or a specific set of physical guidelines, even if you meet these standards this may not be a good person to date.