by David Perkins

Created on: June 28, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2008

Surviving The Gift-Giving Minefield In A New Online Relationship

As internet activity begins to mesh more seamlessly into our everyday lives, we start to take note, not only of the differences, but of the similarities that online pursuits share with their offline counterparts. Offline and online dating, while very different in many ways to be sure, also share many of the same protocols. Most of the same rules of etiquette still apply, even when your date is being conducted in cyberspace. At the same time, online dating has given rise to many new conventions designed to help us adapt to the realities of conducting such intimate personal relationships in a virtual world.

It's no wonder, then, that most of us still have a few questions about what is, and is not, correct behavior when conducting, what we hope will become, a romantic online relationship. We've written, and read, lots of articles on how to conduct yourself safely online, how to tailor your manners and your sense of humor so that you won't be misunderstood, and how present yourself in the best possible light, while still being honest with potential new online friends. But, what about the etiquette of gift-giving in an online relationship? What are the rules? Are there any rules? Well, we haven't seen anyone address these questions, so we figured, "Why not us?" We're as unqualified as anyone!

I Think We Like Each Other. What Next?

Once you've established a rapport with someone on the internet, and made the transition to an online 'courtship', to use an old-fashioned term, it's only natural that you feel a need to connect with this person in a more tangible way, with a token of your admiration. But which token? How much should it cost? How personal should it be?

Exchanging gifts, in a new relationship, is always an exercise in navigating choppy waters, online or not. But with an online romance, you may feel as though you don't know the person well enough to shop for him or her, just because you haven't met face to face. But here's what you need to keep in mind; you probably know this person much better than you think. Much better, even, than someone you might have been seeing for the same period of time in the real world. Why? Because all you do is talk.

Think about it. You haven't been going to movies, or roller skating, or dancing, or any of the other things normal daters do that interfere with talking. When all you can do together is talk, you have to get good at it. In the absence of body language, typical

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