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Most important is to try to get to know the person before the very first date. If you meet online as many people do these days, you can correspond for a month of two on almost a daily basis, and then exchange phone numbers and pictures before deciding to meet in person. You can see how the person looks and decide if they would be acceptable to you and you would be to you. Many people who meet on blind dates are very disappointed. There are so many dating sites, including free ones, that you no longer need to meet people without having met first and talked in detail about what is important to you both.

Ideally, a person who is looking for a marriage within one year should not be dating someone who is just dating and out for a good time. Many dating sites eliminate this problem by separating people into people who are dating, just out for fun, looking for a serious relationship or even looking for marriage right away.

Drinking and drug-taking are listed on dating sites, but some people might not be honest about this and other things, but if you talk on the phone and question one another online, usually something will come out about the truth.

As far as bad habits, those too should come out after a few months of writing and talking to each other. Those that don't will become readily apparent after one or two dates if they are to places like coffee houses or dining dates where you have a chance to watch each other in action rather than a movie date. Also, you can get to know each other better while talking there.

Always let someone close to you know when and where you are going to meet the date, and make sure it is in open view and hopefully near a train or bus so you have a fast escape if you should feel your safety is threatened. It's best to have afternoon dates in the beginning. Also, do not bring him to your apartment right away. This should be reserved for someone you feel you can trust and care a lot for and not just an acquaintance. If you have a cell phone, call your trusted friend, and tell him/her you are on your way to your date and let them know when you are leaving or else use a pay phone. Most of all, use common sense and don't meet down the block from where you live so he can't decide to follow you on your walk home unless you really trust him from months of corresponding and talking on the phone.

Learn more about this author, Annetherese McCorkell.
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