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The word romance in the title makes it a bit difficult to define. For instance, you've met someone online and, after the careful research, you decided that person is acceptable to date. You go out several times, enjoy each other's company and the relationship evolves into, as the title implies, romance. If that means the usual hugging, kissing and more intimate activities, by that time, isn't it a bit late to consider possible dangers?

If you're old enough to remember when dating didn't involve electronic match-ups, you'll know starting a romance with someone always involves risks. A casual meeting in a bar, and then off together for some intimacy can be just as dangerous. Hooking up with someone you meet at a dance, concert or any other event where both of you are total strangers can also have terrible consequences. The ongoing Holloway case in Aruba is just one of thousands of examples in the news every day of how such encounters end in danger or much worse.

I believe there's a difference between dating and romance. I may be very old-fashioned, but I consider in any relationship that dating is the first step, with the clear understanding that both parties are free to end it after the first one or several encounters. Romance, if it ever does follow, can happen after the second, third or 20th date. Further, romance implies that both parties have made at least a tentative commitment to each other for further dates, if not more serious togetherness. Of course, there is such a thing as love at first sight, which in most cases is simple lust.

The dangers of any contact from the limitless internet are too numerous to count. I try to restrict my email address to only those I choose to contact, or for others to contact me. However, for various reasons, my address gets out there, and often for several days, my inbox is full of all kinds of junk ads, many for dating services, pornography, rip-off get-quick-rich schemes, phony college degree courses and other unwanted correspondence. While I'm a male and much too old to take advantage of any of the personal ads, I can imagine how an impressionable teen or pre-teen could be attracted to open the mail, and maybe fall for the enticements.

Of course, there are always stranger dangers for those who look for dates online. The simple solution for anyone who enters into such contacts is to know all the possible ways to avoid them. If you have a long-standing email address for business, school, banking, family correspondence and

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