Online dating: five things you need to know

The internet has made things easy today. You can find a date that matches your taste by age, color, race, tribe, divorced, widowed or any other you desire.

Commonly known as online dating, this gets you a date just by the touch of a button. However, there are points you should put observe when going this direction.

Keep romance out of the picture.

Avoid getting intimate with a person whom you have just met online. An amazing number of men/women who put up fake smiles leave shortly after a single fling. Let the romance stay out until you are convinced that they are legit unless you want to be chips-fungwad.

Do not rush things.

It does not matter if your biological clock is ticking faster than a speeding bullet or you are tired of being single; try to take these things as slow as possible in order to buy time and learn the other person.

Be ready for disappointments.

A remarkable number of people using online dating services pose driving expensive cars that may have been hired or having drinks in posh restaurants while in reality, they are nothing close to the elegant lifestyle they display. It's good to be ready to learn things you didn’t expect of them.

Meet face to face regularly.

Many people hide behind gadgets posing as businessmen or car brokers only to be uncovered as fraudsters. The same applies to dating, meet regularly and in public to be able to physically and emotionally gauge the other person. Be interested to know her/his friends scrutinize his/her behaviors carefully, stay alert and attentive. Take off if you notice any red-flags.

Do not put expectations.

Do not push your agenda to get married when you barely know this person. Enjoy the fun that comes with dating and don't sweat it until the both of you are sure you want to settle. As the proverbial saying goes “It is only a fool that tests the depth of a river with both feet.”

Armed with these precautions, you can now step boldly into the world of online dating and find your dream spouse.