Chat Room Dating Chat rooms are a great place to meet potential friends, and perhaps even lovers.  There is also the advantage of not having to dress up and pass visual inspection. The anonymity of a chat room means that if you make a mistake or you don't want to continue to get to know the person better,  you can just leave the chat room and don't go back.  You can also change your log-in nickname. This is not a license to be obnoxious, but it does give you plenty of room to practice making friends with strangers. Here are some tips to help you out when using chat rooms: STAY SAFE Protect your identity If you want total control of the information that is too often revealed to the world through chat rooms, don't use your personal or your work-related e-mail. You should sign up for an e-mail account specifically to use for chatting online. You can use yahoo's free e-mail service. Don't reveal private information Be careful about the information you give in casual conversation. Don't give any hint of your work place, your home town or other personal info that can be linked to where you come from. Listen to your head Use your common sense and judgment. If someone sounds creepy or a bit dodgy, there's a good chance they are. If the conversation is getting a bit out of hand , or you become uncomfortable in any way, speak up or change your e-mail address and nickname. Find more important tips for safe online dating  by clicking here>10 tips: Online Dating Safety GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE Be honest If you want people to be open and honest with you, you must also do the same. You don't have to go into personal details but don't pretend to be someone you’re not. Otherwise you will only attract the people that are looking for the type of person you are pretending to be. Don't expect to much Remember that you are using a chat room so you have no idea what this person really looks like or what their personality is like. You may build a mental image of them. Don't, because ,9 out 10, you will be wrong and will feel disappointed if they don’t live up to your expectations. Keep an open mind and you won't be disappointed. Develop common activities Make dates with each other to share activities, like playing online games or sharing a forum. Talk about how long you expect to communicate online before meeting. Don't fake photos If you decide to swap pictures, send a current picture which is flattering, but doesn't hide or distort your true appearance. Misleading pictures are probably the leading cause of disappointments in relationships that start on the Internet. Whatever you do, make sure that you give them a photo of you and not someone else or you'll never be able to meet them. Meeting If you get to the point in your online relationship where you decide you want to meet each other, arrange to meet in public where you will be comfortable and safe. Meet in a busy place, over coffee or a casual meal. Be prepared in case you don't like them and have a back up plan. Ask a friend to phone you an hour after meeting them and you can tell her you will phone her later if you two are getting on well. If you aren't getting on well you can make an excuse and leave. Remember to always let someone know where you are at all times.       © COPYRIGHT 2004 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DENSU INTERNET PUBLISHING, INC.