The First Date: Safer but More Clinical

As explained earlier, for online daters the first date is usually set up in a public space for a restricted amount of time. People using these sites do so as they are aware that they are meeting strangers and they are cautious of the type of people they might be meeting. They are also unlikely to give away too much information that might reveal where they live or work. This is potentially safer than meeting potential romantic partners in a bar after a few drinks. However, the disadvantage of the first meeting is that it is much less a date and more like a job interview. Having to live up to the other person’s expectations can be a challenge. Moreover, in normal courting situations each person does not typically know as much about the person whom they are considering dating.