OppositesConnect Safe Dating Guidelines

As you’ve seen OppositesConnect is a totally different kind of on-line dating company. Other dating services match you up with your “perfect harmonious match”… a “mirror image”, if you will. They do it with their standard on-line dating fare and boring personality tests.

Not here.

OppositesConnect is an on-line dating site totally geared toward connecting you with someone you not only respect for being different, but somehow “gets” you…and you them. You simply crack each other up when you’re together!

By now you’ve probably already taken our fast and fun personality test, visited the Rivals Room, answered a poll question with the OppoVote, or taken advantage of all the other ways we match opposites for a date.

But what about that date? Where should it be? Have I chosen my date wisely?

In this section we hope to give you some insight to answer these and many more questions or concerns you might have. We understand our on-line match-making process is fun and really works, but we also understand that going out on the actual date can be nerve racking!

Whether it be for romance or friendship, we hope you all have fun dates with fantastic results. But we also hope your dates are safe and trouble free.  So here are some guidelines you might consider to enhance your entire dating experience…

On Line, Before the Date

When creating your profile page on OppositesConnect NEVER give your real name (first OR last), never give your address, and never give your phone number (home, cell, or work). Also never give away the names of any relatives, or people who live with, or near you. Never give away landmarks near your residence. Never give any financial information. Never disclose what kind of car you drive. You might consider being more general when stating your occupation. If you’re a lawyer or paralegal, you may want to consider just saying you’re employed in the “legal field”. For single parents, NEVER give the names of your children. OppositesConnect strongly discourages including pictures of your children (if under the age of 18) in your profile. Please make every attempt to “crop out” their images, or at least block out their faces. Take no pictures that reveal or show your street name. Please also make sure to use CURRENT pictures of yourself.

Only give your phone number or personal e-mail address when you’re sure you want deeper contact with another member. Remember, just because they give you theirs doesn’t mean you have to use them OR give them yours. Remember, you can BLOCK any member from contacting you at any time for any reason. Additionally you can “hide” your profile any time you want to. Please remain anonymous for as long as you wish. Remain anonymous until you are completely satisfied and comfortable with the person you’re interested in. OppositesConnect provides e-mail service and an instant messaging service that keeps you in touch with any member while keeping you anonymous at the same time. All the other member knows about you is your OppositesConnect nick-name and whatever information you’ve put in your profile.

Remember the old saying, “You reap what you sow?” Keep that in mind when writing your “About Me” section. Be honest and true to yourself. THAT should be enough to attract someone terrific. Don’t use sexual references, sexual nicknames, or stories about “youthful” exploits. References to drinking or drugs are also a no no. Try to keep your profile pictures “respectable” as well. Pictures of yourself in “compromising situations” may be funny to you, but will ultimately show you in a poor light. While any of the above practices may raise a few eyebrows and get you noticed… be careful what you wish for. The person doing the noticing may NOT be who or what you’re really looking for. Also be sure to consult our Terms of Use to make sure you are in compliance with all of our rules and regulations regarding the content you post.

When e-mailing or instant messaging anyone on the site… just be yourself. Be respectful and honest at all times. Where your conversations go, and where they ultimately lead is totally up to you. If you feel pressured for more contact than you’re ready for, let the other person know right away.  OppositesConnect cannot and will not monitor all of your various communications. Please remember to report any misuse of the service or anything you feel was inappropriate during your conversations with other members. If you feel threatened in any way, discontinue contact immediately. Please keep a record of any e-mails and IM’s for future reference. OppositesConnect does not retain copies of your correspondences.

After communicating with another member for what you consider a reasonable amount of time, you may feel comfortable enough to ask them for a date, or they may feel confident enough to ask you for a date. Go with your gut on this. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This is why you’re here after all. But please be as sure as you can be about the person you’re agreeing to meet. Make sure all of your questions and concerns have been answered to your satisfaction.

Off Line, Meeting a Member In Person or on a Date

OK, so now another member has impressed you enough that you’ve decided to meet out on a date. Congratulations! (… and good luck!) On-Line dating gives you the chance via e-mail and IM communication to get to know someone pretty well. But as you know, it takes quite a long time to really know someone well. So treat this date as you would any “blind date” a friend, co-worker, or relative might send you on.

1st dates in particular are so exciting. All the build up to them really ramps up your anticipation for a fun, if not special first meeting. It’s good to have great possibilities in your life, and you certainly have planned well and are hoping for the best. BUT, safety should be your first priority. Within the framework of a safe setting you can confidentially let loose and have fun.

Always agree with your prospective date on the time and place of your meeting. (If they resist or give you a hard time on time and place… do not go.) A daytime meeting is suggested for a first date, but if that’s not in the cards please make sure you meet in a well lit public place. Drive there yourself or make your own arrangements to get to and from the date. Do not let your date pick you up, and do not pick up your date. Park in a well lit public parking lot, as close to the entrance of your destination as possible. Do not meet somewhere only to travel together to the “ultimate destination” elsewhere. Never meet at a hotel/motel room, private home, or remote location. Never accept “sob stories” about farfetched tales such as “My car broke down so you have to pick me up.”, or “The restaurant we wanted to go to is booked, meet me at this one.” Always follow your instincts about these situations. Your gut feeling is usually the right one.

You should also tell at least two people (family members or friends) all of the date details. They should know the time, date, and place of the meeting. They should also be given an idea of how long you think the date will be. Make sure they have your cell number and you have theirs. Arrange for them to call you at specific times during the date to check on you. You should also call them when you are safely home from the date.

If you feel you’ve possibly been followed to your car after the date is over, immediately return to a well lit public place, preferably indoors, and call a friend or family member to pick you up. If warranted you should call the police instead. Have your friend or the police take you to pick up your car when you feel the situation is safe, even if it’s the following day. Chances are nothing like this will ever happen to you… but please be aware of your surroundings at all times before, during, and after the date.

Please remember to always take your cell phone with you on all dates you go on. Make sure you have the local police phone number on speed dial and that you’re aware if the area you’ll be in has a 911 emergency line.

Try not to drink alcoholic beverages on a 1st date. But if you do, please keep it to a bare minimum. Excessive consumption of alcohol impairs your good judgment and should be avoided. Do not let yourself be pressured into drinking any alcoholic beverages by your date or anyone at the establishment you’re patronizing.

Keep an eye on all of the personal possessions you brought with you. Always know where things like your purse, wallet, or cell phone is at all times. Never leave any personal belongings unattended. Between your wallet, purse, and cell phone your life may be an open book. Also, and this may sound like a stretch… but never leave your drink unattended either. You just never know. ALWAYS think safety first. If you have to leave a drink unattended, you may want to order another one when you get back. Your date will respect you for it.

We’re all adults here, but sometimes common sense goes out the window on first dates. You should always plan to not go home (either yours or theirs) with your date. If you feel pressured to do so, make your feelings clearly known. If the pressure continues, end the date right away. Stick to your common sense plan. Once again, your date will respect you for it if they’re on the up and up themselves.

Obviously, most of what you read above is for 1st dates, or earlier meetings. Once you have a good feeling about the person you’ve been seeing and develop a strong degree of trust, you’ll naturally loosen up on these guidelines. But don’t drop them completely, always think safety first.

OppositesConnect also has a great feature called “Opposites on the Road”. When using that feature you can announce yourself arriving in another city when you’re traveling and request a date from a member in that city where they can show you the town. Or you can do the opposite (!), and check that feature to see who’s coming to your town and you can plan on showing them around to all the local hot spots. When meeting over long distances it’s particularly important to plan accordingly and with your own safety in mind.

Always follow all of the safe dating tips above, plus keep a few new guidelines in mind like… Never tell your date where you are staying. Always let your date know that friends and family knows where you are and will be contacting you at regular intervals. Always put a time limit on the date and stick to it. Never accept a ride to where you are staying from your date. It’s safest to take a taxi. Never accept rides to and from the airport (if you flew to your destination). Always be responsible for all of your own transportation.

Obviously the VAST majority of dates go well. Every day thousands of people are going out on dates set up by on-line services, including ours. Usually the worst thing that ever happens is a lack of compatibility. We believe that our opposite based match-making system gives you a terrific chance to have an awesome dating experience. We believe dates set up by OppositesConnect will be lively, full of great debate and conversation, and fun. We believe you’ll have a better chance with our method than that any other on-line dating service. The proof’s in the pudding so go on-line and get out there with OppositesConnect!