How to Handle the Subject of Getting Serious With Your Online Love
You and that special someone you met online and have decided it's time to kick it up a notch and date exclusively. What should you do next? In the non-online dating world you’d probably both just turn down any new people who happened to ask you out. But Internet dating requires a different approach:
Discuss what “being serious” really means for both of you.
Internet dating is a tricky thing once you've met someone special. Perhaps you joined an online dating service because you wanted to meet someone special. On the other hand, your partner may have joined because they just wanted to get back in the dating game and meet new people. One individual may think it’s perfectly fine to continue browsing through profiles while they date someone seriously because they are “just looking.” Another person may think it’s fine to email other people as long as you don’t meet them out. There are definite rules for online dating etiquette, but unless you both are aware of them you may be headed in different directions and not even realize it. Communication is a key aspect for any relationship, but even more so when it comes to Internet dating. Open the dialog with your partner about where your relationship is really going so you are both on the same page.
Just because you take your profile down doesn’t mean your partner will.
Making a pact that you won’t email other people doesn’t mean one of you won’t still have your profile up. Perhaps your partner thinks it's no big deal to have daters browse his or her profile, or even for them to browse other profiles, while at the same time dating you. Make sure you are both clear on what you should do to move forward with your relationship. Failure to do this could mean trouble down the road. Even if you both agree to get serious, never assume your mate is pulling his or her profile until you both discuss it and agree to do so.
Make sure you really do want to get serious.
One of the great things about Internet dating is the pure volume of people on the system. The greater the number of singles, the more likely you are to meet the right one for you. So at some point you will probably meet an individual who would like to date you exclusively. Don’t take this consideration lightly. Make sure you’re willing to fore go the chance to meet someone else in favor of seeing where the relationship is headed with your current mate. Remember that new people join online dating services everyday, and one of them could be your perfect mate. So don’t settle. If you aren’t absolutely sure you want to limit your dating time to just one person, tell them. Be honest without being hurtful, but indicate your reservations up front.
Let other people know.
If you decide to pull your profile, tell any of the folks you've been corresponding with.