The summer season has a sort of aphrodisiac quality that other seasons simply just can’t match. While meeting new romantic prospects online or in person seems exciting, safety precautions are not the first thing on your mind.
We don’t want to be a buzzkill, but we are here to share the top 5 most important dating rules that can save your life this summer.
1. Let your friends know about your whereabouts
Always let your friends or family know when you are going on a date, whether at a coffee shop, neighborhood cafe, or elegant restaurant.
Tell them where you are going, who you are going with, and when you’ll probably return. If your plans change at any point during the evening, notify them as soon as possible by call or text message.
It might seem unnecessary or dramatic, but failing to notify friends or family about your whereabouts might result in fatal consequences in an emergency.
2. Take your car
Taking your car allows you to control the atmosphere and tempo and can be useful if you need to leave your date early. If you do not have a car, consider using a cab, Uber, or public transportation.
3. Meet in a public place
Selecting the meeting place for your first date can be thrilling, but it can also be risky if done incorrectly. It is best if you avoid meeting at a house or hotel room when meeting someone and never accept the offer to be picked up at your place.
For the first date, a public place such as a restaurant, park, or cafe would be ideal. If you are unsure where to go, pick somewhere that will allow you to get to know each other in a calm setting but busy enough to prevent you from feeling uncomfortable.
4. Never post identifying information
One of social media's most threatening side effects is that it can easily reveal a lot of personal information about yourself.
Social media posts, which might be anything from a tagged picture of you outside your house, workplace, or favorite restaurants, can be used as identifiable information to pinpoint and disclose your whereabouts to anyone online.
5. Avoid specifics
Suppose you are still in the “getting to know” phase on your first date or even after it. In that case, it might be better to minimize or completely avoid sharing personal details about yourself, such as your place of education, employment, employer, etc.
If you can’t avoid discussing such a topic, you should never disclose specific details about your work, residence, or favorite places to hang out. At first, doing so might be difficult, but you’ll get used to it and think of it as a fresh approach to enhancing your conversational abilities.
