Online dating and chatting is a fine art that a lot of singles try to perfect. It can be quite confusing at first, but once an individual gets the hang of it, it can be pretty interesting and quite helpful. The rapidly increasing number of online dating site tells us only one thing: this is the golden age of online dating even if a lot of singles admit that this is one thing they aren’t very good at. Others even confess that they suck at it big time. How can does one get the hang of online dating anyway? Is there such thing as chat room etiquette? Fortunately, any guy or girl can learn the ropes of becoming a chat room hunk/babe magnet by arming themselves with these must-know rules of chat engagement: The very first thing one must do to catch every digital eyes’ attention is to introduce oneself with a “grabber”.
It is the electronic equivalent of the pick-up line with a unique advantage of its own: one can get to write it down, study it then rewrite it before hitting the ENTER key. After saying the customary introduction, we move on to making small talk. Study yourself carefully and think of qualities that will make other people in the chat room want to know you better. Make it real, though—say things that best describe you instead of giving a description of Brad Pitt or Giselle Bundchen. People are well aware that if it sounds too good to be true, then it’s probably not true.
It may sound easy to keep it “real”, but there is always the temptation of embellishing one’s profile in the hopes of making oneself seem “super cool”. Just stick to the facts, keep it short and simple and avoid looking ridiculous for having illusions of grandeur about yourself. All caps is a no-no in the online dating world. It means only one thing: you are yelling at someone and you don’t know the basics of chat room etiquette. If you don’t want to come across as rude, don’t use all caps. Making a good impression isn’t just about how well you introduce yourself and how well your conversation skills are.
It’s always better to be nice than be rude and mean. If what you are about to say are all dripping with sarcasm, better shut your mouth and exit graciously. Vent your angst on the Wii or Ps2 instead of the chat room. A dating chat room has an entirely different atmosphere than an erotic chat room. While a sexually charged remark is always welcome in an erotic chat room, it certainly is not included in the list of chat room etiquette in the other rooms. But, if you want to give the impression of being a creep, go ahead.
The World Wide Web is open to any person, and it is always safe to assume that not everyone you chat with is an honest and trustworthy individual. Thus, it is never a good idea to give out one’s last name and phone number EVER. These are the things that you’d rather keep to yourself than give to the wrong hands—like a psycho gf/bf or a dreadful stalker waiting and waiting—and waiting.
The author of this article Ruth Purple is a Relationships Coach who has been successfully coaching and guiding clients for many years. Ruth recently decided to go public and share her knowledge and experience through her website relazine.com. You can sign up for her free newsletter and join her coaching program.