Online Dating Etiquette: Dos and don'ts

• DO carefully pick your e-mail address and username. Using a gender-specific name that can help others choose you has certain advantages, but tricksters and prowlers often look for women (or youngsters ) who come across as vulnerable and desperate. (For example, steer clear of names such as "kitten girl" or "lovelonging;" you don't want to be a target for cyber-abusers.) Also, certain names can put off others. For instance, referring to yourself as " Loverboy" can imply that you're a player or a womanizer. You can always try out different names and see what happens.
  
  
• DO find out what information is available about your online. Log onto your e-mail address at one of the finger services on the Net. You finder (also called a "plan file") can contain all the information you used when you signed up with your service, including your name, address, phone number, and employer. If you don't like what comes up, contact your server.
  
  
• DO temper your expectations. You really cannot judge your compatibility, nor see a person's true personality, until you get to know him/her face-to-face.
  
  
• DO understand that cyberdating is subject to the same breakups as real-life dating. You might fall in cyber-love and then get rejected. If you face this experience, check Dumping for tips on handling rejection.

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