The Face-to-Face Finale

Crib these guidelines to ensure your safety when you finally meet:

1. Gauge his emails
If he wants to set up a date after one exchange or mentions sex, cut him loose without even considering an in-person interaction. (Most sites let you block emails and will step in if a member becomes threatening -- just alert them and save his messages.)


2. Take it to the telephone
If you feel that the exchange is developing comfortably, give him your number. A cell-phone number is best because he can't find your address with it as he could with a landline.

3. Set up a date
Meet in a public place like a coffee shop or bar. "Treat an online acquaintance just as you would treat a stranger," says Mark Hull, director of Yahoo! community services. "You shouldn't give a guy your home address the first time you meet him."

4. Have a safety net
Arrange to meet up with a friend afterward, even if the date is going well. That way, he'll be intrigued and looking forward to your next date -- and you're sure to get home safely.