Boards
Please stay away from the creepy guys! | Source: ShutterStock
The Internet is good for a lot of things – finding funny videos, reconnecting with old friends via social media, wasting hours on Tumblr, Facebook stalking your crush… you get the idea. One thing it’s not always good for? Meeting random dudes online.
Sure, meeting guys on dating websites can work out (it can still be risky even then) – but meeting random guys on social media sites or elsewhere can be a disaster, especially for young girls. We saw this topic being discussed in the message boards, and we wanted to know what you girls thought about it. Would you ever start dating someone you only knew online? Would you meet that person in real life on your own? Read this girl’s situation and what other girls had to say, then let us know your thoughts.
Camilla-May said:
Gurls, I need help! My best friend always tells my friends and I that she has a boyfriend, but we never believe her. So one day when I went to her place, she showed me her iPod and there were a bunch of conversations on it with a guy I’ve never heard of. I asked her, “Where did you meet him?” and she said “online.” Then I found out that she told this guy, who she met online, EXACTLY WHERE SHE LIVED!!!! And she wants to meet him! I keep telling her not to believe everything you hear, but she won’t listen! She doesn’t think “her love” would lie to her…
Please help! I read a book called Dear Jo and it was about the same thing and the girl ended up dead!!
It doesn’t matter how many pics he shows you – he’s still a mystery man | Source: ShutterStock
skaterchick999 said:
It’s okay for her to meet him… just not alone or in an isolated area. She could go to a movie and meet him, and if you really want to protect her, you could go with her. Carry your phone with you so that just in case he isn’t who he seems to be, you can get help.
stayclassy said:
Okay, well, first of all: we both see how dumb it was for her to tell him her address. Read the conversations. Is he saying suspicious things? Even if he’s not, he could still be pretending.
You could tell her parents… It’s tough to do that because you might lose her trust. But then again, knowing her address, he could have already done something if he wanted to. If she wants to meet him, it should be public, and since she seems as naive as she can get — maybe you and a friend can be there too, just from afar.
So what do we have to say about this topic? Girls, please: never tell a person you meet online your address. It doesn’t matter if he seems super charming, sweet and wonderful – he’s behind a computer screen, and he could be anyone. Even if he says he’s a teenager, he could really be a 50-year-old man! I know that sounds super creepy and dramatic, but it’s true and it happens. Giving out your information to people you meet online is never a smart move and we’re begging you not to do it.
As for meeting a random dude, we’re going to have to say no to that too. But if you’re absolutely insistent on meeting this person, then please go with a friend or two and meet up in a public place, like the mall or the movies. You should also let lots of trusted people know where you are and with whom and have planned check-ins, like promising to call a friend at a certain time so she knows you’re okay.
What do you think? Would you meet up with a guy you met online? Have you ever done that? Tell us in the comments.
More from the boards: could you be in a sex-less relationship?
New Quiz!
New Quiz!
Supplies For The Dumped 
I have met guys that I met online.
Luckily, none have been creeps so far.
They were all perfectly nice guys.
You should always meet in public just for safety.
I once met a guy at the capitol of Virginia-the center of the state government
Hi everyone glad to be at this forum.
I’ve been in a relationship for 6 months with a person that I met on an online game. I know it’s legit because he sent me a picture of himself, and his Skype picture is exactly what he looks like. Although, he could have made a fake account. This guy and I really have feelings for eachother but it’s not like we’re going to meet, it’s a LDR. He’s in America, I’m in Australia. I know this is crazy but I dream about him meeting me..
I met my boyfriend online (gaming platform). I gave him my number and we used to talk hours on text and call. We did video calls on skype too. We met around 6 months after we had met online. It’s been two years now and he’s the most amazing guy on this planet; we are madly in love with each other. So no, meeting someone online is NOT a bad thing. although giving the guy your address like that was a little crazy :/
There is nothing wrong with meeting someone online! Okay giving your adress wasnt the smartest thing to do but if you feel he is safe and have seen him through skype or web cam and seen that he is who he says he is then there should be no problem to meet with him! I mean you never really know anyones true intentions even someone you meet in person at a party or randomly on the street can be a psycho killer or whatever! Just because someone is not a 50 year old man doesnt mean he cant still be a crazy rapist! Ive heard stories of young teenage to mid 20s men who do crazy things like that, so try not to be so paranoied, be cautious theres a difference, meet with him in a public place like a mall or coffee shop in a downtown area, or bring a friend a long and ask him to double date! But if you have seen him on web cam and things feel safe give it a shot.
I meet my boyfriend online and we’ll have been going out a year next month.I talked to him online for about 6 months or longer before i met him and we used to text as well when we did meet up we met in a public and I told 1 of my friends where I was going.I think its ok as long as you meet up in a public place,someone knows where your going or goes with you and also if you’ve being speaking for a while.
I met my current boyfriend and my ex online. I met them on meetme.com. But both times, i talked to them for a few weeks, through text, and on the phone. i never revealed where i live, or anything like that. And i met them both in public places and i always brought a friend along. If you play it safe, it could be alright. But play it safe. Theres nothing wrong with meeting someone online, as long as you take the right precautions!
I know this guy really well online, we talk nearly every day. Even though he’s a few years older than me, he seems like a nice, genuine guy & isn’t really bothered in meeting me. We just talk about general stuff online, and it would almost seem weird if we were to meet up – it wouldn’t be the same. Honestly? I wouldnt wanna find out what he looked like in real life, I’m happy just to keep it how it is
I met a lot of people through an online learning chemistry class at school, and there was a certain guy that I got to know really well. We texted for a while, talked during classes, and then started to skype and call each other. It worked out perfectly for us! What I’m trying to say is that you can meet a great person online, as long as it’s in the right environment. These courses were through the government and completely legit–they were required at school! So we knew that every student in the class was an actual teenage student. So don’t be so quick to judge online relationships. Just be smart about where they come from!
hi,i’m new here,glad to see all you guys!
In my opinion, I would never meet up with a stranger that I found online. There so many things you don’t know about that’s behind that computer screen. So, I think it’s best just to meet somebody and talk to them in person.
its ok as long as she feels its safe i met my man online he was here last night lol
Why on earth would you want to meet some guy you met online when there are so many out there that you already know?? Wayyy too risky.
Well. I met my current boyfriend over social media. We met and ended up skyping for 14 hours the first time. We fell in love and continued skyping. I’ve met his parents and hes met mine. I don’t think meeting someone online is bad, as long as your smart about it. We’re meeting for the first time next month in a populated area with friends around. As long as you keep smart about it, there is nothing wrong with it.
I’ve dated online, but I wasn’t an idiot and gave out my adress..Only my phone number O_o once..
But I always tell then I live in Kentucky, or I tell them my real state. Just not my adress.
I have met a couple people that I met online. First I met my boyfriend online. He went to school with my cousin and added me on facebook. So I wasn’t too worried about him.
The other guy I had met on a social site. When I met him I met him at a mall. So I wasn’t too worried.
That is my advice to anyone who is meeting someone they met online. MEET THEM IN A PUBLIC PLACE!!!!!!!! That way people are constantly around just in case they turn out to be 50 years old. Also make sure someone knows where you are going or even with you if possible. Safety is key. Whoever you are meeting should understand that. If not then forget them It is not worth risking our own life just because you seem to hit it off online.
You should never ever ever meet someone that u met online. its just too risky.
i read the book ‘Dear Jo’ too! i would never meet someone that i met online after reading that book! i never realized how dangerous it was!
Ok guys, so I met one of my ex-boyfriends on Craigslist. No not the creepy way, the “I was selling video games and he wanted them” way, we talked for a solid month, then decided to meet at my church so I could give him the games. We started dating, it didn’t work out because he had was too needy, but it was an ok relationship. Main point: Meet in a public place, after a lot of communications, and try and find their Facebook haha
this reminds me of the movie “trust”