blind dates

[lasher]

Where is a good place to meet somebody I only know by email and how long should I wait before I suggest a meeting?

[BenDToy]

Can't comment on how long you should wait before suggesting a meeting but you should assume the worst when considering where to meet, and make appropriate preparations. I would suggest somewhere very public, and preferably somewhere you are known, either that or have somebody you know be there when he arrives. Meet him (I'm making a big assumption here) there - don't tell him how to recognise you - find out how to recognise him so you can do a runner if you don't like what you see! Tell someone close everything you know - email address, how he contacted you etc. Don't go anywhere else with him first date, and make your own way home. Good luck!

[BenDToy]

Sorry I almost forgot the "Get out of jail" card. Get someone to call you about 1 hour into the date so you can escape (if you want) on the pretext of an emergency of some kind. Courtesy of "Sex & The City".

[ravenhair]

Also, if it's possible, I'd try to make the first meeting a lunch date. Then you have a good reason to cut it short if things aren't going too well.

[mikewith]

Please take account of the very real dangers of your 'blind date' not being the person s/he appears to be in your emails. The most obvious example being older, predatory men pretending to be teenagers in order to win the confidence of and meet kids. It's a shame to have worry about the worst, but you can't be too careful.

[darth vader]

additional to bendtoy's suggestions - people who go on blind dates sometimes have a friend somewhere else in the bar/restaurant (a kind of spy) who is never made known to the blind date, and is there just for reassurance to make sure the date goes ok