At some point in your dating adventure, you may be tempted to ask for advice on one or several online message boards. It is true that online forums are the perfect place to get targeted, real-time advice, often from complete strangers who don’t know you from Adam. Online anonymity makes asking for advice on message boards extremely tempting. Sure, some aren’t shy and may choose to share their identity. These individuals may even post their Facebook pages to reveal even more about themselves. For those who want to protect their identity just in case, here are a few tips that will throw even the smartest Internet detective off your trail. Remember, your date may read your posts at some point in the future. Don’t ask about the size of his Yin Yang if there’s a chance he may take a look at your question and the responses you get. If you’re found out, it could make an otherwise beautiful relationship rocky. Why chance it?
Don’t Mention Specifics: You may be tempted to make this into an epic Twilight-esque post to entertain the other forum members, but be careful mentioning the type of car you drive, the school you go to, the job you work at or anything else that could lead someone to know it’s you right off the bat.
Many people are caught because they get too specific. Just ask your question and move on. You’ll feel better in the long run.
Change Names: This should be a given, but people are given away all the time because they post the names of people close to them. Even if the question isn’t about them, some people are touchy about being mentioned on a popular message board where details of one’s life can oftentimes be scrutinized by hundreds or thousands of people. Use names you’ve never heard of for extra protection.
Think Twice About Posting Photos: When you post a photo online, there’s little chance of it ever coming off. Think about this whenever you are posting photos online. You don’t only have to worry about the permanence of photos. You also have to worry about people identifying you through your photos. Just the background of a photo can give away who you are to someone with a trained eye or someone that knows you. Standing in front of your house can reveal the address on your mailbox, for instance, and your street name may be in the background, too. Really consider all photos before you post them on the Internet. That should apply anytime you post a photo for anything online.
Remember that anyone can read your posts once you hit that submit button. If you want dating advice, you can get a lot of great advice on many popular dating forums. Protect yourself using the above advice, ask great questions without giving too much away and you’ll likely solve whatever problem you’re facing in no time flat.