^^^ that is why meeting in a public place for the first time is so important.... she could be the rapist, or serial killer for all you really know. this gets to be a lot more difficult when the "friendship" or "long distance relationship" is far enough away it takes a flight to reach the destination.
I spoke to the woman who is now my wife for many months using email, the telephone, video chat, and snail mail before ever traveling half way across the globe ( 16 time zones, so a few less than half way) to meet her in person. As wind said, we knew nothing other than internet "handles" or "user names" until we actually met face to face.
I stayed in a hotel close to her home the first time I flew to meet her. I did not want to infringe on her space, and there were other reasons as well, in addition to the fact that the truth was we had just met in person. Regardless of the fact we had spent so much time together in other forms of communication.
We've been married now over 9 years. here is the latest thread about us :
https://datingnmore.com/site/forum/topic/596 . there is another one titled 8 years in the same forum.
I'm not saying my way of doing things is right for everyone. I am saying it worked for us ( me and the Mrs.). It protected us both, and allowed us to create a lot of dialog before we ever met in person. Thus giving us a lot of opportunity to get to know each other prior to meeting.
I don't want to sound argumentative, but I do want to comment that I don't see Wind's posts as seemingly "don't get involved at all ! it will all end in heartache in the end !
Every one cannot be trusted ! Judge everyone ! Don't even trust your
photos with a friend !!!!"
I read his posts and see a lot of truth in them. Maybe I'm used to Mr Murphy being everywhere so I've learned to expect the worst, yet hope for the best.... I don't know. Wind is a lot of fun, most of the time. I don't think he takes things personally.... if he does then he hasn't shown it as a backlash in the public forum anyhow.
The forum is a good place to let others get to know you while you get to know them as well. It surely isn't as active as it has been in the past, which is why I originally suggested to you to that you search using the search function near the top of the page, and send PM's to people.
good luck, amigo.