In contrast, there's a certain innocence in meeting in a chat room on the net. The Internet provides a physically safe way to meet someone. A person cannot be raped on the Internet, Cooper says. And the medium forces potential partners to talk, which he says is something women in particular seem to want to do. However, Cooper cautions his clients that, while the Internet is a good way to meet people, it's critical that they spend time with a potential partner in real life before making a major commitment.
Good communication is built into the hard structure of e-mail and chat room exchanges.
But they need to make sure that what seems like wonderful online exists in real life. A person who seems ideal on the Internet may be overbearing in real life. It's important to check that out. Cooper advises his clients to take safety precautions the first time they meet someone in real life whom they've gotten to know through the Internet. New acquaintances should meet for the first time in a public place and not share home addresses or telephone numbers until they've gotten to know each other better, he says.