With online dating you should start off by taking things slow. Start by communicating through e-mail only, and watch for any inconsistencies from the online single you are corresponding with. Watch for any strange and unusual behavior and be cautious if the other person seems "too perfect" to be true. Remember that a person can portray themselves as someone they are not. That is true for any form of internet chat or e-mailing, not just online personals. Always trust your gut feelings about someone and if something does not feel right, move on to someone else. Always take the side of caution.

Someone ask you to dinner, take you out, pick you up, take you to the movies, and then drop you off afterwards yet. All this, and you already nervous about an expected to become first date. In order to prepare yourself for this first date enlisted the help and was completely overwhelmed by the number of first date "do's & don'ts" that there are.

Don't be late (especially on a first date). Being on time shows a person that they are important to you - and who doesn't like to be made to feel important?

Don't dress like you just woke up or like you are attending church. You can handle showering and looking decent but still feeling comfortable.

Don't let the conversation be one-sided with awkward pauses. There are heaps & piles of "safe" things to talk about, college sports (the only real sports you know anything about), jobs, the town we live in, mutual friends. You'll bring a roll of duct tape in my purse just in case you get verbal diahhrea. The authors of this article say to avoid bringing up sex, politics & religion, but I had a great conversation with a guy last night about religion, so if you're comfortable, I say go for it!

Don't remained glued to the cell phone the entire date. Who talks on their cell phone on a date? Seriously, I think that's just unusual.

Don't bring up past relationships. On this first date, your new date doesn't need to know all about your past. Enjoy the moment of spending time with someone new.

Don't ask or assume that because you are on the first date that you are automatically in a relationship. "A first date is like an audition for a play or a job interview." You are looking at potential here, not immediately husband (or wife) material. First date doesn't constitute a relationship!

Don't order for the other person. If you are at a meal.

Don't set extremely high goals for the date. Your number one priority on your first date should be to get to know the person you're out with more than you did before.

Don't be fake about yourself. If you're afraid that your sarcasm or your honesty might be too brutal at time, just tone down your personality; it's still your personality that's coming out, just not as strong!