Chatiquette Online Dating Tips
(A Guide to Online Chatting)

"These online dating tips helped me become a better online chatter!"

It's best to know these online dating tips for chatting when entering the online dating scene. The language of the internet and its code of manners will help you communicate in cyberspace more easily.

 

• Remember, It's Humans Behind Those Written Words

When you communicate electronically, all you see is a computer screen. You don't have the opportunity to use facial expression, gestures, and tone of voice to communicate your meaning; written words - are all you've got. When you're holding a conversation online - whether it's an e-mail exchange or a response to a discussion group posting -it's easy to misinterpret your correspondent's meaning. And it's easy to forget that your correspondent is a person with feelings more or less like your own. Try not to analyze every sentence you get from the guys you chat with, if you feel uncomfortable or stressed with something he wrote to you it's better to ask him what he meant than guessing.

Online Dating Tips

• Be Ethical
  

When you communicate through cyberspace - via email or on discussion groups like Facebook, MSN or ICQ – you have to remember that those words you write are stored somewhere where you have no control over them; therefore try not to curse or insult or even mention names people you do not like when talking with a guy. You can never know who will read it.

Online Dating Tips

• Nose Around Before Leaping
  

When you enter a public chat or discussion group that's new to you, it's always best to take a good look around before you start chatting. Spend a while reading people's earlier reactions, topics, etc. Get a sense of how the people in the chat room are acting and then go ahead and participate.

Online Dating Tips

• Know What You're Talking About And Make Sense
  

Make sure your notes are clear and logical and know what you are talking about. Be pleasant and polite. Don't use offensive language, and don't be confrontation for the sake of confrontation.

Online Dating Tips

• Clarity in Postings.
  

Give all postings a clear and relevant title. Avoid using vague or ambiguous titles such as ‘News', ‘Hi', ‘Latest Work', etc.

Chatiquette - Chatting Etiquette

There is a known etiquette for online chatting. This makes what can be a wild and chaotic experience instead useful and enjoyable.

The following online dating tips can help your Online Chatiquette:

• Respect the viewpoint of your online peers – don't judge them if they don't think just like you.

• Avoid dirty language or inappropriate language.

• Avoid putdowns or insults.

• Try and avoid simple "Yes/ No" questions and responses to keep the chat interesting.

• Avoid typing too long an answer because the guy you are chatting with may get bored with waiting. If you don't type so fast, you can respond with short sentences leaving a dot dot dot (…) after each sentence to show that you are still completing what you want to say, example:
  
  

  I find your question fascinating……. it is difficult for me to respond because……. creating a new story is a very emotional experience for me...

  
  

• It's best to use one font color for the whole chat session (unless you want to make a word or sentence stand out). It can become childish if there are too many colors.

• Spelling doesn't count: The key stroke flies quickly in a chat, so let's not worry too much about spelling.

• It's always best to introduce yourself.

• Don't type in ALL CAPITALS - IT IS CALLED SHOUTING AND IS CONSIDERED TO BE RUDE.
  

• If you have to leave the chat for a short time, tell your guy you will be away for a few minutes.
  
• Don't use sarcasm - it may be misinterpreted. Remember that people cannot see your facial expressions in an online environment.
  

• Make a positive contribution to the dialogue you're having.

• When anyone asks for a check for understanding, confirm with: "Yes", "Got it", "Uh-huh", "Right", "Grunt", etc.
  

• Use smileys for emotion when necessary. They can make all the difference in how some phrases are taken, such as: "It sounds interesting" - versus - "It sounds interesting :-)". Check out the most popular emoticon symbols.

• It's also nice to use some instant message abbreviations, like "LOL" (which means "Laughing Out Loud), or "CUL8R" (which means "See You Later"). Learn all kinds of instant message abbreviations.

• In the same vein, don't overuse emoticons and abbreviations, remember not everyone knows all the "in" phrases and your main objective during a chat is to communicate effectively and be clear.  
  
  An example of poor communication:   AFAIK my BF Poof because I was LSHMBB  
  
  Which after translation means:   As Far As I Know (AFAIK) my Boy Friend (BF) has left me (Poof) because I was Laughing So Hard My Belly Bounced (LSHMBB)

• If someone posts something that seems offensive to you, take a deep breath and realize that they've probably chosen their phrasing poorly.   Always assume the positive.

• Say goodbye. It's really rude to leave the chat without saying goodbye.
  

• Be patient. Don't repeat yourself; instead wait for a reply to your post.   Remember, some people type with two fingers, some with ten and some with ten fingers and ten toes.  The speed of the online guy can be different from one to another.
  

• If you disagree with something he says during your chat, be diplomatic and polite in answering. Try to find the good points made, acknowledge them and then respectfully describe the areas where you disagree.   Following these suggestions will result in the most productive discussions.
  
  

 

For more important online dating tips, get to know Online Dating Etiquette.