safety

[Bobbitsj]

Hi all, and right off first, don't take any of this wrong. I truely respect how everyone here is always safety first when giving out advice. I am sure a lot of people have been helped from these words of wisdom from you all. It seems like a lot of the safety questions and safety advice is geared to the new comers or people who are just exploring, maybe checking things out to see if this for them.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is online meetings can and do work. You don't always hear so much about the thousands that do work but you always hear about the one meeting that doesn't turn out so well, or turns out tragic. For all the new comers here looking for advice about that first r/l meeting, practice all the safty things preached here and use your head. It can and does work. I think if you use your head the net is a great way to meet someone who shares your intrests. I would hate to see someone scared off after reading all these safety things thinking this is crazy. I have met many people from the net and have never had a bad experience. I have always been smart about what I was doing and it has been a lot of fun.
10 years ago I met my Wife/Domme on the net and were are still together and happy as ever!
Another safety topic that comes up often is sleeping in bondage. Some say it is never safe or should never be practiced. Well, I have been doing it for years, every night. I am so used to it I wouldn't be able to sleep without my cuffs locked together. However, once again, we use our heads on how we go about this. I have said this before in another post, if the house caught fire I could get out, I might be naked and cuffed up but could get out.
So to close this babble I just don't want anyone to think these things can't be done. All you have to do is use your head and be smart about things.
I would hate to see someone get hurt. On the other hand, I would hate to see someone get scared off.
I hope you all get my point I'm trying to make here and I am not disputing the fact that safety is first!

[lucy]

Good post.
I often get the feeling that there is a difference between people from the U.S. and those from Europe. Americans tend to be extremely preoccupied with safety issues, while Europeans are a bit more relaxed about it. At least that's the impression i got in various online communities.

[Ozme52]

I wouldn't "know" about that per se lucy, but I have to agree overall, and have opined, that the net is no more or less dangerous than any other venue.

Whether you meet people through work or church or social club, the gym, a bar, or a lecture, the odds of meeting someone dangerous is probably about the same. Yes, there are more predators on the net... but there are more of all types on the net.

And far far more people are hurt by strangers driving cars on the same roads as you drive than are hurt from meeting people on the net. We've just come to accept that we have to share the roads with the inept and inattentive drivers among us.

So, yes, take your precautions, but also enjoy what the net brings in the way of opportunities to people who have so much in common with you.

Look what happened to me.

(In case you've not run across this. All from just being willing to have lunch.)