Stranger danger! Stranger danger! Yes, we’ve all heard someone say this at some point and time. Some of us may have even experienced Stranger Danger that we wish we could have avoided. You remember that time when the creeper followed you in the parking lot as you walked to your car?… Ugh! *Chills.
These wise words teach you that to be safe you need to avoid these awkward stranger interactions. This is especially true when it comes to online dating. Here’s the truth. No matter how much you’ve talked to that cute guy or pretty lady, until you spend some time with them in person, they are still a stranger. This means that having him or her pick you up on the first date could be in violation of stranger danger.
Today we are going to decide once and for all if it is smart and safe to let someone pick you up in their car or even their Vespa on the first date. We will look at the pros and cons to put this online dating debate to rest.
Why You Should Let Someone Pick You Up on the First Date
There are plenty of reasons why it’s tempting to let your online dating match pick you up. First, it’s super convenient. It gives the guys a few extra minutes to ensure there’s nothing stuck in their teeth and the ladies that moment to refresh their red lipstick. First impressions are key after all.
Second, let’s face it, it saves you money honey. Nothing better than keeping a few extra dollars in your pocket by the end of the night. And if you don’t have to pay for dinner that’s even better, right? Oh, what’s that? You need to go to the bathroom at the exact moment the server is bringing the bill over to the table? Ugh huh. Right!
Another reason to let that certain special online dating match pick you up is to see what kind of manners they will have when you meet them in person for the first time. Are they the walk to the front door with a dorky flower corsage type? Or are they the honk from out in the middle of the street and yell out your name type? Stella!!! Oh yeah… trust us… they’re out there! Some of them even whale on the horn to get their point across to all your next-door neighbors too.
Whether they are the old-fashioned type and open doors for you, or they like their music loud, heels high and lipstick on point, these are just some of the many reasons why you should let someone pick you up on the first date.
Why You Should NOT Let Someone Pick You Up on the First Date
Do you hear your mother whining in your ear telling you to consider the safety issues? We do! She probably even used your first AND middle name too! Charles Nathanal!!! Followed by a hard smack across the back of the head. Ouch!!! That hurt. #truthbetold #mommalayingthesmackdown
(Please note: just in case your name is actually Charles Nathanal, be advised we totally made that up. We give your mom mad props, yo.)
Again, it all comes back to stranger danger. It’s a crazy world that we live in, and if you are not familiar with that then just turn on the Lifetime Channel. Okay, so Lifetime is not the best measure for understanding the magnitude of creepers in the online dating world, so why not check out something a bit more reputable… like what the FBI has to say about it. Seriously… they know what they are talking about. They’re the FBI.
In all seriousness, it is scary to allow a stranger to come to your home to pick you up on the first date. They could be catfishing you. You believed the person who was going to knock on your front door would be tall, dark and handsome, but instead you got Gollum. Yikes! What’s even worse than being cat fished is if the date doesn’t go well for whatever reason they will have your address and could totally stalk you in their spare time. Oh boy.
The Bottom Line
Ask yourself this question: Do you want to end your first date in the trunk of someone’s rusted out Oldsmobile? If you do, then tell him or her to pick up at 8 o’clock sharp! Otherwise, cut your losses and meet them in a mutual and very public place.
Remember you probably shouldn’t allow your online dating match to pick you up for that first date, but you should always share the meetup information with close friends and family members. Sharing this information is good practice just in case there is any cause for concern later on down the road.
So go ahead and tell your bestie, or your backhanding mama, who you are meeting, their physical description, telephone number and the date, time and location where you will be meeting your potential online dating Romeo or Juliet. After all, our number one concern will always be your personal safety… especially you… Charles Nathanal! Your mama told us to keep an eye out for you.
