The Dating Game - Changing with the times

Not only do many people feel it is acceptable to start a relationship online, a quarter of respondents surveyed (26.1%) said that they would film their most intimate moments via webcam and share it via IM, and over 60 per cent of Southeast Asian consumers admitted to flirting with someone other than their partner online. 

Interestingly, whilst most people think it's acceptable to ask someone out online, only a third of the respondents (33.3%) would actually break up with someone over IM. 

With these figures, we believe that the dating game has now changed. Guys are more likely to ask for a girl's Windows Live Messenger details rather than asking for her phone number.   People are now dating online before they even meet their 'partner' in person.  What does this mean? And how do you know when to take that online relationship a step further? Below are some tips from Match.com on MSN that tell you when the time is right to meet 'offline':

1. Sparks are flying

Come on, even through innocent email flirting, you can tell if your guy / girl is hot or a cold fish. If it's sizzling online, just think what could happen without a computer between you.

2. Building anticipation

Are you giddy every time you get an instant message? Are you disappointed if it's just your colleague in the next cubicle? You know you've got to see this person, even if it's just to satisfy your curiosity.

3. Marathon phone calls

Maybe the two of you have already made the leap from cyberspace to mobile phone. You enjoy talking so much that you're not even agitated when he / she calls after midnight, when you're asleep. You could spend the next week having long conversations reminiscing about your university days or instead go out on a real date.

4. Dropping hints

Has he / she asked you questions like, "Hey, have you tried that new Italian restaurant?" and then not followed up with an official invite? He /she is probably just testing the waters, and obviously a little shy. Offer some help next time and reply with, "No, I haven't, but we should go sometime."

If the signs are there and you decide to meet offline, plan your get together in a public place, or part of a bigger group. You could choose one of the restaurants that you've discussed online. Meeting someone online is a great way to screen prospective dates, but eventually you've got to move it offline. And seriously, kissing a person is better than hugging a keyboard.