So you dove into one of those relationships that aren’t anywhere near home. And to complicate things, you met this perfect person online. You are running face first into an online initiated long distance relationship.
MUST READ: 9 Things You Should Never Do At His Place
Well, well, well, well, well. Let’s make sure you play it safe.
Do Not Share Naked Pictures!
No matter how much you trust and adore this person, do not share naked pictures. Do not strip down to your underwear. Not in the beginning and not later either.
You’re in love. But pictures like this can end up in the wrong hands. And people can react unexpectedly if they get angry enough. Just ask all the men and women who thought they knew their partner enough to trust them with intimacy via photos and video only to find out otherwise. It is not a pleasant moment. Things like this have ruined careers. You think you know what you’re going to be doing down the road, but don’t be careless with your life. This can come back and bite you in the butt no matter what your age is.
Do Not Assume You’re Not Being Scammed
Online is where most of the scamming happens. Online is also where sex traffickers look for fresh meat. Online is the place ISIS fishes for followers. Online is where identity thieves find new victims. They are good at what they do. Some of them you can spot right away, and some you can’t.
Do you think that anyone who’s gotten caught up in these nets saw it coming? Some of the best laid plans come from someone who’s found their way into your heart by becoming your most cherished friend. Be careful!
Do Not Break Ties with Your Family
This is very important. Anyone who tries to wedge themselves between you and your family is attempting to break you away from your support system. This might be hard to understand, but this is a safety issue.
Even if you’re feeling frustrated with something that’s going on at home, it’s your family that has had your back to this point.
It is not a functional relationship if your significant other is stoking the fires of anger or betrayal where family ties are concerned. A good relationship does not involve breaking away from family in order to build something better.
Causing you to burn a rift in family ties is also an ISIS tactic. It is what sex traffickers do make you think you can’t possibly go back home. It is something that someone does that is trying to take advantage of you in all the wrong ways.
Don’t Meet in Private
The first time you meet this person, meet them on your turf, on your terms. Meet in public. Snap a picture and send it to a friend or family right away. Make sure others know what you are up to, where you’re going, and when to expect you back. Keep your phone with you at all times. Do not loan this person your phone… no matter how much you trust them!
Pay attention to how they treat others besides you. Pay attention to whether or not all of the pieces fit together about their life, about what you’ve been told, the pictures they share. Pay attention to warning flags. This is not the time to start explaining things away.
Do not ignore the flags.
Do Not Believe there is No Way Out
If you’ve made a bad choice and you think you’re in over your head, keep your head firmly on your shoulders and look for a way out. Sometimes the person they’ve used to reel you in will act the victim and convince you that they’ll only be safe if you stay. This may or may not be true. But if that is the case, you need to get out of there. No guilt. No heroism. Leave. Leave naked if you have to. Walk 200 miles home barefoot if that’s what it takes, or head to the police, call home. Even if they’re angry, they will help you.
