Who says you have to have an online relationship? This is just another way to meet people. Once you meet here and chat a bit, get out and meet in person! The dating part is still in person and not online.

Also, I don't use webcams with strangers. Too many creepy men out there.

tsk..tsk..tsk...john..john...

Online relationship can take different shades and i'd say it is only by being able to read the unwritten words between the lines that you get to know who the other person is!
For someone you met on this site, I'd expect a long running exchange of onsite mails to be enough to get to know each other in the begining. A msg or two a day could advance into exchange of Mobile sms. Though, while i wouldn't have much against off site emails, I personally don't have much trust in Yahoo! The registration is too OPEN and there is no security check that can help trace the account user if there should be reason in the future.
Gmail for instance has a phone sms confirmation system before you can get an account registered. And with most countries in the world having SIM Registration mechanisms in place, it is possible to trace the true identity of the phone owner if there should any case of illegality in the future.
This said, i'd like to believe online relationships should be allowed to mature on their own starting out as simple friendships and maybe later on with better knowledge, progress into a deeper relationship.
Then there is the long distance thing, if you are both living in places far away from one another, i'd simply look at it as better being a Pen pal kind of stuff. I personally have many such pals across the world and with the long distance seperating us, i don't enter into any immature daydream of something more intimate for now.
Also i'd love to think most of us here have some other online identity or the other. If someone is real, there should be some other online identifications that with time will show you who they are. But my keyword in this situation is always Caution and Patience. It is never going to be possible to know who is true and who is a fake without taking some time. If you think something is not right, do some research into it, and ask direct or subtle indirect questions :-) And from the answers you come up with, you may know better.
On the whole, just like real life relationships take some time to mature, online meet ups also need time for ppl to get to know each other. A liar will certainly slip along the way!
Even if you live close by, i'd suggest, the first physical meet ups are in mutually agreed public places until some kind of trust is established.

Oh come on, you don't need to not read body language to figure this one out. Why are you asking for people to justify what you already know?

You have to keep in mind that women are in the exact same position. Sometimes the least of your worries could be that you just wont get along face to face or someone has been intentionally dishonest. There is also the very real risk of kidnapping and bodily harm. Precautions have to always be taken if you decide to meet someone in person.

For you I would recommend web cameras because then you know what the person looks like and it is current. Webcams are very affordable so there is really no excuse not to have one. If the mysterious lady you are currently conversing with refuses, offer to buy one for her and if she still hesitates, you will know there is a reason she cant show herself to you on camera.

Which voice? Haven't been to my therapist this month yet.

yes you have, no I haven't, don't take his side, who's side, I could use a drink, you don't drink, yes he does, how would you know, keep it down guys, who you talkin to, mind your own business, who's business, he has a business, yep on the side, who's taken who's side, where you goin, he's takin him to a business, what business, his, who's goin, I'll go, no ones leaven, who said, he did, don't listen to him, who, hey where you guys been, who's he, he's the new guy, what guy, him, your always making up stuff, where's my stuff, he took it, who, him, him who, never you mind, mind oh shoot I got to get to my therapist this month, oh brother, who has a brother, I don't know, him......

BINGO!!!

am soo happy for this opportunity given to me to express myself,am Thierry kambilige and i use anatutey as my profile name,i have been on this side for years and havn't found love yet!i use to wander why but now i no the reason for people not replying my mails when ever i try to get intouch cos they always think am a scammer just because i sometime want to take the conversation to yahoo massenger to have the fastest live chat experence,i dont actually think this makes me a scammer.i no u guys believe that most scammers are blacks and they are from africa yes i can't denny that fact cos we'v got people here in africa who are involve in that act but u guys sould think about this! Even if 40percent are scammers what about the 60percent? Online dating is just what i want to experence but not the intention of scamming people.

What?!

Seriouly. Stay here. Learn to just be you, make you worth being with and let the girls who fine you interesting talk to you.

It takes a lot more work to actually get to know a person here instead of changing the why you are to fit her 'body language'. I wasn't trying to harsh but when you learn how to 'read' a gal it's too easy to manipulate, well, her. I know the intent is to get to know her, but we don't always think with the right head. But I know you know what I am saying. It's harder work here than watching the girl in the bar looking down and fiddling with her drink.

I was just thinking the same thing and then came to this post. Glad I did because this whole dating online this is so confusing! I'm already having second thoughts about it. Seems like my in box is loaded with messages to spam me or to have one nighters (when I was very clear that I did not want that)
sigh, good luck to you. I hope you have better luck than me! lol

well said.

Scammers are at best annoying and at worst intent on criminal fraud, you quickly dismiss the obvious, but it is the not so obvious ones that are a problem.
In my experience, within a few weeks they have either contradicted themselves, offered to come and live with you on holiday to get to know you if you pay the fare, moved to another country, or requested the loan of money. I do give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but as soon as it moves to one of the above scenarios, or similar, I say goodbye.
I would never send any money, and they do waste a lot of your time. Sorry, I do not have an easy answer for you, good luck and I hope she is real, she sounds nice.

you can never trust online dating you are probably talking to a lonely fat bloke disguised as female (happened to me).

I get around two emails a month from "young women". Most are from Asia or Africa. DELETE works quite well.

My assumption is they want a green card or money. It could, also, be a man posing as a foreign woman.

"Danger, danger Will Robinson!"

That's what keeps me getting into all those difficult positions. My head lies to me all the time.

Took a day and a half the last time to get us untangled.

Before attempting, ask your Doctor if you are healthy enough.

DO NOT OPEN THIS LINK!
http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1160/1462130396_b251356dc5_o.jpg

Or just message her and say if they are BS'ing you, your outta here. If real, ask them to prove it. In anycase, go forward--as opposed to: "go west young man".