Online relationships need rules

Friendships created on the Internet can take a questionable turn if they become something more.

If a relationship gets to the point of constant texts and conversations over the phone, but never a face-to-face meeting, one should be concerned about who they are actually talking to.

There are certain rules that must be obeyed to make sure both parties are genuine about who they claim to be.

This way, if there was an actual meet-up, there would not be any unpleasant surprises. After watching the documentary “Catfish” and episodes of the MTV show of the same name, I came to the conclusion that there are some complete, bold-face liars who sit behind their monitors.  
Some may not realize that people can be hurt when liars put on fake personas for their own amusement or to compensate for their insecurities. Falling in love online with someone who is unwilling to update what he or she looks like is a bad idea.

Sure, it’s been said that people should not judge a book by its cover, however, if one can’t even see what the cover looks like, it is best to be skeptical. It is so easy to right click on a computer mouse and save a photo of someone else to be used later — it literally takes a second to do.  
On “Catfish,” nearly all of the participants claimed not to own a webcam.

They also claimed to be unable to get any recent photos of themselves because their cameras don’t work. It is hard to believe that given all the technology around us, these folks don’t have a working camera.

Even if they did not have one, they would have to know somebody who does.

Lying about yourself and where you live definitely does not take much effort if you’re trying to make yourself look good. If a story is too good to be true, with nothing to back it up, then it probably is. As an introvert and someone who used to spend a lot of time on online websites and forums, I have met many people on the Internet who I keep in contact with.

However, with the exception of two, I will more than likely never meet them and I am OK with that. Chatting with these people about things I could not normally express through speaking with peers or family has always been easier for me.

If planning to get romantically involved with someone, try to avoid doing it on a website.

It is best to focus on people in your area. However, I still believe that online dating can be beneficial. I met my boyfriend online. Both of us were honest about who we are and never lied about our intentions on and off the computer monitor.

Honesty is the most important thing in any relationship, regardless of how one came to meet that person.

But if there is little-to-no trust, then why bother?