Travel with strangers

[Robb]

Poll question: Travel with strangers

Would you head off to a romantic tropical paradise for, say, a week with someone you only knew online?

[benburch]

1. But...

You're still my favorite dingbat.

[Misunderestimator]

2. Yes, with the following caveats:

That I have seen a picture
That I have had enough interaction to know if we are compatible
That I have a sure-fire escape route

:)

[ForrestGump]

7. Let's see

No.
No.
No.
And I'm a male.

If we can get over these minor technical difficulties, we'll have a great trip!

[Misunderestimator]

9. Oh yeah... and let me add... that it's a woman. ! n/t :)

[ForrestGump]

10. See, we already have something in common!

What're the odds? Okay, 50%, but...still...

[Misunderestimator]

11. Yep... 50%...

but I have at least defined that I need a picture and proof of compatibility as well.

[ForrestGump]

12. Good luck with THOSE odds

[Misunderestimator]

13. Ok, ok, ok.... so we end up with what? maybe 10% ?

[Commendatori]

3. Hell, no. Not a chance. Under no circumstances. Absolutely not.

Let me know if I'm being too vague here.

[Robb]

4. Get off the fence, willya?!?

:D

[prolesunited]

5. Depends

Have there been long chats, phone calls, photos exchanged? Do you feel you could trust this person based on everything you've seen and heard? What are the expectations on either side? What are the provisions if things don't work out?

I say it could definitely work but tread carefully. Life is short. Take risks, just don't be stupid.

BTW, who's paying?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. sure

aside from the fact that my wife would divorce me!

[ForrestGump]

8. Hey, that's all right, 'cos

I'm already divorcing mine.

:D

Fiji, here we come!

[SarahB]

14. I'm married, that would be bad.

That being said, I think if you can validate what someone is telling you and can get to know them as well as possible, it's probably no more dangerous than anytime you go out alone with a man for the first time.

Use common sense. Tell people where you are going. That kind of thing. I've had interesting discussions recently about meeting people online and I used to tend to think of it as "weird" or for people who can't meet people in other ways, but I guess it's pretty common now. Don't mind me, I haven't dated in 14 years, so I'm clueless. No insults intended.

[Nikia]

15. My husband did this, not romantically though

He went on a trip with an online friend and shared the same hotel room. I freked out when he didn't call for the first couple days of course. My husband's a big strong guy with martial arts training so I figured that he'd be alright which he was.
As for me, I'm paranoid. I'd have to meet the person in a public place first and talk to a couple character references, such as his/her friends, family, or employer before going anywhere alone with anyone.

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. How well do you know this person?

I spent last year's vacation with a DU member I had never met (male, gay, also stayed in the same apartment as his partner). However, we had been friends for nearly a year before I went out there.