It's rarely easy to make the move from your online conversations with someone to that first date out in the real world. Sure, you think the other person is witty via email but they might be witty only because they've had the time to plan out what they want to write. And yes, you're attracted to the pictures that you've seen but we all know people who send only their most flattering pictures to their online partners. So, you're understandably afraid that this other person isn't going to be who you thought they were when you actually meet in person. And maybe you're afraid that you won't be liked for your real life self either.



Introduce the webcam. A webcam chat can be a terrific way to get to know someone in a slightly more "real" way than through other forms of computer communication. You're communicating in real time so you don't get that delay that comes with email. And you can see the person's mannerisms, appearance and body language while the conversation is taking place. Most people think of the webcam as something that is used by people who want to engage in "naughty chats" but video chat can actually be quite a useful tool for making that leap from the virtual world to the physical one.