[Always *]

Hm... Well, for starters, online dating isn't for everyone. Yes it is becoming more popular and accepted. I tried it out and all I could think was that I would be to embarrassed to tell my parents and friends about HOW I met the guy if I met him online, so I went on 1 date that was just... meh (the guy was wearing basketball shorts and a golf t-shirt... His pictures showed him dressing better and that to me just seemed inconsiderate to show up to a date dressed THAT sloppy, that wasn't my only issue)... After that I deleted my account...

As for being unsure about the account being a catfish or "not all it seems" (ex. he's really an asshole in real life). My policy was always to be at least a little guarded online, only give enough away to reciprocate in getting to know the person a little so that you have an idea if you're interested then insist on meeting in person after that. Personally, I never would have dated someone online who I had no way of easily meeting in person after a few conversations.

For me, it's one thing to have a LDR where you USED to live near each other, like maybe your husband is a soldier and was sent on a tour in Afghanistan (ok, lots of other whys too, like one moving away, different colleges after high school etc.) BUUUUUUT for me, eliminating the physical connection all together just makes it harder and some how more superficial so you need to have plans to eventually meet in person (the sooner the better)... But regardless of WHY I think knowing each other in person is important, I think it adds a degree of safety because then it forces the person to be more honest about who they are. Of course, you should always meet in a public place and avoid being alone with them at first (like don't accept a ride, make up a reason why you don't need it! and never ask, that's a huge deal breaker for me which is why there was no second date with that guy )