The first phone conversation. So you've been chatting and emailing someone for a while now.You've googled his full name and nothing came back to make you worry. Luckily, he doesn't look like the stalker type.
It is really hard to get to know someone on such a flat communication surface like the Internet. A phone call is necessary to really start to get to know someone. No matter how exciting a profile might seem, I play it safe and I usually wait about a month of frequent communication (couple times a week) before a phone conversation. Different rules apply when you live in the same city which will be covered in the future.
Men should give out their number first and allow the girl the option to respond. This isn't due to chivalry, well maybe a little, but it is a safety concern. I have often texted someone first for a couple days and then schedule a phone date. Scheduling a certain time is important for both of you. I like to be able to dedicate some time where I am not distracted by other things so that I can get a better read on the guy. Sometimes you know right away that it isn't going to work but if the other person is shy give them a second call. Both men and women are less nervous the second call around.
