Online dating etiquette says it’s okay to get involved in more conversations at the same time. There is no harm in writing emails back and corresponding with people who contact you. Statistically speaking, one in four or five emails gets an answer. Which means that the system does not follow a single thread as in ‘you write to someone and wait for him/her to get back to you’. The rule works both ways; you don’t act against online dating etiquette if you don’t answer back to someone who has contacted you.
It is perfectly reasonable to ignore an email if you consider that the sender is not right for you.While in real life such situations are more delicate and usually require an explanation, in the electronic system, you break no online dating etiquette by just turning your back on someone. How could you write back to a person and call him/her a bad match? A different issue is when you break up through emails.
If you have met online and then went on a real date, things can be more complicated. You can tell that person that you don’t want to meet again, or you can write him/her a message. However, after several dates, you should give one an explanation even if you have met online. Do it elegantly and in as friendly terms as possible. Plus, you can still continue to write to other people even when dating someone. That is considered acceptable.
It is totally against online dating etiquette to keep your profile up when seriously communicating with someone. When you commit seriously to an online relationship it means that at a certain point you will start seeing each other. You can still remain a member and keep your profile, but make sure the profile is no longer active. Without sticking to this common sense rule, you may spoil your chance of getting a good relationship going.
A great deal of the online dating ettiquette refers to general communication rules. Rudeness, profanity and dishonesty are totally unacceptable, yet they cannot be eliminated from dating services for good. Well moderated sites are less exposed to rudeness but every online dating web site is exposed to dishonest people.
