Found an ad on Craigslist that intrigues me - should I be worried?

[supernova]

He is not the in casual encounters area, so no meetups at the rest station on the interstate. :P

He sounds intelligent and articulate, advertised as the appropriate age for me, calls * "our warmongering draftdodger." Those are all positives to me. Calls himself independent which could mean any thing from self-employed to unemployed.

I've never responded to these ads before. I'm rather shy about checking him out. What kinds of info should I be looking for?

[DS1]

1. down to earth = lives in mother's basement

/stolen from 80's mad magazine

[supernova]

3. lol LOL LOL

yes, that's true. :D

[pokerfan]

6. Personal Ad Translator

Code Word: 40-ish
Really Means: 48

Code Word: Adventurous
Really Means: Has had more partners than you ever will

Code Word: Affectionate
Really Means: Possessive

Code Word: Artist
Really Means: Unreliable

Code Word: Average looking
Really Means: Ugly

Code Word: Beautiful
Really Means: Pathological liar

Code Word: Commitment-minded
Really Means: Pick out curtains, now!

Code Word: Communication important
Really Means: Just try to get a word in edge-wise

Code Word: Contagious Smile
Really Means: Bring your penicillin

Code Word: Educated
Really Means: College dropout

Code Word: Emotionally Secure
Really Means: Medicated

Code Word: Employed
Really Means: Has part-time job stuffing envelopes at home

Code Word: Enjoys art and opera
Really Means: Snob

Code Word: Financially Secure
Really Means: One paycheck from the street

Code Word: Free spirit
Really Means: Substance user

Code Word: Friendship first
Really Means: Trying to live down reputation as slut

Code Word: Fun
Really Means: Annoying

Code Word: Gentle
Really Means: Comatose

Code Word: Good Listener
Really Means: Borderline Autistic

Code Word: Humorous
Really Means: Caustic

Code Word: Intuitive
Really Means: Your opinion doesn't count

Code Word: Light drinker
Really Means: Lush

Code Word: Looks younger
Really Means: If viewed from far away in bad light

Code Word: Loves Travel
Really Means: If you're paying

Code Word: Loves Animals
Really Means: Cat lady

Code Word: Mature
Really Means: Will not let you treat her like a farm animal in bed, like last boyfriend did

Code Word: New-Age
Really Means: All body hair, all the time

Code Word: Non-tradional
Really Means: Ex-husband lives in the basement

Code Word: Old-fashioned
Really Means: Lights out, missionary position only

Code Word: Open-minded
Really Means: Desperate

Code Word: Outgoing
Really Means: Loud

Code Word: Passionate
Really Means: Loud

Code Word: Romantic
Really Means: Looks better by candle light

Code Word: Self-employed
Really Means: Jobless

Code Word: Smart
Really Means: Insipid

Code Word: Special
Really Means: Road the short school bus

Code Word: Spiritual
Really Means: Involved with a cult

Code Word: Stable
Really Means: Boring

Code Word: Tan
Really Means: Wrinkled

Code Word: Wants Soulmate
Really Means: One step away from stalking

[supernova]

7. Normally I'd find this funny

but that doesn't make me feel better right now.

[pokerfan]

8. Don't worry about it then

What have you got to lose? Take the normal precautions and the answer is nothing.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

26. But what about us Southerners who don't have basements? We live on mud in a swamp.

[rug]

2. For starters, I'd review this thread carefully:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=6919253&mesg_id=6919253

[supernova]

4. Some of those are classic

I bet they make the DUzys this week. :-)

[supernova]

5. Kick

I'd really like some help here. :blush:

I've written out a response but haven't sent it yet.

[crispini]

9. Just send it.

Breathe easy, don't take it too seriously, exchange a couple of emails and then set up a coffee date fairly quickly (in a well lighted public place, heh). A key trap in meeting online is that they are nothing like they are in RL, which is crushing to have exchanged dozens of deep emails and then meet them and get absolutely no interest. Don't sweat it though--- I've met tons of people through CL and other internet personals and none of them were axe murderers. A couple of guys I dated for awhile & am still friends with today. :D

[supernova]

11. Eek! I sent it

Thanks for the moral support crispini. :thumbsup: I'm not a social butterfly so these sorts of situations are challenging for me.

[crim son]

10. I have a good male friend - intelligent, kind, fit

and employed! who sometimes posts personals on craiglist. He's met a few women that way, but generally speaking the women have been rather creepy. Not all of them, though. I'd give it a shot if I were you.

[supernova]

12. Good to know

Don't think I'm creepy. Just hope he isn't either. I seem to attract them like dryer sheets.

[crim son]

14. Me too, in real life as well as online.

You'll never know unless you try. I'm a big believer in taking chances, unless they're with your life. :P

[Danger Mouse]

13. another cantidate for my 'throne of skulls'..

eh heh heh...
shit.
did i type that?
:yoiks:

[supernova]

15. You mean your chimney?

And if you gotta barbed wire fence...


:yoiks:

[Danger Mouse]

19. i didn't say anything.

nothing is wrong.
continue about your normal business, meatling.

[supernova]

20. Call me that again

and prepare to have your pixels obliterated. :grr:

[Danger Mouse]

21. OK, I think I'm scared now.

:hide:

[supernova]

22. I'm shy,

not cowardly. Confuse the two at your peril. ;-)

[Danger Mouse]

23. in all seriousness.

i hope it works out for you.
you never know.
just be safe.

[BlooInBloo]

16. So exciting!!! Are we gonna get play-by-play??? Pleeeeeasee???

[supernova]

17. For you Bloo,

I'll make an extra special podcast. :*

[BlooInBloo]

18. Woooot!!!! :)

[Digit]

24. Oh, well I met someone as a result of a post on that site....

I even met him for dinner.
Since I realize posts here appear out on the internet if someone does a search and it picks up the post, I am not going to describe it.
At this point, I don't want him to be a stalker.
He was totally looneytunes and kept insisting we go to a remote location together.

I am in my 50's and I have NEVER met anyone as weird as this guy.

Of course your results may vary, but do be careful.

[supernova]

28. Thanks Digit

finding a potential stalker is one thing that does concern me. (One of the reasons I now have a phone by my bedside.) But I suppose you can run into those offline too just as easily.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Well, you might want to read this post...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6920643

Not trying to scare you...Just be careful, ok? :hug:

[supernova]

29. I did read that thread

and it is awful. I feel sorry for all that guy's unwitting partners.

It almost makes me feel like saying OK, we like each other, let's get fumigated in the lab together! :silly:

[havocmom]

27. If your track record is fairly good ( your judgment has been OK in past)

have a little faith, but keep your senses about you. Be watchful of secretive behavior. Also be watchful if he agrees with EVERYTHING. Be mindful of how much info you give and how fast you give it. Expect that if he is a good guy and has a brain, he will be a bit reserved about info too - Reserved NOT the same as secretive.

Go slow. LOTS of communication. Eyes open, but mind also open. Heart somewhat open.

Good luck,
havocmom, who met Havocdad online ;)

[supernova]

30. That's the fun part

Track record. Horrible judgement in the past, but a few recent experiences/traps that I have successfully avoided have given me the impression that maybe the system is now working the way it's supposed to.

I'll see. Maybe he won't even respond.

It's good to hear that things worked out for you and havocdad. :-)

[havocmom]

31. Keep in mind: Easy to meet crazy, dangerous people online

and on a bus ;)