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Surf Your Values
Merging Offline and Virtual Worlds
There are more and more areas of life that cross over into shades
of gray—situations that start online but end as face-to-face meetings.
This advice, given by an In ternet dating service, actually applies to
many other online matters.
You can increase the chance of success by remembering one simple
tip: Always be honest.. . . Do not lie. Be genuine. Be yourself. Online
dating success relies on representing yourself for who you really are.
The anonymity of the Internet allows people to embellish, leave
things out, or evenjust create a whole new person. Inevitably, a first
date will not work out when the people finally meet in person. It’s
much better to be up front with who you are and what you’re looking
for. This attracts the kind of people you want to meet. Even if you
get fewer responses, the chances of a date working out and moving
to a second date are greater.30
I t’s important to remember that contacts made online reflect our
offline character. Acting politely is important, even when rejecting
offers at work or establishing new connections. I ’ve lost count of
the number of times that I have had contact with people online
and eventually met them at professional conferences, homeschool
sporting events, church meetings, or other events. Make sure that
your online words don ’t create future offline embarrassments.
Between church activities, community events, and busy work
schedules, there never seems to be enough hours in a day. But if
you are looking for wholesome offline family-oriented fun, Focus
on the Family’s “Focus on Your Child”website offers a long list of
online ideas and offline family-centered activities that can help
provide a proper balance in life.31
On the o ther hand, sometimes we ju st need to say no to new
online commitments. Like most people, Thomas Wailgum, a busy
editor for
ChiefInformation Officer
(
CIO)
magazine, was not looking
for more things to do. He understood the many benefits of Face-
book, and he was urged to set up his personal site by old friends
and colleagues. And yet, in response, he decided against it; he wrote
this in his professional blog: