When online dating meets real life!! help?

[lilaloves]

Ok,set up a profile on POF a few weeks ago.Lots of messages so far.
The problem is I live in quite a small city so seem to keep bumping into guys who have sent me messages,or ,I find this really awkward!

Whats the normal way to deal with this? Avoid?! just ignore each other?

So,last Friday my eldest goes to an afterschool activity,it was a parents info evening,I rarely take him, ex usually does so not that familiar with all the parents,soon as walk through the door I see a guy thats on POF.Two days later he starts messaging,asks me out etc.
I said I thought he looked familiar/we might be in similar circles etc,he says he would def remember me if we had met.
I must not live up to my profile pic in real life then? Not great for my confidence!

So,do I tell him we have actually met in real life already? Or just don't answer any more messages?

Just a bit worried that if we did meet up but didn't like each other,we would still have to attend kids activities and see each other.

You must be incredibly observant, I can never recognise anyone in "real life" from their photos unless I know them very well.

I live in quite a large city but I have had one potential situation where I "bumped into" an old work colleague on OKCupid! He sent me a msg saying "I'd love to get to know that side of you" - I definitely definitely did not fancy him so just said "Thanks but I think it would be a bit too weird seeing as I used to manage you!"

I think it's best to just acknowledge with a "fancy seeing you here!" if you think they have recognised you. Like I say, a lot of people probably won't - it sounds like you are really good at facial memory. Certainly it sounds like the parents evening guy didn't?

Just a bit worried that if we did meet up but didn't like each other,we would still have to attend kids activities and see each other.

But isn't that the case for someone you might meet anywhere? As long as you're not the type who sets fire to his car if he dumps you, it can't be too awkward!

This happens all the time. It happens to me online (eg I see someone I know or knew) and it happens offline (I see someone in the street, socially) who I've seen online. IYSWIM.

Just be upfront about it. Why wouldn't you? I think it's quite funny, makes the world seem a smaller place.

If you had a date with the other parent, but you had been introduced at a party, you'd still have to deal with any fallout.

~Why not just take it in your stride?

I thought the point of online dating was to meet someone in real life? Looks like POF is doing the screening for you so you know who is available?

Yes,I never forget a face! ,names not so much,even ones I would never be interested in! I can't help it.I can could see someone once and still remember them years later,I must be weird!

Anyway,this is my first experience of dating after 14 years of marriage,been separated nearly a year now.
Maybe there is a safety barrier up.Online dating doesn't really feel real iyswim? It's only when paths cross in real life that I panic.
Maybe I'm not ready yet.:(

I've had a few male aquaintances (sp) message me on POF in the past. I brushed it off in a style similar to how pocket suggests
A cheery 'any joy' type statement.