I like to chat via the site or text/phone for a week before meeting, setting up a date to meet soon. Reason I do that is you can find out if you can get on via conversation. Chemistry is a person thing. Sometimes texting for a few days, you can also get an impression of if they are needy or normal. I have reasons I do this, learned on bad dates.
One guy I matched with and met within 2 days. We had sporadic texts. Turns out we had nothing in common. Awkward date. Did the same with another guy, he was dangerous, like trying to force me in his car to go back to his ( we went out for dinner which lasted 34 mins). I had never ate so quickly, I feel if we had chatted longer I might have spotted the red flags.
Another guy, texted me constantly, bit full on. Like if I didn’t answer within an hour or he saw I was on WhatsApp would ask if I lost interest. Yes I had!
Another guy, we sparked via text but day before date, he went out by himself, got drunk and started to send messages that he was not a snowflake and very odd behaviour.
Others have realised we have no mural interests, which saves the going out to find out. Like pulling teeth. Also collected a few pen pals, which is why I try to set a date up after a few days of chatting, to turn continue the get to know you phase. If we don’t suggest a date to meetup within that first week, I get suspicious. Its fine if the date is in the next week or so, as we have lives, It’s the wanting to arrange and setting a date. why go on OLD if you don’t plan to meet.
Successful dates Have been chatting for a week before meeting. Reasons, Bit more to talk about, can tell If we will chat on the date and common interests. Conversation flows.
I am not texting all day to the potential date, as I have work life etc. . Just enough to see if there is a connection. But only way really is to meet. I have had a few relationships and made a few friends this way.
Just accept OLD you will meet done odd people, but also do very interesting people.