I asked for a seamstress and got a date instead

[IateAllTheGaribaldis]

I posted on a Facebook group last week looking for a seamstress and got a friends request from a local-ish chap who saw the post. He can't / doesn't sew btw.

Long story short after a bit of lighthearted banter back and forth he's taking me for dinner this evening.

He comes across well so far. He seems intelligent, good sense of humour. He isn't texting all day like previous Internet dates would. We chatted for an hour, he asked me out and the date was set. A couple of texts this morning to confirm and here we are.

It's just a bit random isn't it! Do you think it's daft of me to go? Would you mind being approached this way?

I would have gone for it. I don't see how it's any different to being approached in a bar, striking up a conversation and then agreeing to go for a drink.

The thread title sounds like a Take a Break headline. Could have made yourself £200 there, OP.

Have you actually seen this man around town, or is he some randomer?

Awww I think you should just keep
messaging for now- that’s a nice distraction too- and then meet up if he still seems interested an a week or so… no harm in that?

Most of the men on Facebook looking to be your friend on public groups usually live in America and more often than not in the military. They always ask to be your friend and some guff about how wonderful your messages are.

I had one the other day who lived in Illinois asking to be my friend. I replied "I wouldn't bother, I wouldn't want to be my friend if I could help it". He deleted his message.

If someone with their own teeth sent me a message on a public group who lived in my area, after a bit of Facebook stalking, googling and if I was single I think I would go for it. A bit different from the local rag lonely hearts page before the internet. At least now you can see and suss out your blind date beforehand.

I met someone through similarly unlikely circumstances and we dated for a while. Unfortunately he turned out to be a controlling twat with a penchant for weird sexual practices, but it was a good meet-cute while it lasted.

Nope nope nope

This is being blown out of proportion in my opinion

Meet him in a public place and keep your wits about you. Everything is internet now. He seen your pic, fancied you, took a chance. Once over he may Hve approached you in the bread aisle on a Thursday night in Tesco but it's all online now! I'm 31 and I've never met anyone without some technology involvement.

Take a chance on a little romance !

Has he posted much on this group you are on? Can you have a search and see if he has done the same to other women's comments.

I reckon take a chance on the date OP. Tbh it sounds quite refreshing. Like it was back in the day when you used to go to the pub and get asked out on a date.

It'll be fine. Go somewhere public. If you don't like him or feel uncomfortable just ask the bar staff to call you a taxi. You'll be fine. You never know, you might really like him!

@TroysMammy...what you're actually experiencing here are more than likely scammers from Nigeria of similar, they create a false profile/identity on Facebook using a picture they have copied, their preferred choice is usually someone in military uniform although working offshore on oil rigs is another favourite, they invariably claim to be American and widowed. They target women by flattering them then when they have won them over the scamming begins.

https://payback-ltd.com/blogs/what-is-a-nigerian-facebook-scam-and-how-you-can-avoid-it/. Read the section marked 'Nigerian Military Scams' and be more careful in future.

I'd go on the date!

Last time I did this, I ended up in a relationship, moving to England and having a kid. Still here 14 years later, and with him. Only occasionally regretting my life choices.

I think you should meet him if he seems nice! Of course people meet online all the time.

In my experience the random men messaging that are scammers or dodgy tend not to try to meet you. They either just want to talk dirty to someone or to steal your money.

He could be a total sleaze who messages random women in the area in the hope one will date him, or he could be genuine and actually like the look of you.

Personally I'd meet him but following the usual safety advice like meeting in a public place, tell a friend, don't leave your drink unattended etc.

Go for it!

Last week I asked on Facebook for someone to put up a tricky curtain rail and the funeral director said he'd be happy to help I was worried he'd be measuring up for a coffin rather than curtains.

I was trying to point out the probable difference between someone who lives locally to the OP suggesting a date to the ones I mentioned. PP were saying just because it was on Facebook it sounded dodgy.

@Chaoticserenity I haven't been scammed, flattered or anything else. I'm not gullible. I know or have known everyone on my Facebook friends list. I don't add randoms and friends of friends I've never met.

I be very wary. If you reschedule maybe make it 10:30 am coffee shop date rather than a bar at night and see if he's still up for it.

I think there is a risk whether you meet someone in a bar, OLD or someone messages you in Facebook. It’s whether you feel confident to sift out and look for potential red flags. I think the fact that he is local and has a proper FB profile is good. Does he appear to be hiding anything? Maybe chat for a bit longer before meeting. And if you do meet, follow the rules of : public place, careful with your drink, and escape strategy, letting someone know where you are. I don’t think it’s necessarily creepy - if you have common interests and he liked the look of you? Would you do that to a guy? I think I might if I noticed we both liked a particular band and he looked hot!

*to clarify - if I was single, noticed a good looking guy in a local discussion group, saw we had similar interests, I think I might take a chance and message him. And I don’t think I’m weird or creepy. At least I hope not…

• "Hello, I hope you don't mind how random this is but I saw your post on (Facebook group) and thought I'd say hi and introduce myself"

OP,* I'm an admin/moderator on a local fb group and I see loads of this type of post every week, and they are definitely dodgy. Often they are actually abroad looking for a way to get money sent to them or in this country with questionable immigration status.

Either way, the fact that he's used a copy and paste standard line shows that he's no Romeo bowled over by your profile picture, but is looking for something else - most probably money after spinning you a sad tale.

Please don't go just delete the conversation and block him.

I wondered whether I'd been too hasty cancelling without giving him a chance in person, as some said it's not much different to online dating..

I woke up to a message from him this morning saying "how are you hot lips"

Hot lips ffs. Block.

Good call by MNers. Well done OP.