It is possible to find the right man or woman for you on the Internet. Online dating has brought thousands of couples together who would otherwise never even have met. When you attempt to start an online friendship, it is in the hopes that it will turn into a healthy romantic relationship. Unfortunately, online dating profiles do not come with labels clearly stating whether the profile owner is emotionally balanced, or abusive, or commitment-shy or maybe even a gold-digger. Therefore, it is key that you ask your prospective date the right questions when you are still in the emailing or chatting stage. The answers that you receive will enable you to decide whether you can proceed with the online dating process with this person or whether it is best to head for the nearest exit.

The first question that you need to ask of a prospective date is, "What is the biggest mistake that you could make with online dating?".

The answer to that will likely reveal a lot to you. Such as what their attitude is towards the opposite sex and online dating in general, and what issues were really important to them in previous relationships.

Another question you should ask is, "What qualities in a man/woman does a successful relationship require?".

If they treat this a joke or avoid the answer, then it is highly likely that they have not thought about it and quite possible that a serious relationship is not really what they are after. If this is the case, then you may do well to consider looking elsewhere!

Another question that should give you insight into their online dating experiences is to ask how they are liking online dating so far. Not only will you learn more about them, but you can also learn what to do and not to do yourself.

You should also diplomatically, at the appropriate moment, ask how your prospect's previous relationship ended. If they blame their ex or take full responsibility for the breakup themselves, then that is the sign for you to move on to the next person. After all, the answer you really should be getting is that the couple simply grew apart or that they mutually agreed to end the relationship. People who lay the fault entirely at their former partner's doorstep still have unresolved issues and it is unlikely that they are ready for a new relationship, even though they may appear to want one. If they claim that they are entirely to blame for the demise of the relationship, then it is possible that you will risk getting the same results if you pursue a relationship with this person.

Keep in mind that online dating is a process that requires patience and perseverance and that you will not get instant results, despite the fact that the Internet is commonly associated with speed and ease. And do not forget that the objective of your email exchanges, chats and phone calls is to get to know each other better. Your goal is to find out what kind of person you are dealing with before you decide to meet face-to-face - the online dating moment of truth. So do not be afraid to ask questions and reply to questions as honestly as you can. It will save you time, trouble and possibly even heartache in the long run and improve your online dating experience tremendously.