A CERTIFICATION MARK

FOR SAFE DATING

News: the number of reports of fraud and scams via dating sites is increasing. On Nu.nl I read that people who have started dating online, “sometimes transfer money at the request of the person they are in contact with. In some cases, this involves thousands of euros. The person then disappears with the money.” Okay, that's not cool. But come on, transferring thousands of euros to someone you've never met is of course also asking for trouble.

Now, it turns out that this has been a problem before, and therefore dating sites have set up a foundation in collaboration with the Consumers' Association. It's called the Safe Dating Certification, and websites that want to have that certification must meet certain criteria. This way, consumers can date safely and they all lived happily ever after.

But wait, can't we also introduce such a certification in real life? If I had known that the jerk I was dating for three months would suddenly never call me back, I would never have started. Or that guy who couldn't stop saying how broke he was during the first 30 minutes of our conversation. No, then there was that handsome guy from Brabant who seemed to have everything I was looking for, but once in bed couldn't perform at all. If he had worn a sticker saying “bad in bed”, then I would have known that I didn't have to drown in his brown eyes and curly hair.

Honestly, a Safe Dating Certification in real life might just be the best idea ever. If I say so myself. For me, it could be loud and clear long before that I have a cat, so people with allergies don't have to try. That poor guy who came home with me after a few approving glances would have liked to know that, because then he wouldn't have had to run out of the house half-naked, choking, because his airway swelled up immediately after he got near Poes Disco.

See, everyone will benefit from this. Where can I start a petition?