How long do you exchange messages before meeting someone offline?

My partner and I exchanged messages for only about 2 months before we began talking about meeting. It was a big thing, as he lives very, very far away and travel arrangements needed to be made. We originally said that we would wait 6 months, but about 1 1/2 months in, we both wanted to move up the meeting to ASAP.

I'm glad I did, though neither he or I went about the meeting in a safe way. No one knew I was meeting him, except one e-mail penpal (who didn't have his contact information). No one knew he was meeting me. Looking back, I was very lucky.

Mine was only two days but my situation is probably different from the norm. We had mutual friends so I knew that he was who he said he was and wasn't afraid to go meet him. Now we're engaged

I say no matter how long you talk to someone (unless a similar situation like mine) that you should meet the first time (or few times) in a public place where other people are or drag a friend along. I don't care how lame it sounds but with all the stuff you see in the news these days, I wouldn't take any chances. I went along with a friend before when she met someone.

It's good to hear the good stories, but the bad stories are still freaking me out!

When it came to meeting FRIENDS from online, I always was sure to do that neat "exchanging signs" thing but I am also in the age group where that is still a "cool" thing to do. Where you write your friend's name on yourself or a piece of paper, take a picture of it and send it to them. It's also a cute way of saying "see we are friends!" So I never had to worry about someone not being who they say they are, plus I'd talk to them a LOT before meeting them.

My hubby, I met online and 2 days after we started talking I agreed to drive 2 hours to his house to meet him, which I did exactly 6 days after we began chatting.

5 or so... to really get an idea if it is worth it

my gf and i met online, and probably talked for a good year before we met? it's hard to recall exactly, but we definitely dated online for about 9 months before we were able to arrange a visit (she lives across the country). not to say we wouldnt have met before then if we could have, tbh, but i think it was a good amount of time to really understand that we definitely wanted this!

I don't have a defined time, but my bofriend and I talked for about 3/4ths of a year before we actually got to meet. That was mostly due to circumstance however. I'd say maybe a month for people with online dating sites, It really depends on when you're ready. However whatever you end up doing make sure that you aren't dependent on the person when you go to meet. Meet somewhere bright and public, let your family/friends know where you will be going and when you should be home, and make sure that you have a mode of transportation to leave if things go sour. Oh and probably shouldn't sleep with them, since you shouldn't just go home with them the very first time you meet them.