Either party can suggest a meet, if the guy (or girl) avoids meeting, not worth your time.

For me being a guy I have been catfished a LOT. That being said I rather get the meeting out of the way sooner rather then later so I don't develop feelings for a fake person and fake pictures.

I would love to meet a number of the women here in person but, the reality is that the distances are, too great to be practical.

The guards won't give me a day pass to go on a date

Hasn't been my experience - but hey, we're all different. I prefer writing a bit, then phone, then meet . Most seem to be ok with that.

...why do some make blanket statements regarding an entire gender..? I don’t know? But it wouldn’t take many before I’d have no desire to meet them either

I have done very little online dating, but that is because men were rarely who they said they were, in one way or another. I encountered married men, men who used very old pictures, men with drinking problems, and men who were in extreme debt. One guy told me that he lived with his son and his son's friends, liked to party with son and friends, and that he was addicted to blue cheese. That was all in the first 5 minutes. He also had major dental problems. His profile said that he was a financial advisor, made over 150K a year, and lived in Florida half of the year. Riiiight. I couldn't get away from him fast enough. And those were just the ones who would actually meet. As someone who dislikes dating, it completely turned me off from it all. If I would have stuck with it, I may have eventually met someone "normal," but it is a crapshoot. I would say if someone doesn't want to meet, they more than likely have things to hide. I wouldn't waste my time. Tell them, "If you ever want to meet, drop me a line." Then let them know you will be moving on to people who are willing to meet. If he thinks you're worth his time, he will agree to meet. If he doesn't, he won't. Simple as that.

Well, suggesting a meeting immediately gets withdrawal, in my experience. Plus, now don't judge me, I expect to pay for whatever happens at the first meeting, and most of the ones so far have resulted in very little chemistry. So I'm careful.

Goes both ways.

When it does, it is:

A. Scam
B. Married
C. Lied too much on the profile.
D. Religious fanatic stuck in a loop fighting their natural urges. (I want to get laid, but it is a sin, but I want to get laid, but....)

Perhaps it has to do with how honest one has been on one's profile. Some deceptions are hard to disguise in person.
IMHO, it is wiser to first meet in person at a public venue where we can learn so much more about each other in far less time - and ultimately, it is safer!.

I don't think that it is just men. It has to do with more interested and less interested parties involved in the text conversation. It has to do with how much the encounter will cost. It has to do with how each individual comes across in photos and text messages.

I'd rather rule someone out with messaging before meeting if I can be sure it won't work out. For example, I've had several proselytize or witness to me. I'm glad not to waste time meeting them in person.

I like meeting people just to make friends. Good friends is still a relationship and most of the time better than romantic ones. Who knows, you might end up in a friends with benefits situation.
All the good, none of the bad.

I think on- line is effective in the start to beak the ice and then you should meet up for coffee and just talk and find out more about the other party. What are there likes and dislikes and see whether you can both fit or not. If you cannot fit is fine be civilised, thank each other and enjoy your coffee experience

Maybe they're like me and are afraid because they think they're too ugly.

I agree. I’m not sure about this online dating. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in a person and then nothing happens. They don’t want to meet or they live in another state. I’m very cautious now.

Because my wife would kill me.

HUH? In my experience it's the women who don't want to meet and keep dragging out the texting and chats. I gave up on it

The main reason I've found is they are scammers, the ones that talk about wanting to get to know you better, pretend they live nearby but won't agree to meet for coffee. I've also found that quite a few only want to talk, usually about sex, they are lonely but can't be bothered to seek a real relationship. I've been a widow for almost 10 yrs and I've tried free sites and paid sites, it's all the same. I'd like to meet someone but nursing is prohibitive as you can't ethically date your patients but now as a travel agent maybe I'll meet someone in the real world.

Doesn't it depend what you are looking for? If, like me, you are simply looking for intelligent conversation, then there is no need to meet and it doesn't matter if you are the other side of the world. If you are seriously looking for someone to spend time with, then does it matter how long it takes before you feel ready to meet? Having rules seems a bit judgmental to me - guidelines perhaps?

I don't know id rather move straight on with it myself. id be very concerned about a woman who takes way too much time too. I don't understand either woman who says they want to date or men who have no picture

I know I am fortunate to be in a densely populated place in LA, so there are many people within a reasonable proximity to me. And, after two marriages (one 7 years and one 25 years), I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But, in the 3 years I have been online dating; I have never had any guys be reluctant to meet. Granted, most IRL dates are one and done (no chemistry in spite of intense prescreening for on-paper compatibility); there is no other way to find a partner in crime than ACTUALLY MEETING!! I am ready and willing to meet if/when agreeable texting and calling lead to a desire to take it to the next step.

Seems to me it is the other way around. Women are afraid to meet and talk in person. They are right because of the damage done bya few males. A very public place should always be the first place to meet and see if there is something. Ladies are you listening. PUBLIC PLACE.

Probably because they either have no car, live at home, or have no job,money, or significant source of income. If they did, they wouldn't be here.

I don't text. I know how, but I don't. I don't own any kind of hand held device except an old flip phone, that somebody laughed at last night when I pulled it out. (I mostly use it as a watch--remember them?) Maybe I am doomed in this modern anti-social society we have become.

I don't have kids, so I prefer not to text since I never really got into the habit. But no one wants to talk on the phone either. In either case, I often assume that some kind of fear or damage to psyche has occured. But some of the other reasons given here make a lot of sense too.