Meeting People Online

I was just wondering whats your opinion about meeting people you meet online. I hear so much on TV and Read about how dangerous it is to meet people online and how people are getting **** and stuff, and I just wanted to know whats your opinion about it. I was thinking about situations when it seems to be ok like if meet them on here and ya'll are headed to the same college and ya'll meet up when you get there and stuff like that but how safe is it really? Then there are other places on the net like chat rooms and black planet where it might not be safe at all...ok so whats your opinion???