Welcome, cooking.
I've been on this site for years. If you want real converation instead of an endless line of :
wwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaassssssssssuuuuuuuuuppppppppp!
Then you've come to the right place. As for safety, the moderators try their best to keep the creeps out , but in the end its really up to you how safe it is. Every internet chat site will have problems and problem people. Its just our human nature, but this is by far the best I've found in years.
Have fun and think before you leap.