We’ve all been there. We go out with someone who we think is absolutely perfect, and they’re super sexy to boot! Then we do or say something that makes us want to crawl under a rock and slowly rot in our regrets. We call these “dating don’ts” and they’re the things we do that can destroy any potential relationship. If you haven’t yet experienced this, you’re in luck! Here we’ll identify the worst of the worst so you’ll know exactly what to avoid next time you’re out on a date. Learning from the mistakes of others is the same reason we study history in school – so that we don’t repeat the mistakes made by those who came before us. So don’t let someone else’s mistake ruin your chances again!Going on a date is never easy at the best of times, unless you’re Paris Hilton, who’s probably been on hundreds, reports The Sun.
But we still haven’t learned what’s guaranteed to get our guy or girl looking for the exit quicker than you can say ‘I’m a secret trainspotter’.
Let’s start with the worst offenses..
1. Entrances and exits
Turning up late is, unsurprisingly, a massive turn-off. But some people also manage to offend when it comes to leaving, by simply bolting while their date is at the bar or in the loo. Or even doing a runner the second they set eyes on their prospective partner. Chance of a second date? About a million to one.
2.The Dress
Showing a little cleavage is acceptable, but dressing like an exotic dancer will most likely scare off any respectable man. Sure, you might think that the sexier you are the more likely you are to hook him, but most men will honestly tell you that slutty dress doesn’t make for a hot date. It makes for a slutty date. Keep yourself appropriately covered!
3.Sex about
Do not have sex on first dates!If you honestly are looking for more than a one-night stand, having sex on the first date is the best way to kill any glimmer of hope you might have had that your single life was officially over. Why, might you ask? If someone wants to have sex on the first date, they must really be into me, you might be thinking. Unfortunately, by putting out on the first date you give a man nothing to work for. He’s no longer got that ultimate goal (i.e. sex) in mind and therefore probably doesn’t see why continuing to see you is going to lead to anything. By waiting to have sex, you give them a reason to keep seeing you and hopefully they’ll see that there’s more to you than your hot exterior.
4. Drinking
We all feel the need for a bit of Dutch courage, but there’s a fine line between a couple of sharpeners, and getting so hammered you don’t even remember your own name, let alone your date’s.
5. The ex
Never, ever mention the ex on a first date. Why? Because it shows you still haven’t quite got over him/her, are still obsessed with the past, and that you’re also quite possibly a stalker who just can’t let go. It might be hard, especially if you’re fresh out of a serious relationship, but avoiding conversation that involves your ex is the most prudent of actions on any first date. By talking about your ex, you are revealing to your date that you’re obviously not over them. Show both your date and yourself you’re totally over your ex!
6. Yours or mine?
Carried away in the heat of the moment, it’s often too easy to go back ‘for a coffee’ after what seems like a successful date. But don’t. You’ll just come across as easy. Or, worse, Russell Brand.
7. The bill
We’re all feeling the pinch, so it’s not really fair to expect your date to foot the bill. These days, it’s more polite to offer to pay your share, rather than making an excuse to leave the table the minute your date makes that funny ’signing the air’ gesture .
8. Lies and more lies
What do I mean? Be yourself. If you lie, you’ll get caught in it eventually. Lies are a horrible way to start off any relationship so keep true to yourself. Be open and honest, but not too honest, either. Keep them guessing and wanting to know more. If you tell everything right off the bat, there’s no longer that sexy sense of mystery. Lies have a weird way of being found out – so if you lie about your age, your job, the fact that you still live with your parents, or whether you’re actually already in a relationship, you’d better make quite sure you don’t want to see the person again – or that they’ll never find the truth out on Facebook.
9. What’s in a name?
It’s always a good idea to try and remember who you’re actually meeting up with, otherwise you’ll come across either like the kind of person who dates so many people they can’t keep track, or has the attention span of a goldfish. Neither of which make a good impression.
10. Three’s company
While some people really dig the idea of a threesome, bringing a mate, or even your mum, on your date will mark you out as a strange saddo who can’t even go to the loo on your own.
11. Arguments
A spirited, healthy debate about world issues is no bad thing on a first date; an insult-slinging, punch-throwing argument is not.
12. Text, please!
The whole point of a date is to give your partner your undivided attention and, hopefully, get theirs in return. It is not to text your mates, find out the footie results, speak to your long-lost Aunt Margaret or even set up another date with someone else. Being glued to your phone all night is Just. Plain. Rud
Though I’m sure there are thousands of other dating don’ts out there, these are the big ones. Avoid these and you’ll find yourself cruising on to date two! At least, I would certainly hope so! If you do mess up and fall victim to a dating don’t, do not despair! It happens to the best of us. Pick yourself up and keep on trying. Just try not to repeat the same mistake again!
