Common First-Date Mishaps to Avoid

Everyone is nervous on a first date, and for that reason, slip-ups naturally occur. Here is a handful of the most common, and why we should try to avoid them:

1. Leave your life story at home.
A new prospect may ask a few questions about your past, but they do not want to be filled in on every detail from time you were three until you were 17. Save those details for a much, much later date. If ever. Instead, focus on you in the now.

2. Check the attitude at the door.
No one likes a Know-It-All who always has to have the last word about everything. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and ways of doing things. Just because your date has never read the Harry Potter series does not mean that they are a bad person and you have the right to make them feel like one. Instead of seeing a person with a passion for juvenile literature, your date will just see a person acting like a juvenile. A pushy, jerky juvenile.

3. You and your date have completely different point-of-views.
You prefer coffee while your date drinks tea. You love chocolate while your date chooses vanilla. You say milk and your date says melk. So there are some differences here. Do not, under any circumstances, argue about them! It is the little things like these that can make relationships interesting, so just let them be. Otherwise, you will get into an argument that there is absolutely no hope in winning, because you cannot change someone's mind about how to properly say the word "milk". Even if you get out the dictionary.

4. You keep bringing up your ex's name. Over and over and over.
Chances are, if you are bringing up your ex, it is not in a good way, because you are no longer in a relationship with them (and if you are, that is a whole different article). While it is nice to know that you are no longer with them, your date does not necessarily want to hear you talk trash about them either. This just reflects badly on your own countenance. Immature and petty, I think are two proper terms. And if you are giving your ex a glowing review, then your date is going to wonder why you are out with them because you obviously are not over your former flame. Only answer any direct questions with as few words as possible and move the conversation along.

5. Your date's dinner looks so yummy you think you will try a bite.
Unless your date specifically says the magic words, "Help yourself," do no EVER take food off their plate. You are invading their personal space. You are bursting their comfort bubble. You are grossing them out on a whole new level. If a person you barely know reaches over and helps themselves to your dinner without your consent, it makes you wonder what else they may reach other and help themselves to without your consent.

6. Do not play the game "20 Questions."
The first date is about meeting and greeting each other. It is a giant ice breaker. It is not a job interview. Stay away from questions that feel like you are doing a background check, finding out what their qualifications are, and how much experience they have. Because frankly, that stuff is none of your business until they feel like sharing it with you.

7. No whining about the date location.
If you told your date that you are up for anything and let them pick, but then hate what they chose, here is some advice: Keep Your Mouth Shut. Do not whine, complain, moan or groan. This is your fault for not actively participating in choose the date locale. Suck it up and learn your lesson.

8. You are on a date, but have a pair of wandering eyes.
It is human nature to be attracted to lots of other people. Even when you are on a date. It is impolite to act on it. Do not blatantly check out other people when you are on a date! It is rude and you will only end up spending the rest of your evening alone because your date will have wandered away while your eyes were wandering around.

9. Do not promise a phone call if you really have no intentions of calling.
The date was horrible and you hope to never see this person again. But at the end of the night, you say, "I will give you a call" because that is what you have been trained to do. Refrain from uttering those six words. They will only inflict anger, frustration and hurt to your date, even if they did not feel the evening went well either. Try a little honesty, but with tact and say something like, "It was nice to meet you," or even something as mundane as, "Have a good night." They will get the point and probably feel better about how it ended, too.

10. Ladies first.
Guys, at the end of the night, walk your date to the door. You do not have to kiss or go in or have any physical contact whatsoever if you so choose. But be a gentleman and see that she made it safely home. Girls, if a man escorts you to your door, thank him properly, but do not feel you have to give him anything else for this chivalric act. It is something he should do anyway.