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Dating Etiquette Mistakes to Avoid

Nov 26, 2021

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Lifestyle

In these increasingly casual times, some of the nuances of being a good date are being left behind. Sure, you know you shouldn’t chew with your mouth open or discuss politics, but there are plenty of fumbles, both big and small, that can take a date from a great night out at a romantic restaurant to a night you wish you could just forget. Knowing what to do — and more importantly what not to do — on a date can make all the difference. So learn how to be a more polite person and avoid these dating etiquette mistakes. 

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The wild world of dating can be a tricky one to navigate. After all, there's no playbook on how to court someone. But just because there are no hard and fast rules about what you should do when dating, that doesn't mean there aren't things you should avoid doing on the dating scene. In fact, there are many common dating mistakes almost everyone makes.
Transcript
Slide 1Overview
In these increasingly casual times, some of the nuances of being a good date are being
left behind. Sure, you know you shouldn’t chew with your mouth open or discuss
politics, but there are plenty of fumbles, both big and small, that can take a date from a
great night out at a romantic restaurant to a night you wish you could just forget.
Knowing what to do — and more importantly what not to do — on a date can make
all the difference. So learn how to be a more polite person and avoid these dating
etiquette mistakes.
Scheduling a
date
Everyone gets busy, we totally understand that. But if you’re going out on a date with
someone, try to stay committed to the date and time that you originally planned. Even
if you have the best intentions, scheduling and rescheduling a date over and over again
makes it seem like you don’t actually have any interest in following through on your
plans. This can mess with someone else’s emotions, which certainly is a little rude.
Ignoring your
needs
Hopefully, if you’ve reached the point where you’re going on a date with someone, you
know at least some of the things they like (and don’t like) to do and you can plan your
evening out accordingly. If your date doesn’t like scary movies, don’t go to see the latest
horror flick in theaters. If you’re going out with a vegetarian, maybe avoid the best
steakhouse in your state.
Picking a
divisive activity
An activity like going rock climbing, spending the night at a comedy club or trying out a
new sushi place may sound like a lot of fun to you, but not everyone enjoys these things.
We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to double-check with your date before
finalizing any plans.
Dressing
inappropriately
You don’t want to be severely over- or underdressed for any occasion, including a
date. If you’re the one being asked out, ask a few questions about where you’ll be
going and dress accordingly. Nobody wants to be in a ball gown at a fast-casual chain,
wearing jeans at a Michelin-star restaurant or rocking a turtleneck at a night club.
Being
fashionably late
This should go without saying, but if you and your date are meeting at a restaurant or
other mutual location, make every single effort to be there on time. Get ready for
your date well in advance, check for traffic and leave early if at all possible. Being late
for an engagement is rude to your guest and shows an inherent lack of regard for their
time. Basically, it’s the worst way to start off a date.
Ordering for
your date
Unless you and your date agree that you’ll be ordering for the both of you (or that
you’ll pick each other’s dishes as a fun game), don’t do this. Pushing your ideas
about food onto another person is rude. If you really feel strongly about a certain
dish on the menu, suggest it casually but leave the final decision up to your date to
avoid an awkward situation.
phone
There’s one rude habit that’s incredibly common: checking your phone while in the
presence of other people. We’ve all done it, but this behavior really should be avoided
if you’re out on a one-on-one date with another person. That text message, Twitter
thread or meme your friend sent you via Instagram can wait until you’re back home.
Avoiding eye
contact
Just because you manage to stay off your phone doesn’t mean that you’re going to be
an engaged date. To show your date the extent of your adoration and interest, be sure
to make eye contact. This shows that you’re focused on them, you’re interested in what
they have to say, and they’re attractive to you. This is an easy and great way to make a
great impression on your date.
Lying
Lying in any relationship is a major no-no, but it’s especially important to be honest with
someone you’re romantically involved with. A lie is a lie, no matter how far into your
relationship you are. Admittedly, it’s not ideal to be brutally honest to a fault (especially
about things that aren’t even asked), but be sure to be real with the person you’re with.
It’ll only help you and your relationship in the long run.
Discussing
uncomfortable
topics
There are a few topics that you should never discuss on a date: politics, religion and
money, for instance. Now, if you’re going out on a date with your longtime partner,
your feelings on these things will have been long-established. However, nothing puts a
damper on an evening quite like a discussion about your finances or the White House.
Talking
yourself
We get it. You’re interesting and cool and people tend to like you a lot. But it’s
exhausting to hear about all evening long. Be sure to ask your date about themselves.
And please, be genuinely invested in what they have to say.
Interrogating
your date
Just because you should ask your date some questions about themselves and their life
doesn’t mean you should interrogate them. Remember: You’re out on a date, not a
job interview. You want to keep your conversation natural.
Not talking at
all
You know what’s more uncomfortable than lying, discussing controversial topics,
being a braggart or drilling your date about their college GPA? Not talking at all. Sure,
if you’ve been with someone a long time and live with them, you could feel like
you’ve exhausted all topics of conversation; if you’re out with someone new, maybe
you just don’t know what to talk about. Either way, it would be smart to brush up on
your small talk skills rather than sit there in awkward silence.
Forgetting basic
table manners
It would be a shame to sour a good conversation by making basic etiquette mistakes, so
engage your best habits. Remember to put your napkin in your lap, keep your elbows
off the table, chew with your mouth closed, and set down your silverware when you
start to talk.
Getting
drunk
There are a lot of reasons to have a glass of wine every day, and going out on a date is
just one of those reasons. There’s nothing wrong with having a few drinks when you’re
out at a bar or restaurant on a date, but know your limits and stick to them. You may
think you’re charming when you’re drunk, but your date could just think you’re a fool.
Being unkind or
discourteous
Treat your date how you would like to be treated (or better). Hold doors open for
them, listen when they speak, help them into their chair, and make sure that they’re
having a good time all night. Don’t speak over them, and don’t walk ahead of them
on the sidewalk.
Fighting for the
check
In theory, the person who initiated the date should pick up the check. So even if you
feel uncomfortable with that situation as the second party, perhaps you can reach for
the check but then let it slide. If not paying for the dinner genuinely causes you
distress, suggest splitting the dinner 50/50 or make sure you pay for the next date.
Assuming you
can get intimate
There’s a line between a friendly hug and assuming that you can go home with your
date. Don’t think that you can just kiss someone without asking first, and definitely
don’t assume that just because you paid for that steak that you are owed any particular
intimacy in return. And please, for the sake of others around you, try to avoid PDA.
You're dating
in mind
Dating with goals and a purpose in mind removes stress around figuring out which
potential partners we should give more time and more energy and helps us create
clarity around why we're dating. Knowing why we're dating removes confusion, keeps
us from staying too long with people who aren't right for us, and moves us in the
direction of finding good partners, faster.
You text too
dates
Over-messaging in between dates leaves you with fewer things to discuss when you
actually see each other. So keep messages casual and short—just enough to show your
interest, but not so much that you kill the conversation later on. Unfortunately, shy
people or those with social anxiety will use messaging as a substitute for meeting in
person. But it rarely builds the same level of connection as face-to-face chats.
You're dating
want to be alone
It's fine to want a relationship, but when you start forcing connections and
relationships because it's what you think you should be doing or because you're
uncomfortable flying solo, then it becomes a problem.The word 'need' will strip you
of any power you have in the dating world. Anytime you look for love with a 'need' for
a partner to fill a donut hole, you give your power away and lose yourself.
You're not
upfront about
your feelings
Instead of letting their true feelings show, many people act as if the person they're into
will figure it out through clues they think they're giving. Of course, admitting you have
feelings for someone you're not sure feels the same way is scary. But you also risk
losing that person for good by hoping they can read your mind. Whether it's due to
"pride, shame, or awkwardness.
You start talking
about the future
way too early
Dating serves one purpose and that is to explore your likes and dislikes as you interact
with another person. This is not a time for you to pour your heart out, nor project
your misguided assumptions on another person. The best strategy is to simply be
present in the moment and enjoy meeting what could be a good friend—or a future
partner.
be someone
you're not
If the person you're seeing realizes you are only going along with what they say and
want and have no goals or values yourself, that might push them away. Don't pretend to
be obsessed with snowboarding when you hate the cold weather just because you find
out your new beau is a snowboard enthusiast. And don't feign to be into collecting old
records when you're more of a pop fan just because of your potential partner's
preferences. Having separate interests and likes can actually make a relationship
stronger.
The wild world of dating can be a tricky one to navigate. After all, there's no playbook
on how to court someone. But just because there are no hard and fast rules
about what you should do when dating, that doesn't mean there aren't things you
should avoid doing on the dating scene. In fact, there are many common dating
mistakes almost everyone makes.