What Happens In Dating: Rules for Dating

What Happens In Dating

By: Adia Thornton

Forward

This is a compilation of experiences with men. I interviewed several women to find out their perspective on the delicate dance we do while engaging with men. I wanted to create a comrade between the women who read this and the stories and opinions in it. Without a doubt there is something in here to relate to. Whether it’s bad dates, great guys, what you look for in a guy, what makes you high tail it out, the things that they say that hurt our feelings and all the little protocols we developed on how to date. Basically the double edged sword of relationships. Remember your own experiences as you read and have fun.

Rules for Dating

1. Dress for the occasion.

    subpoint a: Don’t dress too nice. It makes it awkward and sends the message of

high maintenance.

    subpoint b: Don’t dress too casually. Equally awkward and sends the message of

        sloppiness.

    Dressing well and situation appropriate makes for a good impression.

2. Laugh at their jokes.

        subpoint a: We all tend to think our wit is brilliant and superior. The first few dates
            is not the best time to inform them otherwise.
        subpoint b: Maybe it’s best to always laugh at their jokes. Laughing makes things
            easier and you don’t hurt their feelings.

3. Don’t order crab or ribs.

        subpoint a: Men appreciate a woman with an appetite. The catch twenty-two is
            there is nothing sexy about watching you go to war with your food.

4. Know your audience and behave accordingly

        subpoint a: It’s true in any social situation. If you behave completely out of turn
            you run the risk of being dropped like a hot potato.
        subpoint b: Stay classy, it’s a good rule of thumb.

5. Keep conversations light for first dates.

        subpoint a: Politics, religion, and sex are all very important subjects...not for any
            budding relationship. We get way too passionate about it.

6. Don’t talk about your ex.

        subpoint a: A date/relationship only works with two people. Bringing a third one

into the mix will doom it. Three’s a crowd.

7. Stay polite and cordial.

        subpoint a: This is along the same lines as rule 4. You never know when you

might run into them again.

8. Don’t let the conversation falter.

        subpoint a: There is natural discomfort in the whole dating process, it’s nerve

racking. That’s why we tend to date over dinner or coffee; there are

things to hold and stir.

        subpoint b: If you run out of things to talk about on the first date it may be an

indicator of your shared-destiny, indicating you don’t have one.

9. Avoid giving your complete autobiography.

        subpoint a: It’s important to be open and vulnerable in a relationship. However, it

is important to maintain a bit of mystery.

        subpoint b: Odds are it’s also very boring to hear someone’s life story in its

entirety.

10. Don’t be perfect.

        subpoint a: I have been on dates with many perfect guys, and nothing is quite so

attractive as narcissism.

        subpoint b: Unless you are some species other than human, you have flaws. So

the pretension is obnoxious.