Top Three Ways to Ruin a First Date

Everyone who has ever gone on a date can appreciate how difficult it can sometimes be to establish a strong chemistry with the person whose sitting across the table from you.  There are many things that you can do right during a date, but there are far more ways that you can immediately destroy a first date.  Avoiding the top three ways to ruin a first date will insure that you can at least enjoy a level playing field with all of the other daters out there who are looking for true love.

How to Avoid the Top Five Ways to Ruin a First Date

Print out this list if you have to, but the following items are the most important things that you'll want to avoid if you hope to have a successful first date.  Keep in mind that this isn't a "things to do on a date" list, this list is far more important.  These are things that you should never do on a first date, or any other date for that matter.

Talk About Yourself Too Much

Social scientists have proven that people who are offered an opportunity to talk about themselves report having a far greater social interaction than when they are forced to listen to someone else speak.  This is because even the most modest people in the world ultimately enjoys sharing their own experiences with others.  This is why writers write, and this is why many job interviews where the interviewer does most of the talking usually ends on a very positive note.  People love talking about themselves.

This is why, when you're on your first date, always try to ask questions about the other person, and avoid talking too much about yourself.  That isn't to say that you shouldn't answer any questions that your date poses to you, it just means that when you're finished answering, you should immediately ask to learn more about your date.  By doing this, you're not only encouraging the person you're dating to talk about themselves, but you're also showing that you aren't self-centered, and that you're sincerely interested in your date.

Space Invaders

Avoid invading the other person's space.  This is one of the fastest turn-offs, especially for women.  Maintain a good space between yourself and your date, unless an opportunity presents itself for a slight touch. Use every opportunity that arises if you can.  After a joke or anything that makes you both laugh, gently place your hand on your date's hand or forearm, and when you're both done laughing, remove your hand.  Do it fast enough so that your date hardly has time to register what happened.  The effect will be that they will instantly relish the feeling of the brief touch, and before the night is over, they will long for more.  Don't get carried away with these moments of contact - just a few during the date will establish very strong chances that by the end of the night the chemistry and buildup of passionate tension will be quite strong.

Dining Etiquette

This should go without saying, but if your date involves eating out (as most dates do), make sure you understand good dining etiquette.  There are very simple aspects to dining etiquette that many people don't realize, like putting your napkin on your lap, keeping your arms off the table, and how to eat certain foods neatly.  By understanding how to dine like a gentleman or like a lady, your date will immediately recognize your maturity and well-mannered nature.  If you were raised in a household with very little etiquette, then take the time to learn.  Buy a book on dining etiquette for dummies, and read it carefully.  Practice it while dining out with friends.  In the end, having good manners will greatly increase your chances of having a very successful first date.