General - Entertainment

What should be the simple pleasure of getting to know another human
being can sometimes buckle under the weight of unrealistic expectations
and the baggage of previous relationships.

Here are some tips to consider when dating:

- No matter how wonderful your date is compared with the schmucks
you’ve been seeing (or married to) do not tell him that he is a nice
guy.

- A shared sense of humor is important. Try to bring laughter to
the date. Try to get a laugh out of the guy. That way you know you’ve
got something. If he doesn’t get your jokes what else is he going to
“get” about you?

- Be yourself.

People sometimes try too hard to impress. If they just relax a
little, the date will go better and they will not have to worry about
any of those little embellishments backfiring later on.

- The worst thing people do on first dates is lie. They are trying to improve their status so you will be interested in them.

- Do not give up.

But if things do not go well be prepared. Take your cell phone
along on the date. A discreet call to a friend can help you engineer an
early end to the date.

- If you are meeting someone you know only through a personal ad or
an online dating service be sure to go to a place with plenty of other
people around. And do not blab out your whole life story on the first
date. Keep it general: music, books, movies.

- There is a difference between first dates and the first
face-to-face contact with someone you connect with through a dating
service or ad. That is a meeting to assess each other, not a date.

- If you are comfortable and seem to be compatible set up a date to spend more time together.

- Remember that the first date is supposed to be fun. You are
getting to know this person and he is getting to know you. It should
not be something that feels like a meeting with your boss.