We\u2019ve all been on good dates. We know what they look like, we recognise their qualities.<\/p>\n
And we\u2019ve all been on those absolute horror show dates; ones where we can\u2019t wait to get home, bolt the door shut, and change our phone numbers.<\/p>\n
But what about the\u00a0dates in the middle? The ones that tread the line between being really good and really \u201cmeh\u201d?<\/p>\n
While on the surface things might seem perfectly nice, the truth is there\u2019s a bunch of things us guys would like from you ladies on the first date (no, not that – get your mind out the gutter).<\/p>\n
Keep these in mind and you\u2019re on for a second date:<\/p>\n
It took a lot of nerve for us to pluck up the courage and ask you on this date. And while we don\u2019t expect you to sit there the entire night fluttering your eyelashes and fawning over our dashing good looks, we\u2019d at least like you to be present in the moment.<\/p>\n
Please don\u2019t try to escape into your phone or act all aloof. Focus on the date, and on us, and we\u2019ll do the same.<\/p>\n
We know you don\u2019t owe us a second date, but if we\u2019re doing our best, let\u2019s at least make it a pleasant first one.<\/p>\n
A first date should only really be about getting to know each other. Is there a spark? Are there any shared interests? Do we have a similar sense of humour? Do we get on?<\/p>\n
It shouldn\u2019t be about trying to \u2018wow\u2019 someone by splashing the cash.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why we\u2019d really like it if you keep an open mind when it comes to our date night suggestions. More often than not, we\u2019re looking for somewhere a little quiet and cosy so that we can chat the night away.<\/p>\n
Chances are, that\u2019s not going to be a restaurant with more than one type of fork.<\/p>\n
So please don\u2019t try to act cool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n We\u2019re already\u00a0doing our best to keep our own awkwardness and eccentricities in check, and the last thing we need to contend with is someone trying way too hard.<\/p>\n Keep the name dropping and boasting to a minimum. We\u2019re already here, with you, on the date. You really don\u2019t have to try and impress us more.<\/p>\n And further to this point\u2026<\/p>\n Sure, we\u2019re both going to turn up trying to look good. Compatibility is as much about attraction as it is about personality.<\/p>\n But we\u2019d like to get to know the real you. So please don\u2019t think you have to wear some slinky, low-cut dress and slather on layer upon layer of make up.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll just spend the rest of the night wondering what you look like day-to-day, and how long it takes you to get ready!<\/p>\n Give us a chance to be attracted to you<\/strong>, not the \u2018first date version\u2019 of you that you think we want to meet.<\/p>\n Listen, chances are we\u2019re going to pay for dinner. It\u2019s what a gentleman does, right? But the presumption that we\u2019re going to reach for our wallet doesn\u2019t go unnoticed.<\/p>\n When the bill comes, simply offer to pay for your half of the meal. That gives us the chance to be the chivalrous young man we were raised to be and reject your kind offer.<\/p>\n And hey, if you want to leave a tip, or better yet, keep the date going with a few drinks on you at another bar, well that\u2019s fine by us!<\/p>\n This might seem a little whiny and attention-seeking, but when we\u2019re doing our best to be polite and well-mannered, we\u2019d really like to be acknowledged for it.<\/p>\n If we take your coat, or pull out your chair, or hold the door, or hail you a cab, we\u2019re not just angling for a goodnight snog (though we won\u2019t say no); we\u2019re simply putting into practice all those things our parents taught us when we were kids.<\/p>\n A little affirmation via a well-placed \u2018thank you\u2019 will make us feel like we\u2019re doing our folks proud.<\/p>\n You\u2019re busy. We\u2019re busy. Neither of us have time for games.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why throughout the evening, and especially at the end of the night, we\u2019d like a clear signal (or two, or three, or four) to suggest that you\u2019d like to go out again.<\/p>\n Now, you don\u2019t need to start flirting like crazy or make any suggestive remarks; a simple bit of contact (a touch on the arm, for example) and a smile usually does the trick.<\/p>\n And for those of you who think you need to play hard-to-get to keep a guy interested, we\u2019ve some news for you: you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to go out again, let us know.<\/p>\n We get it – drama is exciting. There\u2019s always something to talk about, or some crazy incident to pick apart in the aftermath. But we\u2019d prefer to\u00a0keep the drama where it belongs – on TV and in movies.<\/p>\n We\u2019d much rather you didn\u2019t kick off the date by listing your exes, or dishing the dirt on your most complicated relationships.<\/p>\n A good relationship simply cannot be built around a revolving door of minor crises. So try to leave your worries at home for the evening and focus on having some fun instead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Guys, do you have any to add to the list? Girls, are you guilty of overlooking any of these?<\/p>\n Let us know on Facebook<\/a> or Twitter<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019ve all been on good dates. We know what they look like, we recognise their qualities. And we\u2019ve all been on those absolute horror show dates; ones where we can\u2019t wait to get home, bolt the door shut, and change our phone numbers. But what about the\u00a0dates in the middle? The ones that tread the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2706,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629,635,636,632],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-dating","category-first-dates-advice","category-guy-talk","country-uk"],"yoast_head":"\r\n4. We\u2019d Like to Meet the Real You<\/h2>\n
5. We\u2019d Like an Offer to Split the Bill<\/h2>\n
6. We\u2019d Like to Be Thanked – Literally<\/h2>\n
7. We\u2019d Like a Clear Signal<\/h2>\n
8. We\u2019d Like to Avoid Drama<\/h2>\n
\n