Top 10 Things Not to Do on a Date

Script Written by Matt Wende.

Top 10 Things Not to Do on a Date

Dating is like diffusing a bomb: you need to be calm, confident and know what you're doing, because there are a thousand things that could go wrong! But fear not, we've got you covered. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Things Not to Do on a Date.

For this list, we’re looking at behaviors, quirks and attitudes that you’d better leave at home when you go out. Some of these may seem obvious, but considering how awful a date can go, everyone needs a reminder now and again.

#10: DON’T Be Pushy About Getting Laid

Alright, you’re horny, we get it! We’re all sexual beings, but in the interest of a consensual engagement, being yourself will get you a lot further than pushing for an obvious outcome. Seriously, demanding sex on a first date is about as effective as holding up a neon sign above your head that says “No Class.” Also, you may think you’re being clever and seductive by chatting casually about sex, but casually dropping into the conversation the size of your dong or that you don’t have a gag reflex is a just a one-way ticket to Awkwardsville, capital city of You’re Not Getting Any.

#9: DON’T Be Mean to the Waiter

We’re hedging our bets that you’ve managed to get the person sitting across from you to go out with you by showcasing that you’re caring, confident and comfortable in your own skin. Don’t blow it by being a dick to the hardworking folks who are making your date possible. Being nice to your date is key and a given, but if you’re mean to everyone else, it sends a pretty clear message of what you’re really like. Actions speak louder than words – unless those words are ‘I’m a giant arsehole.’ Saying you’re a nice guy and but proving the opposite with your actions speaks volumes.

#8: DON’T Show Up Late

Your time is valuable, and so is everyone else’s. Showing up late for a date is pretty much telling your date straight-up that their time is just not as valuable as yours. That, and you don’t care enough about them to meet them at the time you agreed on. If you are late, it’s not the end of the world, but a text letting them know you’re on the way and that you’re sorry goes a long way.

#7: DON’T Be Negative (Or: Be Positive)

If absolutely nothing else, your night on the town needs to be one thing and one thing only: Fun. If your date doesn’t enjoy being with you, you are doing something wrong. One way to turn a fun date into a bad one is to talk about all the crappy things that are happening in your life. If someone has taken time out of their day to show up and spend an evening with you, it’s not so that they can hear about your debt, or so they can help you with your crushing loneliness, or suss out why your parents don’t like you. We’ve all got problems, but on date night, put them in a box, lock it, and pretend they don’t exist.

#6: DON’T Be Argumentative or Confrontational

Congratulations, you’re the smartest person in the world! We know it, you know it, and gosh darnit your date’s going to know it by the end of the night. Right? Wrong! Nobody likes a know-it-all. Correcting, contradicting and getting argumentative with your date is an awful plan. It doesn’t show off how much you know; it just tells them that you’re a difficult person. Seriously, this goes for everything in life as much as it does dating: accept that there are things you don’t know. It makes life so much more interesting.

#5: DON’T Over-Invest Emotionally

Just in case there was some confusion: a date is not a proposal, so don’t treat it like one. The person agreed to meet for drinks, or dinner and a movie – not to get married. Nothing is freakier than having fun with someone only to find out they’re a stage five clinger. And we don’t care how late it is on your biological clock, or how badly your mother wants a grandchild, getting hot and heavy about how many kids you want, where you want to have them, and which famous novel characters you want to name them after is a great way to scare away their potential parents.

#4: DON’T Get Drunk

Number one rule for dating: Be cool. Ordering drinks is cool; drinking them is cool. Vomiting? Not cool. Passing out? Super not cool. Doing both at the same time while you’re on a just has disaster written all over it. Everyone has a drink to loosen up now and again, but if you really want to impress your date, showing that you know your limits and can hold your liquor responsibly will get you a thousand more brownie points than the alternative. We’re not saying don’t drink, but as with everything in life… Do it right!

#3: DON’T Talk About Your Exes

Dating, if you’re lucky, can lead to a relationship. A relationship, if you’re lucky, can lead to a lifelong partnership. Of course, sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is using that as a topic of conversation for your next date. Doesn’t matter if it was a clean break or if it went down in flames and landed on a nearby puppy orphanage: your current date does not wanna hear about it. If it comes up in conversation, mentioning your ex briefly is fine. What’s not fine is going into detail about how you still have a piece of his or her clothing that you like to sit with in the bathtub and smell. That’s weird.

#2: DON’T Talk Endlessly About Yourself

If there’s one tip we can give you that will make your dating life a piece of cake, it’s this: know who you are and be comfortable in your own skin. However, while feeling that you are the most interesting person in the world may boost your confidence, it doesn’t do you much good in conversation. Remember: this is a date, not an interview for your as-yet unsold biography. It’s always nice for your companion if you’re versed in a conversation topic that isn’t you. Talking endlessly about yourself is a clear sign of a lack of self-assurance, or probable arrogance.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- DON’T Dress Inappropriately

- DON’T Flirt with Other People

- DON’T Neglect Hygiene

- DON’T Order Messy Foods

#1: DON’T Spend the Entire Date on Your Cell Phone

TURN OFF YOUR PHONE! We could just stop there, but we won’t because we’ve got to make a full video out of this, and this point is super important. Consider this though: Is the person you’re with really so boring that you have to chat with other people or check your twitter in order to fill the time? Are they really that unimportant? Because to them, the answer is yes. In this modern age, cherish the moments where you aren’t staring at a screen. Communicate with a human and, one more time, turn off your phone! Unless you’re watching a WatchMojo video of course… Just kidding.

Did you agree with our list? Tell us in the comments about your worst date of all time! For more entertaining and useful top 10s on dating and relationships, subscribe to WatchMojo.com.