Like everything else, dating has evolved over the decades. Although evolved is probably an understatement. At one time, virtuous young ladies were accompanied by an ever watchful chaperone when young men came calling; later a guy would give his steady his class ring, letter man sweater or something else that would outwardly express their exclusiveness. Today you can virtually meet members of the opposite sex at a variety of websites catering to almost every whim, for example, Trek Passions, a site for Star Trek and sci-fi lovers.
Although dating has evolved over time, some aspects of dating have with stood the test of time. They are almost universally accepted guidelines and rules. Most people know what they are and what they mean.
But, not everybody does. Author Milan Budimkic shares with us seven of those unspoken and unwritten rules till now.
1. The First 15
The first 15 minutes are all it takes for you to see whether you and your date have any chemistry. In recent studies, over 30% of both men and women have said they can tell within the first 15 minutes of a date whether things are going to work out or not.
2. Honesty the Standard
You don’t think things are going well? Express it. Don’t be harsh or anything, just be polite and say things are not going well and everything is going to be fine. How you behave is important. So don’t be a douche bag.
Who knows when you’re going to run into that person again and you don’t want things to be awkward. So treat your ex-date the same way you want to be treated with dignity and class. You’ll both appreciate it.
3. Build Mystery
Going all out on the first date is usually not a great idea. Over 80% of all single people say they don’t think sleeping with your date the first time you go out is a good idea. Build mystery and he or she will definitely want to come back.
4. Follow Up
Wait for the follow up, but don’t wait too long. Women tend to follow up more quickly, while men sometimes wait a few days. But whatever your choice is, it’s OK – just don’t wait a month or follow up two hours after the date. Both are weird and kind of creepy.
5. Use The Phone
Talking on the phone is probably the best follow up. Yes, texts and Facebook are OK, but why leave things at OK when they can be great. Use your phone when following up. Yes, phone conversations are something we usually avoid in these situations, but trust us, it’s the best way.
6. Facebook
Sending a request on Facebook to your date is a tricky subject. Some people like to do it right away, some like to wait before it gets serious. It’s no exact science, you just need to feel how things are going and decide based on that.
7. Introduce Your Date to Your Friends
Be free to introduce your date to your friends. Of course not on the first date, but usually in the first month of dating. When asked, many people said that they always introduce their dates within the first month of dating with their friends.
Although you might think your friends could ruin things for you, just talk to them and tell them what you don’t and do what them to do, and everything will be OK.
For more articles on dating, read Online Dating Etiquette 101, Online Dating Over 40 – It’s Not A Nightmare, and Online Dating – What You Need To Know Before You Start .
