First Date Dos and Don'ts

First dates can be hard for some people. The fear of screwing up can be paralyzing and blow our chances of there being a second date.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some tips that may help you have a smooth first date.

Don't be late. Being late can give the impression that you don't care enough to make it there on time. Even worse, your date might feel embarrassed and leave, thinking you stood him/her up! If you're going to be late, make sure you let your date know, or at least have a really good excuse.

Make your date feel comfortable. Feeling anxious and nervous? Your date is feeling the same way. Have an ice breaker ready to open up the conversation and reduce the stress that you and your date are probably feeling.

The fear of making the wrong move or saying the wrong thing is what prevents many people from sharing or showing interesting aspects of their personality. This is the main reason why many first dates fail.

Be prepared with something of mutual interest for you both to have something to talk about. Be a good listener and ask questions that show that you are actually paying attention to what is being shared. Use this opportunity to learn more about your date.

Enjoy their jokes. We're not suggesting you have to fake loud laughter at every lame joke. But keep in mind that your date is looking for validation, just the way that you are. So if you hear a funny joke, have a blast. This will show your date that you are interested.

Keep the conversation alive. You know those situations where nobody can come up with anything to say, and there is an awkward silence, making you both feel uncomfortable? Here is an idea to avoid that: jot down some questions that you would like to ask your date. Learn the questions, don't actually carry the list with you. Ask one of these questions when you feel when you are entering one of those uncomfortable moments of silence.

Show interest. Remember that you are there to get to know your date, so show interest. Ask questions, and pay attention to the answers, and ask more questions. If your date tells you that they love reading, ask them about their favorite author, or any favorite titles in that genre. You get the idea... show interest in what your date is talking about, and the conversation will flow more easily.

Be creative with your date location. You don't have to go to the movies and a restaurant, you know? Be creative. There are hundreds of alternatives, original ideas that you could do when planning your date. Don't go for the obvious. (But remember that it is your first date, so choose a public location where you can both feel safe).

Be confident. A person with confidence is a lot more appealing than someone who is insecure. You are telling your date a lot when you are acting insecure. Do you really want to communicate that to your date? Show confidence, and you will both have a good time.

Going on a first date and meeting someone in real life for the first time is not the easiest thing to do, and it can be stressful for some people. Hopefully the tips in this article are helpful. Go out and have fun. If your expectations for the date are realistic and you simply make having a nice time your goal, you can't lose, even if the person you meets turns out not to be The One. If the date was fun for both of you, you have gained a nice experience and your time was not wasted. Hopefully, years from now, you'll look back at this date and laugh at how nervous you were and how fun it turned out to be.

Relax, you'll be fine.

Meeting Someone Online And Planning Real Dates

Online dating sites are a great place to meet new friends and potential romantic partners. The nice thing about an online dating site is that you don't need to dress up and pass any "visual inspection" at first. This gives you the chance for people to get to know you based on who you are, and not only on how you look.

Don't kid yourself though, the anonymity of sitting behind your computer does not give you a license to be dishonest or rude. In fact, as we suggested earlier, the more you let people see the "real you", the better chances you have of finding your other half. This is why so many friendships are formed on the forums and blogs.

How do you go from meeting people online to actually planning a real date?

Be honest
You don't like when someone is dishonest with you, do you? Well, you need to be open and honest with people up front. You don't have to share personal details with this online stranger, but don't pretend to be something or someone that you are not. Otherwise you are only going to be attracting people who are looking for the person that you are pretending to be not who you really are. This won't end well... sooner or later.

Be respectful
Be sensitive about other peoples' feelings and backgrounds, and think twice before making jokes about politics, religion or other sensitive topics. Silly jokes that you might consider innocent and funny could seriously hurt or offend people.

Don't fake photos
Misleading profile pictures are probably the most common source of disappointment in relationships that start on a dating site. We understand that you have no intentions of showing your worst photos, and that's fine. Just make sure that your picture is actually you, and that it's current and accurate of how you look today.

Develop common activities online
Think you found someone you want to go on a real date with? Don't just yet. Spend some time doing what we call "online dates", such as playing online games, chatting, or participating in the same forums. This will allow you to learn more about the person and see how s/he reacts in a variety of group and private situations.

Use this time to get to know each other better and make sure you really want to take things further and meet this person face to face. You need to feel comfortable with a person before you meet them face to face. Use caution and don't share personal information about yourself and your family early on. Use onsite features to get to know the member well first.

The meeting
So you decided that it's time to meet your online potential romantic partner. This is a big step. Always meet in a public place, somewhere that is busy, where you can feel comfortable and safe. Make sure that you let other people know where you are going to be and for how long. Ask a friend to call you during your date. This provides you with an opportunity to leave your date if you aren't feeling comfortable. If things are going well, you can still ask your friend to call you back later.

Be sure to use common sense, and take common sense precautions. We've already talked about the danger of online dating scams. It's easy to let your guard down after a few successful dates, but you can never afford to do this. Stay alert, and be safe, and enjoy meeting new people and making new friends online.