Dating etiquette

A first date brings about many questions. Who pays?, do we meet?, who drives? The answer is simple, stick to old-fashioned rules. In the dating world, and certainly on first dates, their are major rules of thumb everyone should go by.

Yes, the days of men "bringing home the bacon", and making all household decisions are loooong gone. Woman have as much power as men in relationships, but please ladies on the first date, let him pay for dinner. If he doesn't insist or make the effort to pay, he lacks sophistication.

Secondly if you're date lives within a reasonable driving distance, he should come pick you up for your evening out. He should also come to the door to get you. Dating is an act of courtship, and he should be honored to be going on a date with you. These small gestures indicate that he is a gentleman. Men should also be on time to pick their date up. Being on time shows effort and organization. If you wish to cancel a date, do so within a reasonable amount of time. If your date was that evening and something has come up, cancel that morning, and apologize. This shows maturity.

It is important for men to compliment their date on how she looks. Complimenting shows interest, and that you have taken the time to notice your date and her efforts.

When you arrive at your date destination, it is important to keep drinking to a minimum. You are probably just meeting this person and don't want to come off as a party-animal or avid drinker. Believe me, this type of behavior is not becoming.

Men and women should never lie about anything on a date in order to impress. Remember, you WILL get found out. Also, you should never be rude to your date or others. Arguing with or treating waitstaff with no respect shows you are crude.

You must also be a good listener. It is fine to talk about yourself, but you should be interested in your date, and ask them questions too. If you continue to talk about yourself during the date, maybe you should have just gone on a date with yourself.

Finally, at the closing of your date, make sure she gets home safely. If you wish to see your date again, tell them. Call when you promise to call and do not keep someone guessing. If you don't like your date then don't falsely promise anything or leave the door open for future dates. Again this shows a great disrespect for your date if you do so.