Have you ever been gabbing along and
suddenly seen the light in your date’s eyes fade…? You wonder ‘what did I say?’
and quickly replay the last five minutes of conversation, struggling to
discover the origin of offense. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most
of us have at one time or another stuck the proverbial foot in mouth.
For those returning in the dating
game – especially those in the 50 plus dating world – knowing which topics are
PC and which aren’t can be daunting. Below are five topics to avoid on a first
date.
- Your past relationship / marriage.
While this
is a fine – and necessary – topic once you’re more intimately acquainted, your
date should feel like he or she is the focus of your evening – not the ghost of
a past relationship.
- Problems with kids and family.
Again,
this is too much, too soon. Complaining about relatives (even when warranted)
can make you seem critical and stodgy on a first date. Let your partner get to
know you better before unloading familial drama.
- People unfamiliar to your date.
This is
probably good advice for any conversation: Limit discussion of unknown third
parties to a few minutes or less. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule
(funny stories, relevant anecdotes, celebrities, etc.), but by and large,
people aren’t interested in people they don’t know
- Political and religious viewpoints.
This
should be self-explanatory. It’s just rude to pull out the soapbox in front of
someone you just met. Your date can’t disagree with you without being
"disagreeable." Politics and religion are very important discussions
to have… later.
- Money.
Talking
about finances – both positively and negatively – is very off-putting to most
people. And never, ever, complain about the cost of the date if you’re the one
paying. It makes the other person feel like you regret taking them out.
While no topic should be off-limits
in a committed relationship, don’t pull the big guns out in the beginning. Get
to know one another gradually. Think of an onion: peel away the layers, but
save the juicy stuff for later.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Share your view with the world!