Dating Etiquette

by Marion Rose Jones

When you go on a date with someone there are certain things you should or should not do and specific ways you should behave. This is called dating etiquette and it is common sense really. Of course you want the person to get to know you, so, first off, you shouldn’t try to be someone that you are not.

When you go out on a date, dating etiquette says that you ought to look clean and dress smartly. This will demonstrate to the other person, not only that you care about your the way you look, but that you also care about what they think about you. After all, If you don’t care about what the other person thinks, then you probably shouldn’t be going out on a date with them in the first place, should you?

This part of dating etiquette really depends on the person you are taking out. It applies more to a man dating a woman, obviously, but some women don't like having doors opened for them either. You will have to play it by ear. I think that the best guidance I can give, is that you should remember to open the car doors and all doors for that matter (except the washroom door) for your date, unless you are told or you sense otherwise.

A lot of younger women might say they wouldn't judge a man by his door-opening dating etiquette, but I think it does form a beneficial part of the overall picture she will be building up of you. However, if the woman you are going out with is an obvious feminist, then you had better let her open the doors for herself - just let her get on with it or it might bother her. She may also want to pay for her own meal, but that's not a bad thing is it?

Ensuring that you are punctual, is essential dating etiquette. Be there when you say you will be there to pick her up and be ready to pay for the entire date. It may not come to that, she may buy a drink or two, but you can't count on it, so slip a credit card in your wallet too. Better safe than sorry and you don't want to have walk home., would you?

So, that brings us conveniently to the next part of dating etiquette, which is, don’t take your date somewhere you cannot pay for because you never want to find yourself asking your date for a loan to pay the bill, unless you don't aspire to see her again.

Another part of dating etiquette also relates to not making the other person feel as if they are on an interview. It is all too common for people on a date to ask too many questions because they want to get to know the other person quickly. However, how would you feel, if you were asked twenty questions between every course or drink? It is well-intentioned, but maddening.

It is far better dating etiquette to have, say, half-a-dozen interesting, non-personal questions that you can discuss at more length. If you push them too far, if you get too personal too quickly, you could scare them off. Just try to create a comfortable, polite atmosphere by adhering to dating etiquette, being considerate and being yourself.