conversation

Dating advice can often be women-centric or else completely unrealistic because it is published in a men’s magazine which strives to maintain a sense of macho pride. The best people to ask about how you’re doing on a date are the women you are dating. Of course, actually asking the very women you are sitting across the table from at dinner is likely to look needy and a tad insecure, so we are here to help!

 

We have gathered some advice from women about what their recent male dates could have done to take the date from blah to huzzah!

 

Top 5 Tips About Dating for Guys

 

1) Manners are important. If you don’t want to drive her off immediately, be polite. That means tone down the swearing in conversation, pull back her chair for her at dinner, offer to pay the bill, hold the door for her, chew with your mouth closed. Yes, some women nowadays find this type of action an affront to their feminist values. Most will just be charmed that you were chivalrous enough to do it.

 

2) Listen. The point of dating is to find out about the other person and in so doing, determine whether you like them enough to have another date. It is a proven fact that people love to talk about themselves, but by showing interest in what your date has to say, you will actively be proving your worth as an attentive human being and a great date.

 

3) Relax. I know it’s hard, everyone experiences nerves on a date. However, think of something that calms you down and then channel that calm, confident person. Women don’t tend to like feeling like they are terrifying their date speechless, so if you are so nervous about your date that it is affecting your ability to talk, try practicing by putting yourself in situations where you will have to talk to strangers.

 

4) Make an effort. It’s nice to know that you value yourself, it makes you look like someone a women could value in turn. If you show up to your date in scruffy jeans, a hoodie and a baseball cap then it just shows that you value your own comfort above the need to make a nice first impression on your date. Either that, or you’re a college student.

 

5) Honesty. There is no need here to go on a full conversational leap through the ins and outs of your dating life for the last four years. If you feel that you are a part of a situation that could affect your potential relationship, such as going through divorce proceedings or that you have a child, never hide this fact. It’s part of the package deal and if they like you, they’ll let it go. If it’s too much of a deal breaker for your date, better for both of you that you find out sooner rather than later.

 

 

We love hearing how people got together (or didn’t, as the case may be) so that we can glean what works, what doesn’t and what is just a plain bad idea. Here, we’ve put together a list of fantastically funny, cheesy, sweet and awful chat up lines so you can have a chuckle.

 

One thing: Never use one of these lines unless you want to stay single forever!

 

1. Do you have a plaster? ‘Cos I just scraped my knee falling for you.

2. You’re like a cappuccino: hot, sweet, and you make me nervous.

3. You look like my first wife. (Really? How many times have you been married?) Oh I’m still a bachelor.

4. Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?

5. I bet you £10 you’re gonna turn me down.

6. Was that an earthquake, or did you just rock my world?

7. Is your last name Ruth? ‘Cos you’re definitely a babe.

8. I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away.

9. If I were an enzyme, I’d be helicase so I could unzip your genes.

10. Good thing I brought my library card, ‘cos I am checking you out!

 

BONUS LINE:  Keep it quiet – but I’m COMPLETELY naked under these clothes.

 

I’d love to hear your take on this tricky situation – chat to me @freeandsingle or join our Facebook Page

 

I have no idea where the idea of chat-lines came from.

 

What is more, I have no idea why they persist. The best way to introduce yourself to someone is with a smile and a

‘Hi, I’m Betty. How are you?’

(Unless of course you are very obviously not a Betty). This ‘technique’ works face-to-face as well as in a message to someone you like the look of on Free and Single because it opens up a line of communication, as opposed to a line of humiliation.

 

Remember: Open questions lead to conversation. Crazy lines lead to a drink in the face and no friends.

 

However, for those few try-hard individuals who have attempted to charm their conversational partner with a distinct one-liner…the following is to show you what you must not, ever, use. Seriously, never.

 

10 Terrible Chat Up Lines to Avoid Like the Plague

  1. ‘Hi there, the voices in my head told me to come talk to you.’
  2. ‘You must be tired because you have been running through my head all night.’
  3. ‘When they made the alphabet they should have put U and I together.’
  4. ‘I said, did you break that hip when you fell from heaven, dear?’
  5. ‘Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk past again?’
  6. ‘How many camels can I buy you for?’
  7. ‘Kiss me if I’m wrong, but isn’t your name Gorgeous?’
  8. ‘I’ll cook you dinner if you cook me breakfast.’
  9. ‘Keep it quiet – but I am completely and utterly naked under these clothes.’
  10. ‘Was your father a thief? Because he stole the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes.’

 

Do the world a favour people – introduce yourself, start a conversation. The only chat-up line I’m putting out there as permissable? (Follow up with the ‘Hi, how do you do…’);

 

How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice!

 

We have all been there at one point or another. You get through the mandatory ‘How are yous?’ and the casual ‘You look goods’. You sit down to dinner together, ready to discuss everything over a cosy two-hour meal and *poof* Your entire mind shuts down and all you can think of to say is something along the lines of; ‘Oooh look, they painted the walls red. That’s classic for a dining room, that is.’

 

Its not an ideal evolutionary response that causes intelligent people to completely loose their ability to hold structured, entertaining conversation the moment they are alone with a potential life mate. You could even go so far as to suggest it is a downright silly function of nerves to prevent you from being at your best on a date.

 

However, the one comfort I can offer you is that it happens to absolutely everyone, at some point or other. So, in the spirit of acceptance, we at Free and Single have come up with a list of five conversational topics guaranteed to open up lines of communication and five that you really, really, really just should not mention on the first date.

 

Let’s Get This Party Started – Top 5 First Date Conversation Starters

  1. Are you from around here or did you move here?
  2. What was your favorite subject at school?
  3. How did you get into your career?
  4. If you had unlimited funds, what would you do on holiday?
  5. Do you choose dark chocolate, dairy milk or white chocolate?

This Thing is Shutting Down – Top 5 First Date Conversation Stallers

  1. Religion
  2. Babies
  3. Marriage
  4. Genes
  5. Crazy talk