There are a lot of things that a woman shouldn't do on a first date. Like try to belch the alphabet in the middle of the dessert course. Or to recite from memory her poem describing the hundred reasons why men are swine. In fact, there are so many little "rules" about making a great first impression that it can be exhausting just trying to keep them all straight.
But think of it this way: for most women, the critical dating moment arrives when you actually get that first date. When you go on the date itself, the evening is more about keeping things running along smoothly and encouraging the interest that it's clear he had in the first place. After all, if he weren't already interested, he wouldn't have asked you out or agreed to meet with you after chatting with you on an internet dating site.
So while there will always been a hundred little things you should not do on a date (and of course each one of them will change depending on who you're out with!), the following three mistakes are the ones that women most commonly make on a first date. And though they work in subtle ways, the mistakes below can sometimes be the quickest way of diluting a man's interest in you.
Now, before you read on, I want to preface the rest of this article with a note: these three rules will probably seem a little old-fashioned to you. And while I'm the last person out there who thinks women should act like fainting Victorian beauties, I'm the first person to admit that genetic programming has a lot to do with gender roles. Generally, men like to feel like men and women like to feel like women. The mistakes below are behaviors that don't make men feel like men. And so reduce their interest in dating you.
It doesn't seem fair, but... it is what it is.
Mistake No. 1: Taking charge of the planning
There are a few rare guys out there that don't take the time to plan a date, and would rather leave it up to you instead. In other words, they're lazy or too insecure to open their plans up to rejection. But for most men, taking a leadership role is part of the courting process. Making a plan and having it followed makes a guy feel masculine-- it sets the tone for the evening. Now, does this mean you have to be a wilting flower all night and only say "whatever you like"? Of course not. But it does mean you should leave the bulk of the planning up to him, and then thank him for doing it. It will immediately make him feel appreciated-- which will immediately make him feel good.
Mistake No. 2: Insisting on paying.
I know this sounds primeval, but it's simply a continuation of mistake number one above. Men like women who make them feel like men... and paying for dinner is part of the deal. That doesn't mean, however, that you shouldn't offer to pay-- because you should. While it's rare, there are some men out there who prefer to go Dutch. And if you don't offer, you're just begging to come off a bit selfish. Offer once, but if he wants to pay, let him. He'll feel good about having done something for you.
Mistake No. 3: Having sex.
Now, the reason I'm giving for this one probably isn't what you think; sex on the first date doesn't get in the way of relationships, it's not immoral, and it's perfectly acceptable. Not to mention fun. But if you want to keep a man's interest in you going, having sex with him may not do it. Why? Because men look at "getting the girl" as a kind of competition with themselves. And the longer he sticks around because he wants to "conquer" you, the more he'll get to know you. And the better chance he'll have of loving you for you. As a bonus, when the sex does happen, it will be that much more incredible for holding off for a few extra dates.
