{"id":16904,"date":"2018-06-27T01:00:01","date_gmt":"2018-06-27T08:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datemixstaging.wpengine.com\/?p=16904"},"modified":"2023-11-22T13:17:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T21:17:39","slug":"first-date-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/first-date-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"9 First Date Rules That Are Completely Outdated"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sometimes going on a date can feel like gearing up for battle. It takes preparation. Things can go south with one wrong move, or at least it feels that way. There\u2019s a million and one first date rules that many of us have been told to remember and though many of the classics, like showing up on time or saying your pleases and thank you’s, still ring true there are a lot of . So how do you know what rules to pay attention to and what to throw out the window? <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are nine first date rules you don\u2019t need to pay attention to anymore: <\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #1: Don\u2019t talk about your ex.
\n<\/b>Yes, on a first date, you probably shouldn\u2019t spend the whole time talking about your ex and you definitely shouldn\u2019t be comparing your ex to your date. But there are certain instances where it would actually be a bit unfair for your date to not know about your ex. Say you were in a long term, very committed relationship and you just broke up. Your date should probably know that you\u2019re just getting back out there. That doesn\u2019t mean you talk all about the breakup or tell story after story about the two of your together, but if it comes up be honest. If you have something relevant to say about your ex, go ahead and say it. Just don\u2019t go crazy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #2: Don\u2019t talk about politics.
\n<\/b>If you\u2019re passionate about politics, why can\u2019t you talk about it? The old dating rules say because it\u2019s not polite. Politics has long been considered a taboo topic, but if you\u2019re a hardcore member of one political party, maybe you should know if your potential partner is a staunch member of the other one. Maybe you just can\u2019t see yourself dating someone whose political ideas don\u2019t align with yours. That\u2019s fine. Or maybe you\u2019ll be happy to have someone to debate with. Either way, you\u2019re better off knowing. <\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #3: Don\u2019t talk about religion.
\n<\/b>If religion is a big part of your life, you should never feel like you have to hide that, regardless of what your religion is. Maybe your date feels the same way and will be happy to have a potential partner to share their religion with. Just like with politics, it\u2019s just better to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #4: The man should pay.
\n<\/b>Look, this isn\u2019t the 1950s. Women and men are out there in the world working side by side. The whole pay debate is ridiculous\u2014if a woman doesn\u2019t offer to pay, she\u2019s cheap. But if she insists on paying, she\u2019s threatening his masculinity. On the other side of the coin, if a man doesn\u2019t insist on paying, he\u2019s cheap. This rule has way too many layers that fall back on way too many gender stereotypes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to make the pay debate end and also make plans for a second date. Two birds, one stone. Offer to pay and follow it up by saying, \u201cYou get the next one?\u201d It\u2019s a quick way to stop talking about money and start talking about your next date.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #5: Wait three days before texting or calling.
\n<\/b>You have a smartphone. Your date probably has a smartphone. In today\u2019s day and age, waiting three days before getting in contact is a little silly. Especially considering it only takes 3.5 seconds to text, \u201cHey, had a great time tonight, hope I can see you again soon!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #6: Wait for him to call you.
\n<\/b>Again, texting is great because it doesn\u2019t take nearly as long as calling. And dating is all about finding a partnership and partnerships should be equal. So, as a woman, if you want to text (or call if you\u2019re more comfortable with that), then more power to you. Go for it! <\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #7: Don\u2019t kiss on a first date.
\n<\/b>If you\u2019re feeling pressured, definitely don\u2019t kiss. But if you\u2019re feeling it, who says you have to wait? We treat kissing like it\u2019s so taboo, but it\u2019s an intimate, beautiful act. If you\u2019re feeling intimacy with your partner, why deny that feeling?<\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #8: The third date means sex.
\n<\/b>Who decided this? I really want to know why people arbitrarily picked out the number three for the date that you\u2019re supposed to have sex on. Look, if you want to have sex on the first date, that\u2019s up to you. And if you want to have sex on the fifteenth date or the fiftieth, that\u2019s up to you too. Your sex life should not be dictated by a ridiculous rule.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rule #9: Dress up.
\n<\/b>Remember, you\u2019re not going on a job interview. You\u2019re going on a date. So there\u2019s no need to be super formal, unless your date gives you a heads up that you\u2019re going somewhere that calls for it. Dress in a way that makes you feel most comfortable and fits the occasion. If you\u2019re more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt and you\u2019re going out for ice cream, don\u2019t feel like you have to wear a short dress just to please your date. The same thing goes if you\u2019re a guy. Though it\u2019s good to be clean and wrinkle free to show your date that you care enough to put in some effort, don\u2019t feel like you have to wear a collared shirt if it\u2019s just not you. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dating is a pretty subjective thing. Some rules work for some people; others, not so much. Find what\u2019s right for you, but always remember, don\u2019t let any so-called rules try to change who you are. Your date wants to meet the real you!<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How do you know what rules to pay attention to and what to throw out the window?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":156,"featured_media":16905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[884,892],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dating-advice","category-first-date-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n9 First Date Rules That Are Completely Outdated<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There\u2019s a million and one first date rules that many of us have been told to remember, but how do you know what rules to pay attention to and what to throw out the window?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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