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If he doesn't call you back, it might be because you talked about one of these things on a first date.
By Caithlin Pena — Last updated on Apr 18, 2023
First dates can be some of the most exciting and memorable moments of our lives ... and also the most awkward and terrifying.
Have you ever had to wait at a bar for someone, while drinking your margarita, and looking like an alcoholic all alone on a Wednesday night?
Especially if it's your first time meeting them in person. Perfect dates are ideal, but do they really exist? Most likely not, but with the right moves it can be pretty close, and you'll soon find yourself planning the second date.
To help first daters navigate the exciting yet imperfect world of dating, the dating site Zoosk examined the first dates of two couples and analyzed the good and the bad.
They then came up with this list of do's and don'ts for a first date, and although they seem obvious, the numbers might surprise you.
Here are the 3 biggest first date turn-ons and turn-offs, according to a study:
Do:
1. Talk about children
A Zoosk survey revealed that 41 percent of men want to discuss their date's desire, unwillingness, or inability to have children during the first or soon after. It doesn't matter when, as long as it's before things get serious. You don't want to fantasize about a life with someone who doesn't want the same things.
2. Talk about jobs
66 percent of men want to discuss employment status during or immediately after the first date. Maybe this topic will finally decide who pays on a first date, or maybe you tell a corny joke based on his job and he doesn't find it funny, and then doesn't call you back after.
3. Be honest and upfront
Sensitive but important information — such as whether you have children or are going through a divorce — should be brought up during first contact, according to 56 percent of men in their survey. As long as it's nothing anything too serious, like you have a felony, your little quirks can wait until you two are official.
Don't:
1. Talk about how many partners you've slept with
52 percent of men don't want to know how many partners their dates have had in the past. I certainly don't want to hear about any exes on any date number.
2. Talk about money
Only 8 percent of men want to know about your financial status, but the rest would prefer you don't talk about it. You can talk about your job, but not your salary.
3. Reveal your sexual kinks
A whopping 68 percent of men prefer that their dates not reveal any unusual fetishes during the first date. Wait until much later on, like the third date.
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Caithlin Pena is an editor and former contributor for YourTango. Her work has been featured on Thought Catalog, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Psych Central, and BRIDES.