Biggest No-Nos on a first date
 

Going on a date tonight?

Well, make sure that you don't treat the waiter at the restaurant badly, for a new study has found that clicking fingers at a maître d' is the biggest first date faux pas.

A poll of 3,000 people found 63 percent of people could not bear to see the waiter being treated badly.

The rude, attention-grabbing gesture pipped drowning a dish in salt before even tasting it and getting drunk at the table to land the first spot.

Other inappropriate acts which will insure the first date is the only date were - licking the plate clean, burping, and picking teeth with fingers, the study conducted by Internet market research company www.onepoll.com found.

"There are basic rules of etiquette which should be adhered to when eating out -- and they're not hard to remember. The majority of respondents only expect basic good manners from their dining companions -- so burping, coughing, breaking wind and obscenities are definitely off the menu," The Telegraph quoted a rep, as saying.

Around 46 percent of the participants did not like watching someone nearby licking the knife instead of using their fork. 38 percent said someone slurping soup was not on.

Top 10 first date faux pas:

1. Clicking fingers at the waiter
2. Adding salt to the meal before tasting it
3. Getting drunk
4. Licking the plate clean
5. Burping
6. Picking teeth with fingers
7. Licking the knife
8. Slurping soup
9. Talking about sex or bodily functions
10. Not leaving a tip

What about talking about horror movies?

Didn't work well for me either.. :(

i add salt and pepper to vegetables ... just a little - never had any complaints


if sex didnt come up - then i was with the wrong person anyway

Those rules don't apply to the kind of woman I date.

I'm gonna guess that letting out a big fart would most likely be a no no as well.

Some of us would rather not date anyway.

i never dated anyway - i just trasfer the rules to any dinner out with someone you find yourself becoming interested in

I don't see what the big deal is about putting salt on your dish before tasting it. My default I have a stuffed up nose, I constantly have either a cold or allergies. So I automaticaly out salt on my plate because otherwise I can't taste anything. Regardless, I don't see that as bad manners, because everyone has slightly different tastes.

My first dates were never a meal out anyway.

Always a movie followed by a few drinks in a pub. I insisted they chose the film (being gentlemanly) and then could see what sort of cinema etiquette they had. You can learn alot about someones personality by how they are in cinemas.

The drinks afterwards were so I could learn whether I had a chance or not! ;)

When someone goes to the trouble of cooking for you, the least you could do is taste it (even if it is a mere formality for you) before salting/peppering.

Manners are important.

And as a former waiter, I can say without doubt that anyone who snaps thier fingers at a waiter is an asshole and doesn't deserve a second date.

You're bang on the money. Basic civility costs nothing and should be used when someone is serving you in any capacity.

Another former waiter/restaurant manager here. Being rude to the wait/host staff used to be the quickest way to have your name crossed off of the list.

I went out to eat with a buddy of mine once. He really wanted to have strawberry cheesecake after dinner. When the waitress said they didn't have any, this was the conversation that followed.

"Do you have cheesecake?"
"Yes, we have raspberry cheesecake tonight."
"Do you have strawberries?"
"We have some in the walk in."
"Then take the raspberry cheesecake, scrape the raspberries off and put the strawberries from the walk in on top."

I was so embarrassed that I left her a 50% tip.

Yep...as well vommitting at the table after drinking so much...

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/36_20_71.gif


I'm guilty on the tipping part though--I don't always tip unless I'm overly impressed by the food and service--If I do, it's divided, I won't tip my own individual wage---just the bill divided. Maybe I should stop that. :o

I do 15 percent unless somebody goes above and beyond the call of duty, then I bring it up to 20. If somebody is rude, slow or otherwise performs badly, I bring it down to ten percent.

That's reasonable. I don't feel as bad now. I thought I was being snoody, by only going along with it as you've said, "going beyond the Call of Duty."

i believe in the old measuring stick : if someone is nice to you but rude to a waiter ... what does that make them ?


an asshole as far as i'm concerned .. everyone should be treated with equal respect until they prove that they dont deserve it.

(by actions, not occupation)

Don't show her your 20 inch penis. :p

Could you SOUND more virgin? :rolleyes:

Agreed...



Now people who do that should just be shot in the face...

Everything else is just... kinda gross.

hehehehehe...virgin... haven't been called THAT in a long time, so thank you! :D

Jesus, are people really that disgusting that they need these on a list?

Most of that is just common sense...whole list can be boiled down to "Don't be a twat".

I give a fairly standard 20% tip for average "doing your job" service.
If you impress me, I go pretty high.

Make my drinks strong? You'll be rolling in dough by the end of the night. ;)

Those people live off those tips, so I have a soft spot for that. In fact one time at a restaurant/bar in Seattle (Six Arms, for those in the know), I overheard a waiter complaining to another how a table completely ignored the tip on like a 150.00 dollar order. I felt so bad for him that I tipped my tip and then an additional percentage of 150.00 for the other table...

I just hate seeing people bust ass (which they were, it was a busy night) and seeing people suffer for a piece of shit who's too cheap to eat out properly.


As for the list in the original post...*sigh*, it's embarrassing to me that people do that stuff. Manners are the first thing a parent should be teaching. If you don't have that much, your parents sucked.
-D

abso-fucking-lutely

I think anyone who has ever worked in the service industry are generally good tippers. I waited tables for exactly 3 months and it was the worst fucking job I ever had. Therefore, I always make sure to tip well, 20-25% standard, more if they're excellent. The only time I've ever not tipped was when I ordered, ate and then realized I forgot my wallet and had to dine&dash. (Which was only once.)

As for the rules, those are just common sense. The only one I can see an exception to would be coughing. Sometimes that just can't be helped. Of course you cover your mouth and if a coughing fit ensues, head for the restroom, but let's face it.... If you've ever inhaled while drinking anything, you've probably coughed at the table before. It happens.

I tend to think it's a bad idea to go out for dinner on the first (or second or thrid) date anyway. As was mentioned earlier in the thread late afternoon coffee or early evening drinks is a much better option. Use that time to see if you hit it off, pay a little attnetion then you know what sort of things this person likes so you second date can be something in that vein, preferably something active dancing, parklands walking stuff like that.

I mean really, even at best watching people eat is not a wonderful thing to do, and if your nervous or drinking your manners may slip and then you look like an ass. If you have been out with a person a few times they are more likely to let poor manners slide. Still most of the things on that list are ATROCIOUS bad manners and well... yeah if you do those sort of things you should stop, on a date or otherwise.

On the first date? I can't think of too many times I'd be talking about sex shortly after meeting someone, I'd hate to come off as easy. :p

Yea. Urge must be in a hurry. :D

Well at least he's being straightforward, not making anyone guess....;)

True that.

But that's not nessecarily a good move on a first date.

"Thank you for a lovely dinner. Wanna go hump?"

I'd avoid the "dinner date".
Nothing more awkward than sitting close, watching eachother eat when you're still new.
Other than, just don't be full of shit, have unrealistic expectations, or treat anyone (her included) poorly - People always have a bad side, but "first impressions" could dictate how a person sees you in the long run.

Adding salt to the meal before tasting it

should definitely not trump

Getting drunk

who said i was the one bringing it up in the 1st place :)

Urge is the only one man enough to admit it's all about the gingin. Azazel also had a good point, dinner on a first date is pretty stupid. First dates should be in a more relaxing, escapable if necesary, setting.

Manners can be like white lies. So many people with perfect manners are total a-holes in person. It makes me wonder how the top ten turn offs could all be manner related. I can think of so many non-manner realted turn offs.

here's the deal ..

as i said - i dont technically 'date'

i have gone out with girls i had an interest in as a friendship that has already begun to develope.


only twice did i date - both times i was set up by friends (unnessessary, unwanted, unwilling) but i did it because the girls were already commited.

what a shitty way to spend a couple of hours ... sitting across from someone you dont know .. who have a 90% chance of being someone you wouldnt spend time with. in both these cases the girls were attractive but vaccuous .. which pissed me off that my friends at the time would think i could possibly hit it off with them.

despite my kidding around i have more criteria than a pretty face and a vagina.



any girl i've liked enough to become friends with were maybe a bit based on beauty at first - but were far more about brains. I love a healthy combination of both.

I am not the 'strong silent' type. to me thats just bullshit. Guys are generally silent because when have fuck all to say.
I love conversation. I hate small talk and never partake in it. If someone seems to have a brain - there will be conversation - 2 way - and lots of it.

I dont know anyone with any intelligence who can talk for 2 - 3 hours without eventually touching on the philosophies of life, books, movies, music, art, and sexuality. Most of these things are interconnected.

I think the manners mentioned above are neccessary for any occasion - not just dating. When you're 'dating' just be yourself.

That to me is most important thing - at all times - dating or otherwise - be yourself.

the thought of people being on their best behavior to make good impressions makes me want to puke. meeting people shouldnt be like fly fishing. it shouldnt be that hard.

i guess if you're a pathetic excuse for a meatbag you have to try anything - and thats a shame.... i know there are a lot of people who have no choice but to resort to bullshit and tricks ... i just hope they get what they deserve - instead of fucking up some innocent person who is just too nice and naive to suspect the lies.



and THATS... how i feel about dating.



ps ... i always ask the ladies what kind of lingerie they dig on 'the first date' too.


its not what you ask ... its how you ask it.

:D :D :p :p :p

Pretty darn Priceless.

I want dinner and I want lobster. If a guy can't rip apart a lobster better than I can, he can starve. Just kidding...sort of...:p :D

unless shes a smoker, id have to say light up a cigar of weed.....but i do it, cuz i can.

I was gonna say 'bang some smack'.

Personally I think that would be hilarious and I'd just start laughing

I would leave. If you can't even hold off a fart on the first date... wow buddy.

We don't do 'dates' over here.