2008 Woodie Awards
Lex and the City: Dating blind
Markheavens Tshuma
Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: Distractions
So Lex and the City took a break last week… I sincerely hope you noticed, because if you didn't, then I'm not doing my job as a columnist. So I was watching the actual Sex and the City yesterday, the inspiration for this column, and that gave me a few ideas- spend more money on shoes.
So I signed up to be raffled off for charity. I was excited to see that I actually got a few tickets dropped into my box and a lucky friend of mine gets to enjoy a date with me. This got me thinking. What if the person who had won a date with me was not a friend of mine? Awkward, yes I know. But people do things like that all the time- it's called a blind date. So since I was this close to going on a blind date, I decided that it is feasible that men and women do things like that. And when men and women do things, advice is usually required. What are the rules of going on a blind date?
#1. Conversation. Conversation is the only thing you have to protect against awkwardness. I hate to say this, but a lot of people are not as interesting as their friends lead them to believe. Do your research. Find out what the person you're going on the BD with is interested in and brush up your knowledge. If you know they play a sport, find out a few rules about the sport, have some questions ready and your good to go. Practicing that joke you've told on three different occasions… not a good idea.
#2. Blind dates should always end quickly. Trust me. If you are going out with someone you know nothing about, how much time do you really want to spend with that person? Exactly. Cancel that plan about going to day fair and instead grab a quick bite at Wendy's and drop that date off at the BGD quad and be on your way. Short and sweet is the only way to be.
#3. Lower your expectations. This is crucial and probably the most important rule. Having high standards during a blind date almost always leads to disappointment. Always. There is a reason this person's friends had to fix them up with you. Be careful. Don't be caught unaware. Go into the date knowing that there is something socially awkward about this person that inhibits them from making dates on their own- unless of course the blind date was arranged to raise money for charity. Then, the person is normal. Otherwise, flaws should be expected.
So I signed up to be raffled off for charity. I was excited to see that I actually got a few tickets dropped into my box and a lucky friend of mine gets to enjoy a date with me. This got me thinking. What if the person who had won a date with me was not a friend of mine? Awkward, yes I know. But people do things like that all the time- it's called a blind date. So since I was this close to going on a blind date, I decided that it is feasible that men and women do things like that. And when men and women do things, advice is usually required. What are the rules of going on a blind date?
#1. Conversation. Conversation is the only thing you have to protect against awkwardness. I hate to say this, but a lot of people are not as interesting as their friends lead them to believe. Do your research. Find out what the person you're going on the BD with is interested in and brush up your knowledge. If you know they play a sport, find out a few rules about the sport, have some questions ready and your good to go. Practicing that joke you've told on three different occasions… not a good idea.
#2. Blind dates should always end quickly. Trust me. If you are going out with someone you know nothing about, how much time do you really want to spend with that person? Exactly. Cancel that plan about going to day fair and instead grab a quick bite at Wendy's and drop that date off at the BGD quad and be on your way. Short and sweet is the only way to be.
#3. Lower your expectations. This is crucial and probably the most important rule. Having high standards during a blind date almost always leads to disappointment. Always. There is a reason this person's friends had to fix them up with you. Be careful. Don't be caught unaware. Go into the date knowing that there is something socially awkward about this person that inhibits them from making dates on their own- unless of course the blind date was arranged to raise money for charity. Then, the person is normal. Otherwise, flaws should be expected.
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