7 Ways to Start a Conversation with the Cutie You’ve Been Eying

Christian Singles

Ok gals. There is probably a guy that you are thinking about right now. He’s probably super cute, and awesome, but you haven’t had the nerve to talk to him. It’s ok, we all get like that with cute guys! If you want to talk to the cute guy and you want to get to know him better, here are some tips to start a conversation with him.

  1. Ask him for directions. If you find that he is an expert when it comes to directions, ask him how to get somewhere. If you are very daring, call him when you get “lost”. It’s a great idea to strike up a conversation with him.
  2. Ask about the train/bus/school schedule. If you spot your cutie on a bus, don’t be afraid to ask him about the schedule. It is a great idea to start a conversation.
  3. Ask him what he likes to order. If you frequently see your cutie in a coffee shop, or a bakery, ask him what he likes to order. If he’s the cashier, this is a great way to strike up a great conversation. You might find that you have a lot of things in common.
  4. Ask about what he is reading. See what he is reading. It’s a good idea to comment on it if it is something that you would be interested in! You can have a great connection.
  5. Ask about the game. Ask him about the sports game that he is watching. Show him that you are interesting in sports. Guys love girls that are into sports.
  6. Send him a drink. If you see him at a bar, don’t be afraid to send him a drink. It will show that you are interested. And, if he’s not interested, he won’t take the drink. But don’t worry, there are plenty of other guys out there.

  7. Ask your guy about the technology he likes. Lot’s of guys love technology. If the guy that you are crushing on has some cool gadgets, ask him about them. He will love to talk about the latest gadgets that he has.

Good luck when it comes to talking to the cutie that you have been eying. These are some great ways to start a conversation. If the cutie doesn’t take notice, don’t fret. There are plenty of other guys out there. Don’t be afraid to give him some space, you don’t want to scare the guy!

 

About the Author
Tammi Jenkins is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers is a service that will help you find online schools that are best for you.

9 Ways To Avoid Ruining A First Date

Christian Singles

There’s a lot of pressure on a first date. First impressions aren’t always make or break, but they certainly count for a lot. Listed below are some of the dangers that must be avoided if you want to reach date number two. Follow this list of don’ts, and everything should be fine.

Don’t get drunk

If the date isn’t going well don’t think that turning to drink will get it back on track. Sure a little bit of alcohol will help you relax and be yourself, but misjudge this and things will only end horribly.

Don’t take a friend along for “moral support”

You might be feeling more nervous than you ever have before, but it’s probably best to go on your own. Even if your date is the most understanding person in the world, it’s unlikely that they’ll be happy for you to pull up an extra chair.

Don’t order the most expensive thing and then ask them to pay

This applies to both men and women. Obviously it’s traditional for the man to pay on the first date and if he offers that’s great. But if you like him don’t scare him off by demanding his money, especially if you’ve ordered lobster with caviar. If he’s a nice guy he’ll probably offer anyway.

Don’t talk about politics

It’s best to save this for a later date, when the foundations are strong enough for the relationship to survive. At best you’ll establish that you have similar views, and have a pleasant chat about healthcare. At worst it will cause a shouting match that only ends when your date storms out leaving you to foot the bill for their lobster and caviar. Why take the risk?

Don’t talk only about yourself

I don’t care how brilliant you are, nobody wants to listen to three hours of self-promotion.

Don’t be too touchy feely

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of flirting. Lightly stroking your date’s arm is acceptable. Grabbing them by the face is not!

Don’t go on about your crazy ex

This is a big mistake that a lot of people fail to avoid. Talking about your axe wielding ex-boyfriend who owns a Rottweiler, or an ex-girlfriend who’s been stalking you the last 15 years, and is sat at the next table, might just scare them off.

Don’t take their picture

You might be doing it with the best intentions, but it’s not cool. It’s just going to make you look weird and creepy.

Don’t forget to go

I know you’ve got a lot of things to remember, but make sure you don’t forget to go! Although if you’re planning to do too many of the above then maybe it is better for everyone if you just stay at home.

Despite her occasionally tongue-in-cheek tone, Alison Carmichael is really a romantic soul who gives expression to her feelings through blogging about Valentine’s Day and – just in case they are subsequently required – about all things wedding gift related!

7 Things To Do Before You Date Someone

Christian Singles

Thanks to online dating, more people are dating than ever. This makes Tim Berners-Lee (the inventor of the internet as we know it) the biggest match maker that ever existed. Thanks Tim!

The problem with online dating though is the transition between ‘meeting’ online and meeting in real life. There is, and always will be, a slightly awkward situation where you can get to know someone online, but when you finally go to meet them face to face, you suddenly realise that you don’t have quite as advanced relationship as you thought you did because it had been done behind a virtual curtain that often inadvertently hides aspects of your personalities. Especially when all you have to go by is their carefully worded profile and some text based chat.

So what can you do to make sure they are definitely someone you want to date? Here are some tips:

See if your Friends Know Them

Don’t be shy; online dating is now a perfectly acceptable way to meet people. It no longer comes with the brief silence that used to meet people who explained that they met online. Ask your friends and family if they know him/her. Finding out that they used to date your ex on your first date is never a good feeling.

Google Them

It’s free! Just punching their name into that big white search box and maybe including some details you know about them like where they live. This might bring up pages they wrote from when they did charity work in Africa, or it might bring up a page in a forum where they had a heated debate in which they defended slavery. Eye opening either way.

Check Their Facebook

If their profile is not private you can easily pop their name into the search box and find their page. From there you can see more of what they look like from pictures, see what their friends are like and see what sort of things they talk about on there. Maybe they have terrible grammar?

Police Check

If you have the opportunity and you are particularly nervous about meeting them in person, you could go as far as getting a police check. This will let you know if they have a criminal record, although not having a criminal record does not necessarily mean they aren’t a criminal.

Find Out What They Do

It is quite important to find out what they do for a living. Having compatible careers may allow you to work out if you are likely to be able to start a life together. Maybe they work on oil rigs and you are an air hostess? This would be a difficult relationship to make work but perhaps you only want to meet them once…if you know what I mean.

Ask a Friends Opinion

You could just ask your mates what they think of them based on their profile. They may see something that you didn’t notice before that will put you off. Maybe they smoke?

Stalk Them a Bit

If you really are a bit crazy, you may consider stalking them. Acceptable stalking includes bumping into them accidentally on purpose at the shops. Tapping their phone is not acceptable.

Have a great date!

 

Hanson Black is a UK dating expert. He explores dating websites UK looking for people he is most likely to have a connection with.

 

Technology and Dating

Single Parent Dating

Technology and Dating Part 1: To Text or Not to Text

I highly doubt that anyone under the age of 25 has ever received a love letter unless it was one of those cheesy grade school love notes that said something to the effect of, “Will you go out with me? Check Yes or No”. And even these are becoming obsolete as children are getting their first cell phones at a younger age. Technology has completely destroyed the delicate tradition of pen and paper romance. Yet there are still many advantages to using technology in the “wooing” process. In this three-part article, we’ll discus the pros and cons of texting, instant messaging, emailing, video chatting and social networking when it comes to modern dating techniques.

Like most other things in our world today, the pace of dating and relationships has picked up. Gone are the days of “courting” for two years before proposing and then waiting yet another year to get married. Either people are too busy to even consider marriage, or they jump in too quickly so that dating and marriage matches the pace of the rest of their super-speed lives. Technology is to blame for both of these conditions. So how can you properly use technology, without letting it control you, when it comes to dating?

First, let’s attempt to conquer the texting monster. Regular phone calls are nearly obsolete. In the olden days, the guy would call up the girl, ask her how she was, and see if she would be available to go out to a show the next weekend. He would give her at least a few days notice and anxiously await his date all week long. Nowadays, there is no courtesy call, just a few lines of a text message saying, “going to the movies, want to come?” Not very romantic, is it? For an already-established dating relationship, this wouldn’t as heinous of a crime, but for first dates and new relationships, texts should be handled with care. And once in a while, they should be foregone completely in lieu of making a formal invitation by means of an actual phone call. Taking time out of your busy schedule to make the call will be more demonstrative of your interest than sending a text between stopping at red lights on your way to work.

There are two main benefits to texting, however. First, texting allows you to quickly and concisely confirm plans. Phone calls can be awkward when you have to go through all of the formalities, just to confirm a date. Second, texting allows the guy to send the follow-up text. It has quickly become the standard practice for guys to send a “Thanks for the date tonight” text once he’s dropped the girl off. The follow-up text can mean the difference between never seeing someone again and a second date. It has become so common nowadays, that if a girl doesn’t receive the text, she can safely assume that the guy didn’t have much interest.

Stay tuned for the next part of this article when we’ll discuss instant messaging, email and video chatting, all of which play integral roles in the modern-age of dating!

 

Technology and Dating Part 2: Instant Messaging, Email, and Video Chats

Last article we talked about text messaging and dating. In this second part, we will address the implications of instant messaging, emailing, and video chatting in your love life. For the most part, they can help the dating process progress, so long as they aren’t used in lieu of actual face-to-face time.

I think I would have to offer my biased opinion that instant messaging and emailing are definitely a step up from text messaging. I would much rather be asked out on a date through a messaging service then a 160-character or less text message. On the other hand, instant messaging and video chatting are great ways to communicate with someone you have interest in. And they are especially handy if you don’t live close to your significant other.

Emails can be an excellent source of communication in dating. If you are away on vacation and don’t have time to call, you may at least be abel to send a quick email. Or perhaps you don’t want to disturb someone during their work or school day by sending a text message, but you just have the urge to communicate with them—send an email instead. And honestly, with Smartphones and iPhones being used by pretty much everyone now, emails appear just as quickly as a text message, just without causing your butt to vibrate.

There is a second benefit to sending an email that I want to address. If you have a particularly sensitive issue to discuss with your love interest/significant other, send it through an email. Often these sensitive items are hard to discuss in person if you don’t know someone very well yet. They are usually too important for a text or instant message conversation because you want to really think about your wording and its possible effect on the other person. By sending an email, you will have all the time you need to compose your message, as well as giving the other person time to think about their response and respond in like manner.

Video chatting is probably the most invasive form of technological communication because it allows the other person to see your face, and even surroundings, while you talk. Basically, video chatting is like a high-class phone call. The only thing it lacks is physical proximity, a very important factor in most relationships. However, it can serve many useful purposes as you work to connect with your significant other while one or the other of you is at a distance greater than is possible to be travelled in the moment.

Instant messaging, email and video chat can be great for more formal and serious conversations. Asking someone out through one of these mediums would be very acceptable in today’s highly-technological world. In Part 3 of this article we’ll discuss the influence of Facebook and other social media on the dating scene. What’s acceptable and what’s not when it comes to sharing your relationship to all your friends and family?

 

Technology and Dating Part 3: Facebook—Stalking, Flirting and Becoming Facebook Official

We know from the previous two parts of this article that texting, instant messaging, emailing and video chatting, as concerns dating, are becoming nearly inseparable. But there is one other factor of dating and relationships that is becoming an issue among daters: Facebook. More than one relationship has been started, or even ended, because of Facebook.

Let’s first address the issue of the Facebook stalker. I think we can all safely admit that we are Facebook stalkers. And while it’s fun to use the word “stalker” it’s really not stalking if people, of their own free will and choice, decide to post public pictures of themselves doing something embarrassing or cuddling with an ex-partner. If they don’t want people to know, then they shouldn’t post it. Thus, feel free to Facebook stalk as much as you want.

Facebook stalking can help in many ways with dating. First, it can tell you if someone you’re interested in is single or not. This can be tricky sometimes since many people choose not to post an official relationship status, which we will discuss further below. However, if you take a quick browse through their picture collection you maybe be able to discern if there is a “special someone” in their life. You will also be able to learn about their hobbies, interests, favorite movies, and how they interact with their friends and family. Some of these things can be important to know before starting a relationship, and especially as you continue to develop one. Facebook can be a powerful tool in progressing a relationship.

Facebook flirting is also immensely useful if you are too shy to talk to someone in person. Just as we discussed with instant messaging and texting, it can allow the shy person to finally ask you out, or to at least make an attempt at flirting. While flirting face-to-face is clearly the best option, for some people it may take a little warming up through technological mediums before they can advance to the major league of real-life flirting. I think it’s safe to say that Facebook is an important dating tool for the current generation. And I suppose that Twitter can also be considered right up there with Facebook when it comes to dating, even though I’m not much of a subscriber to the constant flow of useless tweets.

Now let’s address the issue of the Facebook relationship status. The significance of the modern-day adage, “Facebook official” is understood by even older generations. When a couple is Facebook official it means they are willing to let the world know of their “love”. Many concerns arise as to when to make a relationship Facebook official. People who wear their heart on their sleeve and tend to be more romantic want to shout it from the rooftops that they are now in a relationship. Depending on their partner, this may be successful or not. Some people want to make sure a relationship is firmly in place before they publish it on the world-wide web. Others don’t want it published until they are engaged or married. Before making anything “Facebook official”, you would be wise to consult with the other party involved.

All in all, technology has streamlined the dating process by allowing you to get to know another person on “paper” before you know them in reality. However, technology can never replace spending quality time with the object of your affection. Don’t let Facebook, or any technology for that matter, keep you from going out and doing real activities with a person. That is by far the best way to truly get to know someone. And you know what? There’s also nothing wrong with going a bit old-fashioned and writing a hand-written note or letter to someone. They will find it all the more valuable because of its rarity.

About the Author

Tiffani Azani is a freelance writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps prospective students find online degree programs that will prepare them to work in some of the top jobs available right now.

A Guide To Dating For The First Time

Christian Singles

Some guys tend to struggle when they think about good places to meet women. This most certainly applies to men who have newly entered the dating scene. Some guys, especially the shy ones, search for a girlfriend online by joining online dating sites or reaching out to the girl they like through social networking sites. While this is fine, there will always come a time when online daters will have to meet up and date in person. However, this causes a dilemma that online daters experience which can lead to one or both parties getting scared and cancelling the meet. The only way to avoid this is to meet in person from the get go or as soon as possible. If you are into online dating and have no idea where to date in person then read on.

Guys who are going on a date for the first time should have the preference on where to take their date. But before that, a guy should ask his date what she likes to do. If the girl wants to have some adventurous fun, the guy could take her to a carnival or an event that is lively. A movie is a common common choice and girls love to watch movies, so a guy could take his date and they could watch a new-release and high-end film. As for dinner time, the guy should already know what the girls favourite dishes are prior to the date. In this way, the guy can make a reservation at a nice restaurant which is either famous or a place that has not been tried by the girl.

Now that the ideas on great places where a first date can be held has been established, the guy should have some briefing on how to meet girls and how to make sure that he makes a great first impression on the girl.

Facebook the New Little Black Book

Christian Singles

Have you noticed that when girls ask for you contact details, they always ask if you’ve got Facebook? Facebook is becoming a necessity to meet, and contact women.

You are probably reading this whilst logged into it. People within earshot are talking about who did what, and posted what, and said what on it, even your grandmother is on it. It is the social vehicle that according to CNN helped coordinate the North African revolts, and connected 100 million ranters like me with an audience to listen.

Face facts, Facebook may become outdated in five years time, its space overtaken by some new fad, but for now it rules the roost. Connecting friends, connecting enemies who want to keep their quarries under surveillance, connecting businesses with consumers. But Facebook as an option for online dating connections, takes this networking tool into a league even top dating sites like Match can’t compete with.

On Facebook, your relationship status is known to everyone. If you are single, it should poke an interest from unattached ladies. Women like to keep their relationship status as active. No woman wants to have her Facebook relationship status as “single“ or “not in a relationship“ for very long.

Think about it, everyone is on display, most have their relationship status showing, their pics of themselves, their info, their likes, their wants, they are there on their profile in plain view to those they are connected with. There is an ability to message in an instant, to hunt down an old flame in a moment, to find and to be found.

Advantage has been taken of this connectedness by a range of dating applications like speed-date, yet the real benefit of Facebook as a means to get the girl is not in the apps. it is in the platform itself. Any fool can use it, and I know you have received friend requests from such fools, but you will have received friend requests from girls you are interested in too.

Have you used the tool at your fingertips to make that connection about more than the posterity of having a triple digit friend count? Information in the dating game is key, the more we know the more we can show. It is not about trickery, reading up on the girl we like and coming up with pre-prepared lines that will woo her.

Even if you have a girlfriend already, through Facebook you will be able to always know how she is feeling. Less risk of misunderstandings, and the misreading of emotions, improving the longevity of a relationship.

No girlfriend? A  perfect match can be made. Chances are that if you’ve got a Facebook account, you’ve got a girlfriend, or are soon to get one.

The information we have on potential girlfriends helps us to decide if this person is really someone we could like over the long haul. There is more information on a Facebook wall than is attainable through any dating specific site.

Even if the wall shows an inordinate amount of game app postings like Farmville, we can tell the person is either boring, has an addictive personality, or indeed is bored and looking for someone new to spend their time with. We can see from the comments and posts they make what is important to them, and determine if these are in line with the things that are important to us.

There are enough girls in your friends list right now to keep you dating for years, and you’ll probably find something lasting. But Facebook too can be used in the hunt for fresh girls, girls unknown to you, people you can seek out, or have them come to you by being in the places, by connecting with the people, by commenting in pages that interests you, you can catch their eye.

Turning a friend into “something more“ is as simple as communicating, and communicating is what Facebook is all about. Striking up a conversation that can go on for hours, stretch over days to be picked up on and continued until you know you are both in “like“ with each other. Facebook is, and most likely will always be free, putting up with those spammy messages, and in your face Facebook links to sponsors is well worth the return, when that return is chance to mingle with multi millions of potential matches.

Strike a match, and light a fire that will last well beyond the shelf life of the place where the match was found.

Nicholas Jackman loves writing about dating and social media. Follow Nicholas on Twitter here.