by Angela S. Young

Created on: September 03, 2008

Every single person has friends, relatives and acquaintances who think they have just the right guy for you. For some reason, they think you must have a man in your life to be happy, and they are willing to help you find "Mr. Right". Unfortunately, going on a blind date can spell disaster in many ways to the unprepared single woman.

The first thing to remember when going on a blind date is safety. In our crazy world, you never know what that guy is really like. Even the most heinous criminals have relatives and friends that say, "I can't believe it!" The following are some safety tips:

-ALWAYS take your cell phone and put it on vibrate. Have a friend on speed dial who can rescue you at the punch of a button.

-NEVER go some place private on the first date. Meet your date at the date place, and make sure others are around. Choose a busy restaurant so you won't head out to your car without witnesses.

-ALWAYS tell someone your date agenda. Have someone expecting your call when you're safely in your car after the date.

-NEVER give out your personal information (i.e. address or phone number) on the first date. If the guy wants to ask you out again, he can ask the person who set you up or give you his phone number and allow you to call.

-ALWAYS have an out if he comes on too strong and won't listen. Let him know his behavior is not acceptable and leave, making sure to call someone as you do and keep others in sight. Someone there will probably willingly escort you or escort him out if he crosses the line.

The next thing to remember is that he will also be nervous, so break the ice by asking him questions about himself. Neither of you should reveal intimate personal information on a first date, but you can ask about his work or his hobbies. For those who freeze up when nervous, it's a good idea to write down a few conversation starters on an index card that you keep in your pocket for a reference. Hopefully you've asked the set-up person a few details about this person to get you started.

Then, just relax and have fun. Even if no fireworks go off when you meet, you may develop a new friendship from this meeting. Treat them as you would any other human being. Spend the time with them you promised and give them your full attention. Give him a chance; he just may be the man of your dreams. With some guys you have to dig a little deeper to find the gold beneath. If all else fails, you had a pleasant evening and you never see him again.

Blind daters take a chance, but sometimes they find that man they've always dreamed of. Following a few rules increases the chance that the date will be, at worst, a pleasant memory and, at best, the beginning of a wonderful future together. Always remember: safety first and after that have the best time you can under the circumstances.

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