9 of 51

Write now Article Tools

The Longest Night
You sit at the bar, butterflies busy in the pit of your stomach, perspiration starting to escape your underarms, thinking, "I can still leave. I'll just call his cell phone and say I had car trouble." Then it happens. Through the front door walks everything you've never wanted in a mate.

Most of us have been there (and we hate those who have not), stuck with an evening of halting conversation we would rather not have with our soon-to-be insignificant other. Worrying, the entire night about how and when this fiasco will end.

Fear not, there are a few things you can do to survive the blind date with your dignity in tact.
* Get right to dinner or whatever the evening has planned. Do not spend time in the bar drinking; while it may seem like it will make the evening easier, chances are one or both of you may get out of hand and do or say something you will regret.

* If you are leaving your meeting spot, take your own vehicle. You should do this for safety reasons anyway, and your date should not argue. In fact, if you get an argument, your night should end there. Do not, for any reason, feel obliged to leave in a vehicle with anyone you don't know. Taking your own vehicle also allows you to leave immediately after the evenings activities (or earlier, if you must).

* Always be a graceful date. Keep up your end of the conversation, even if you seem to have absolutely nothing in common. There can be little worse than sitting silently through dinner with a stranger. Even if there is no physical attraction, there is no reason why you can't gain a good friendship.

There are a few "deal breakers" that may require an immediate exit including:

* Drinking to excess. Leave your blind date in the capable hands of the bartender, who is responsible for getting them a ride home. Never feel you have to escort a drunk date home, this is not safe.

* Drug use of any kind. If your date is constantly going off by themselves, or their attitude seems to be changing without alcohol, time to answer the "emergency" cell phone call and make a hasty exit.

* Abusive language or behavior. Even if this behavior is focused at others, you can be sure it will soon be your turn.

If you think that a speedy exit may be required, do so sooner rather than later. It is much easier to walk out early in a room full of people (making the appropriate emergency excuse), than when it is the two of you alone outside.

Should you make it to the excruciating end of the date, again, be a gratuitous person and thank your date for their time. There is absolutely no reason to be rude. Remember, this is a person too. They are going home by themselves, just as you are, and probably have had a bad evening as well. Say your goodbyes and don't encourage your date to try for any more.

Learn more about this author, Christine Cameron.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to gracefully end a bad blind date?
We want to hear your view. Write now!