Blind dates could be mystical, often terrifying, yet sometimes exhilarating experiences where you have a social engagement or date someone you’ve never seen before. Blind dates are like ordering food off the menu when you’re hungry: you’re hoping it’ll be exactly what you want, but you’re not quite sure until it arrives. So, before you put on your best “I’m not awkward, I swear” face, let’s dive into what a blind date is and some things to remember so it doesn’t end up as a complete disaster.
So, What Exactly Is a Blind Date?
A blind date is when you meet someone you don’t know before, usually arranged by a friend, coworker, or matchmaking app that makes you feel like a contestant on The Bachelor. You have no clue, and you have no idea what they’re into except for the fact that they somehow agreed to meet you. It’s a gamble. It’s a high-stakes game where the only thing you have in common is one friend or app that sets it all up.
If you’re lucky, it’ll be a wonderful, love-at-first-sight moment. If you’re not, you might wish you had stayed home with a pizza and Netflix. Either way, it’s an adventure.
What to Be Careful About:
Now, before you go charging into this mystical world of blind dates, there are some important things to keep in mind. These tips might help you survive the evening and even possibly make it enjoyable.
1. Expectations vs. Reality
You might have heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” and that’s great advice. But let’s be honest – when you’re on a blind date, the first 10 minutes are spent trying to figure out if your date is who you think they are. If you’ve only seen them from a blurry picture or heard a description like, “They’re totally your type, trust me,” be prepared for anything. That “tall, well-built, and handsome” could become “short, fat, and massively unappealing.”
Pro Tip: Approach the situation like you’re meeting a celebrity you’ve never seen before. Be open, but don’t expect them to show up like the cover of GQ (unless they do, in which case, you’re clearly winning at life).
2. The Danger of Overthinking the Small Talk
You’ve probably seen the rom-coms. You know, the ones where the two leads sit down at a quaint café and start a charming conversation about their shared love of obscure 90s music. Sounds easy, right? In reality, small talk can often be more awkward than watching someone struggle to parallel park.
What to be careful about: Don’t spend the first half-hour discussing the weather or your childhood pet. Instead, try something like, “So, tell me about the weirdest thing you’ve ever done.” It’s a great way to bypass the awkwardness and dive straight into a conversation that’s far more interesting (and less about how great the weather is today).
3. Know Your Limits (Especially With the “Weird” Vibe)
Sometimes, you’ll realize within the first 10 minutes that things just aren’t clicking. Your date might have started talking about their extensive rock collection, and you’re still processing how someone has that many rocks. At this point, don’t try to force a connection. You don’t have to be rude, but remember, it’s okay to leave. Your friend will still love you even if you bail early.
Pro Tip: If you’re stuck, pretend you have a “work emergency.” It’s a foolproof excuse; no one ever questions the dreaded work call.
4. Safety First (No, Seriously)
This is probably the most important thing to remember. A blind date is, essentially, a date with a stranger. So, share your plans with a trusted friend before you meet up. Let them know where you’re going when you expect to be home, and who this person is. It’s not about being paranoid. It’s about being smart. If your date insists on meeting at a remote location, or if they make you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to call it off. There are always more fish in the sea and more pizza in the fridge.
Pro Tip: Meet in a public place somewhere with good lighting, lots of people, and preferably a decent Wi-Fi signal for emergency texting.
5. When You Know It’s Not Working (The Subtle Art of The Escape)
Let’s say you’re deep into the date and suddenly realize that your date’s hobby of collecting taxidermy isn’t exactly your idea of a good time. You’re stuck. What do you do? You don’t want to be rude, but you also don’t want to commit to another hour of pretending you care about dead animals.
Pro Tip: Here’s where your acting skills come into play. Smile, nod, and slowly back away. If your date insists on continuing, you can always use the “I think we’re on different wavelengths” line. It’s diplomatic, non-confrontational, and doesn’t involve ghosting them via text.
Final Thoughts: The Good, the Bad, and the Hilarious
At the end of the day, blind dates can be surprisingly fun (or at least interesting). It’s a chance to meet someone new, step out of your comfort zone, and maybe get a funny story to tell your friends. In the worst case, you’ll never have to go on another date with them again. In the best case, you’ll find your soulmate who’s probably not into taxidermy.
So, whether it’s love, friendship, or just a good laugh, remember this: keep an open mind, keep your expectations in check, and most importantly, keep your sense of humor. Because if you can laugh at the awkwardness of it all, you’re already winning.
