Blind Dates

Have you ever been on a blind date? Well, I think it’s the best thing ever because it’s always exciting meeting a person up for the very first time, without having met the person prior to the date. I have my fair share of blind dates, and believe me…every single time it’s the same feeling for me anxiety, being self conscious and eagerness. Well, most of my blind dates usually start online with couple of daily conversations with a regular bunch of people, which will eventually lead to more personal topics of conversation as time goes by. It then finally becomes comfortable enough to finally meet up. Think of it as an online pen-pal.

Yesterday, I met up with L at Pavilion for dinner, along with her friend R. Now it’s quite common for a girl to bring a friend along on the first meeting. I mean, there are a lot of psychopaths around these days and I totally understand. But not all of my blind dates are like that anyway. I’ve know L for probably close to 2 years now, but our communications were only mainly through MSN Messenger, Facebook and via mobile. We finally met up in La Bodega for dinner and I lets just say everything went well, and she was all I expected her to be.

Hey if you’re thinking that I’m doing all this to get to know more girls…well, YES you’re probably half right! I’m not shy to admit it. But meeting up a girl does not mean that I like that girl or that I’m going after her; neither does it mean that I want something in return from her (you know what I mean). People always seem to assume those things immediately when you tell them that you have a date. For me, meeting them means I gain a new friend (and in yesterday’s case 2 new friends), a chance to expand my social network and potential business opportunities. Of course I don’t deny the fact that there could be a possibility of ending up more than just friends. But anyway, that’s not the point!

I guess what I’m trying to say here is that I can safely say that I been on enough blind dates to qualify in giving these tips if anyone wants to try it (at least I think I’m qualified :p):

1. Go on these dates with an open mind.

2. DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT expecting anything, most of the time, you will end up gaining something anyways.

3. Don’t be pretentious – just be yourself. I’m very turned off by a pretentious person. If that person don’t like the way you are, so be it. You’re better off not being friends anyway.

4. Try to impress your date, but don’t try too hard and over do it. Over doing it will bring you back to point number 3.

5. Never judge a book by its cover. Doesn’t mean if she didn’t put on any make up that day or she has a birth defect somewhere that she is automatically classify as horrible looking. Beauty lies from within and so does compatibility. Although first impressions do give you a gauge of her personality.

6. Communicate! There is nothing more boring than going out with someone who just sits there like a piece of dead wood.

I think blind dates can be fun if you approach it correctly. It also keeps your life exciting. Please don’t say that you’re already attached and you cannot do this anymore. It’s nonsense! For those attached just know your limits. Nobody is asking you to marry the next person you date. It’s merely a good way to get to know new people. If you’re afraid, go in a group or get a friend to follow you. It’s not as bad as you think. So…anyone willing to give it a go after this? Hehe.