Dating Advice?

[JaseSF]

I thought it might be a fun, and possibly even educational, idea to have a thread where dating advice is given  . I'd like to hear your best suggestions for asking a member of the opposite sex to go on a date in the first place (I know I need all the help  I can get so don't think you're alone if that's the case)? Should guys use those corny pick-Up lines? Do gals really go/fall for that? Or do women prefer you to act naturally, as yourself? Do you think it's possible to be too nice, so as to be unattractive to a member of the opposite sex (I've been told this one in the past believe it or not...too good for me, too nice, etc.) So ladies, if you're sick of those corny lines or just feel like sharing some of the more laughable ones used on you, feel free to share and vent your frustrations? Why is it all that matters to most  guys on initial attraction is outer appearance but women tend to look for something deeper or am I imagining that? Share, vent, talk, discuss and all the rest of that jazz.

[fortunato]

Since I'm still in college and will be for the foreseeable future, it's easy to "talk shop" with women. I also work at a store with a lot of women and I can release some of my romantic energy by subtly and overtly hitting on them on a nightly basis.

[ulthar]

I'd like to hear your best suggestions for asking a member of the opposite sex to go on a date in the first place

Just ask.  Either they say yes or no.  I'll let the women chime in for corrections as needed, but I think what most females prefer is someone who is not desparate and who can just be themselves.  I don't think women like "a show" or any sort of pretense.

Do gals really go/fall for that?

Some do.  I was once in a bar, and enjoyed listening to the couple next to me.  The guy was filling the girl's head full of all kinds of garbage, and it was obvious he was full of crap.  Well, it was obvious to everyone but her.  When he left to get them some more drinks, I leaned over and asked her "you reallly aren't falling for this guy's lies, are you?"  She looked at me like I fouled her cornflakes, and proceeded to spend the rest of the night just ga-ga over that guy.  Sad.  Everyone within earshot was clearly thinking the same thing I was.

But, you have to ask yourself, do you WANT a girl that will fall for that stuff?  Or, do you want someone with self-respect who knows who SHE is?  It depends on what you are looking for.  Again, it's obvious what that guy was looking for.

Why is it all that matters to most  guys on initial attraction is outer appearance but women tend to look for something deeper or am I imagining that?

I think that's a social myth, myself.  I LOT of guys are looking for something "deeper" and a lot of women are looking for cheap thrills.  There's both in both sexes.

But I'm the LAST thing from an expert on the subject.  I've been married a bit over ten years, and I become more convinced daily that I know very, very little about women.   

[LilCerberus]

Do gals really go/fall for that?

Some do.  I was once in a bar, and enjoyed listening to the couple next to me.  The guy was filling the girl's head full of all kinds of garbage, and it was obvious he was full of crap.  Well, it was obvious to everyone but her.  When he left to get them some more drinks, I leaned over and asked her "you reallly aren't falling for this guy's lies, are you?"  She looked at me like I fouled her cornflakes, and proceeded to spend the rest of the night just ga-ga over that guy.  Sad.  Everyone within earshot was clearly thinking the same thing I was.

But, you have to ask yourself, do you WANT a girl that will fall for that stuff?  Or, do you want someone with self-respect who knows who SHE is?  It depends on what you are looking for.  Again, it's obvious what that guy was looking for.

Oh, yeah? Women love to say that, but Just you try tellin' 'em the truth the next time they ask you "Does this make my butt look big?"

[JaseSF]

The stammering, cannot make sensible sentences syndrome happens to me sometimes when I go to ask a woman out, the more attracted to her I am...the worse this tends to be.  Of course usually said woman has no idea I was actually trying to ask her out.  Sometimes I'll just freeze up after "Hello".

[Andrew]

My advice consists of three simple words:

Brightly colored plumage.

[BeyondTheGrave]

Don't try to kill her and sell her organs on the black market. Or chase them with a knife.

[CheezeFlixz]

In addition to brightly colored plumage this is along the same line ... JUST ASK! What she going to do say "NO?" To many fish in the sea ... so just ask. Some girls, women, chicks, babes etc dig an assertive guy, some don't. Be yourself and not some one else and just ask. The last girl I walked up to and said bluntly, "Do you want to go out or not?" I married about 20 years ago and I'm still married to here and I've stayed as blunt and myself everyday, no surprises she knew what she was getting into. (To bad for her huh?)

JUST ASK HER ... simple enough. No lines, no games, no aires, just you.

[Doc Daneeka]

Don't try to kill her and sell her organs on the black market. Or chase them with a knife.

Make sure ALL your killer rats are dead. I made a mistake last time and I never had a girlfriend again because I was dead.

Just kidding! I've never had a girlfriend.

[ulthar]

Don't try to kill her and sell her organs on the black market. Or chase them with a knife.

It cannot be overstated just how good this advice is.  Rich gets a karma bump for this one.   

[Dennis]

Find a lady you like because you have something incommon, could be anything, then just ask her, she'll either say yes or no, if she says no and you want to ask again later, then do it but don't come on like a stalker, a second no usually means she's not interested, if she says yes then be yourself, I started taking Poogie to crappy movies on our 3rd date, must admit we went to chick flicks, you have to consider her preferences too. You should start out doing stuff you both enjoy and find out more about her likes and dislikes. The important thing though is to be yourself and not surprise her later, also hope she's doing the same for you.

One more thing, on a 1st date it's usually not a good idea to tell her what a huge fan of "Night of the Living Dead" or "Attack of 50 Foot Woman" you are

[Shadow]

One more thing, on a 1st date it's usually not a good idea to tell her what a huge fan of "Night of the Living Dead" or "Attack of 50 Foot Woman" you are

Dennis, where were you with this nugget of wisdom when I needed it fifteen years ago? 

[Torgo]

One of my ex-girlfriends from the early to mid 90's was awesome in that she had the exact same love of cheesy B-movie cinema as I did.

On our first date, she was kind of worn out and said that she just wanted to rent a movie and get some take out chinese food.

the 2 movies she picked out on her own were Evil Dead 2 and Commando.

I knew I she was the one right at the moment.

sadly, she moved away out of state and I wasn't able to move with her.      

[RCMerchant]

 Don't get drunk and throw up.
Don't play music like Slayer or Black Flag.
 Don't watch the kind of movies you like.
 Don't let her see your porno collection.
 

[LilCerberus]

Closing with the line, "That's okay.  At least you didn't hit me" worked well for me once.
Asking about a woman's tattoos, on the other hand, has always been a train wreck.