9 Reasons Why Dating Is So Confusing

By Ellie Gibbons 

 

Dating is fun, exciting and presents a world of opportunities – but then dating is confusing, too! We’re meant to be having the time of our lives here! But dating definitely isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be; in fact, it’s a veritable minefield of awkward moments, endless wondering and possible rejections. Keeping in mind that the positives outweigh the negatives, here are nine reasons why dating is confusing.

1. Blind Dates

What part of blind dating is confusing? All of it! Blind dates – spending a couple of hours with someone you’ve never met or seen. Most people have been on a blind date or two during their single lives. But, if you’re going on one, you need to mentally prepare yourself for a couple of hours of potential awkwardness. If it really is a blind date, then will you know who he is? Will you make him wear a sign? What if you don’t find him attractive? Worse still – what if he doesn’t find you attractive? Sweaty palms all round!

2. Dinner

Going out for dinner – a lovely idea in theory; but am I the only person who finds it nerve-wracking when you eat in front of a date for the first time? What do you order? Ever gone out and ended up with food in your teeth, or you’ve dropped your dinner down your dress? I once tried to cut into a pizza and shot the whole thing off my plate and onto the floor. Argh!

3. Great … hic … night

You’re having a lovely time, the conversation is flowing and so is the wine. Actually, maybe the wine’s flowing a little too much. The annoying thing about getting drunk is that it can happen all too easily, especially when you’re having a good time. Then, suddenly, your inhibitions are gone and you find yourself talking too loudly and sharing too much information.

4. Sorry, there’s an emergency!

You’ve arrived, and it’s the worst date ever. You aren’t attracted to him, or you’ve realised you have absolutely nothing in common and you’re both sitting there in agonising silence. Time to make excuses that you both know aren’t true. “Oh, I have an early start tomorrow!” … “Really? Me too!” … and that’s if both of you are having a bad time … if it’s just one of you, it’s even more awkward.

5. Just Like the Movies

You’ve met, you’ve had a great time, and you think you like him. On the outside, you’re saying what a good time you’ve had, and how you’d like to see him again sometime. On the inside, you’re thinking ‘COULD HE BE THE ONE? ARE WE GOING TO GET MARRIED?’ The product of too many bad dates, and too many films like The Notebook.

6. Mixed Signals

Have you ever been on a date where you think you may like the guy, but you literally have no idea how he’s feeling? Some people are just really difficult to read and they don’t give much away. Cue ensuing days of wondering.

7. Who’s Paying?

It’s the 21st century; men and women are equal. But, let’s be honest – most of us think it’s a nice gesture if the man pays on the first date. Still, we like to at least offer. Then have a little pretend argument where he refuses and we say we’d like to pay. But we don’t. Not really.

8. Goodnight Kiss

It’s the end of the night; neither of you have made your excuses and left early, so maybe the date is going well. But do you kiss at the end of the night? There’s always that moment of awkwardness before a kiss when neither of you really knows what’s going to happen. Or, does he go for the lips and you give him the cheek? Cringe!

9. Do you or don’t you?

No, not the obvious. I mean, the date went well (you think so, at least) and you would like to see him again. Do you contact him? Do you wait a couple of days and see if he contacts you? What if he doesn’t? Is he just not that into you? This is 2013; surely the girl can contact the guy without seeming too keen… right? Will we ever know the answers to these questions?