Warning signs – 9 ways to scare off a man
You might not be aware of it at the time, but when you're on a date with a man he'll be constantly evaluating your pros and cons every way he can. Partly, this just means trying to work out how big your breasts are and whether you're likely to sleep with him. But it also means he'll be sizing you up for a potential relationship. It's difficult to make this judgment in one date, but there are several "warning signs" many men will look for that could rule you out as girlfriend material. Such as
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No questions
I've been on dates with lovely, charming ladies who have wowed me with their looks and interesting personalities, until I realise I haven't told them anything about myself - because they haven't asked. This is surprisingly common, and an indicator that a girl likes herself a bit too much.
Babies
Tricky ground, babies. Some chaps can get scared and suddenly all protective of their sperm if you babble on about them. But other chaps will be far more perturbed by the opposite. If a girl tells me she "doesn't like babies" it makes them a less viable candidate to mother my children.
Toilet breaks
Women spend a long time in the toilet, we know that. But if you stay in there too long, men will start to wonder what the hell is behind the delay. Anything over eight minutes and our imaginations will start running wild. The only thing more unnerving is if your toilet breaks are too brief. If you're back in your seat within 45 seconds, don't expect us to share a dessert with you.
Cooking
It's always a laugh when one's attempts to follow a Jamie Oliver recipe ends in disaster, but it might be worth keeping these innocent anecdotes quiet around men. If we think a woman can't cook - even if we've just met her - we will subconsciously start visualising a lifetime of burnt chips and Uncle Ben's sweet and sour sauce, and consequently she will be less hot.
Cats
Don't get me wrong, I like cats. And I like girls that like cats. But there's such a thing as liking cats too much. When a girl has more interesting anecdotes about her pet than any humans, including herself, it sets alarm bells ringing.
Relationship history
It's obviously never a great idea to bang on about your numerous ex-boyfriends, but I was equally put off when a girl I was seeing told me she had never been in relationship longer than three months - and she was 28. It makes you wonder… why not?
Buying drinks
Guys buy drinks on dates. It's not necessarily fair, but it's fine and we're happy to do it. But if a girl doesn't at least offer to get a round in - and be prepared to buy them if we accept - we'll put you down as conceited and potentially high maintenance.
Neediness
This can be detected in several ways. As a recent example, a girl told me she had turned to online dating after being single for a month. I instantly perceived this as her desperation to always be in a relationship, and I picked up the faint whiff of a bunny boiling in the distance.
Family resemblances
Supposedly, many of us are subconsciously attracted to people who resemble our parents. But it's best to keep this under wraps. "You remind me of my brother" or "you're a bit like my dad" is not what men want to hear.
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