What Kind of First Date Are You?

Emily Maggrett

6 Min Quiz

Image: Nick Dolding/DigitalVision/GettyImages

About This Quiz

No matter how old you are, first dates can make you feel as awkward as any middle-schooler. Even if you have every reason to feel confident, such as good looks or a successful career, it's still hard to go somewhere and try to impress someone you've never met before. Anxious thoughts may race through your mind, such as, "What if I say the wrong thing? What if they think I'm boring? Why did I leave the safety of my house to do this?"

Here's the good news — we all feel your pain. No one likes first dates, so if you're dating-averse, you're in good company. However, you may hate first dates for a reason that goes beyond typical first date anxiety: your dating skills need work. If you want to find out whether your dating skills are up to par, this quiz can help.

We're going to ask you how you'd handle several first-date situations, such as a messy spaghetti dinner, an argument over the split check, the good night kiss and more. Be honest! In return, we promise to tell you whether you're a dream date or a work-in-progress. Ready to find out the truth? It's time to get quizzing!

Upon seeing you, your date says, "Wow, you're a lot cuter than I thought you'd be." What do you say back?

"Gee, thanks."

"Yeah, well ... wait till you see me naked!"
"Haha, what a funny joke!"

"It's because I'm the [man or woman] of your dreams!"

Your date took you out for a messy spaghetti dinner, and now your favorite shirt is ruined. Is this date ruined too?

Yes. Time to go home and throw my shirt away. 😥

Nah. I'd just take off the shirt and chill in my undershirt. 😏
No. I'd just put some hand soap on the stain and move on. 😎

Yes. I can't be expected to date effectively when I look like a mess!?! 😱

As the date progresses, you realize that your date really likes you. Unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual. What's your move?

All I have to do is wait. People usually get tired of me.

Because they actually like me, I look for reasons to like them ... any reasons!
I hint that I'd prefer to be friends.

I ghost them while they're in the bathroom.

You get to the restaurant that you and your date agreed to meet at, and discover it's closed. Your date proposes bowling. What do you say?

"OK, whatever."

"Yes! Let me just run home and get my bowling shoes."
"Sure, sounds like fun."

"No! I had my heart set on Indian food."

Imagine that your date wants to meet at a really out-of-the-way spot. They're wearing sunglasses and seem anxious not to be recognized. What's your first thought?

"They must be ashamed to be seen with nerdy ol' me."

"They must be an undercover movie star."
"Uh-oh. They're already in a relationship."

"They're keeping me on the DL because they don't want their friends to get jealous."

Let's say your date shows up to pick you up on a moped. They want you to ride on the back, without a helmet. What do you do?

Say, "No thanks, I'll drive."

Say, "No thanks, I'm skateboarding over there."
Say, "Sure. Let me just get my helmet."

Say, "Absolutely not. I could die if you crashed that thing!"

When your date takes their coat off, you realize they're wearing an extremely suggestive outfit. What's your reaction?

I wonder if they wore it by accident.

I say "Hatchi matchi" and stick my tongue out like a wolf.
I tell them they look nice.

I say, "I see you dressed up for me."

Let's say that the waiter spills water on your date by accident and your date viciously snaps at them. Is this a deal-breaker?

Welp, it's not a good sign.

Not necessarily. I mean, the waiter shouldn't have done that.
YES. Ugh, that's so unkind.

Actually, I'd yell at the waiter too if that happened to me.

Imagine that your date is visiting from out of town. Where do you take them?

Denny's

A weird underground spot that I adore!
An interesting but not too strange restaurant ... I don't know what they like yet.

To my favorite hangout. It's the coolest place in town. 😁

If a love interest shows up with flowers on the first date, how does that make you feel?

Very anxious

Like I'm in a movie!
Pleased but wary

Satisfied. It is, after all, what I deserve.

Some people get through first dates by "interviewing" others while not revealing much about themselves. Have you ever done this?

Yeah, that's like my only date move.

No, that sounds boring.
I try to balance talking about myself with asking questions; otherwise, it gets weird.

TBH I mostly just talk about myself. Maybe I should do more interviewing!

Your date is late. How do you feel about this?

Meh. Just gives me more time to fret!

Lol, I'm late too, so it's fine.
Slightly miffed, but it's not a deal-breaker.

I'm furious. How could they do this to me???

If you're not immediately attracted to a date, do you write them off as a romantic prospect?

No. After all, they're probably not immediately attracted to me.

No. They could be really cool and I just don't know it yet!
No ... but I need to think they're at least somewhat cute.

Yes. If my body isn't into them, my heart can't be either.

Your date keeps saying that they "really feel connected to you." They then reveal some dark personal information. How do you respond?

I stare at them while fidgeting uncomfortably.

I say, "Cool!" and reveal some dark personal info of my own.
I say, "Hmm," and change the subject.

I ask them what's wrong with them and leave.

While you're eating dinner, your date keeps trying to find out how old you are. How do you respond?

By changing the subject

By lying!
By telling the truth

By asking why they care

When you're on a first date, how often do you bring up your past relationships?

WHAT past relationships?

I like telling detailed stories about my weirder exes.
I never bring up my exes.

I complain — at length — about my last partner.

Imagine you're a writer. Do you think it would be a good idea to show your date some of your work?

Lol, no

Sure, why not?
Absolutely not

I'd probably read them my last short story out loud while staring at their face REAL HARD.

While talking about music, your date reveals that they hate country music. You're a country musician. Can this relationship possibly work?

No. 😥

Nah. But it is good fodder for a song!
Maybe ... we should keep talking and see if we have other stuff in common.

I'd never date someone who didn't respect my craft!

When the time comes to order your dessert, your date looks you over and says, "I don't think you need any." What do you do?

Say, "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Get up on the table, point at your date, and yell, "Look at this fatphobic jerk!"
Say, "Wow" and then order whatever you want.

Refuse to acknowledge what they said, then order two desserts to spite them.

Would you ever go out on a first date on Valentine's Day?

No. I prefer to spend Valentine's Day with my kitty cats.

Yes ... it's so crazy it might just work!
No. Too much pressure.

Yes. It's the most romantic night of the year.

Your date is really interesting, but they never ask you any questions about yourself. What do you do to get a word in edgewise?

Nothing. They're interesting; I'm not.

I bust out a ukulele and start singing about myself.
I use one of their stories to segue into a topic I'm more interested in.

I don't say anything, but I vow there won't be a date #2.

Your date wants to split the check. Does this mean they don't really like you?

Yes. But what else should I have expected?

Who knows, who cares? I'm broke as a joke!
Not necessarily. It depends on their politics.

Clearly, they hate me, so now I hate them!

What do you usually wear on first dates?

Slacks and a nice shirt ... basically my work clothes.

A purple jumpsuit with a black turtleneck
Depends on where we're going, but something dressier than normal.

A sharp black suit or a revealing red dress

After finishing dinner, your date invites you to hang out with their friends at a nearby house party. What do you say?

"Sorry, but I have an early bedtime tonight."

"Yesssss! Let's party until the break of dawn."
"Hmm ... maybe for an hour or so."

"No thanks, that doesn't work with my schedule."

How do you know you should go in for a goodnight kiss?

You should probably just wait for them to kiss you.

If they're still flirting with you at the end of the night, it's on.
It never hurts to ask.

You can't know for sure. You can only go for it!

Your date confesses they just got out of a serious relationship and this is their first date in a long time. What's your move?

I'd quietly give up on them.

I'd ask them all about their last relationship.
I'd say, "Thanks for telling me," then change the subject.

I'd say, "Wow, guess we're both wasting our time then," and storm out.

Do YOU think you're good at first dates?

I think I'm mediocre at them.

I think I am a date unlike any other!
I think I'm decent at dating. The problem is figuring out what I want.

I think I'm the best date west (or east) of the Rockies.

The next day, your date sends you three separate "hey you" texts. Is this a deal-breaker?

Wow, yeah. That's way too eager.

No ... I like that they're so into me.
I might give them another chance, but that's certainly a bad sign.

Um, I probably sent them FOUR "hey you" texts, so it's fine.

After talking about the weather, you and your date are out of stuff to say. What do you do next?

I stare out the window miserably, hating myself for not being a better conversationalist.

I start telling them about my unfinished sculptures.
I ask them a question about their job.

I start telling them a long, boring story about something that happened to me that day.

Imagine that you and your date are going to a movie after dinner. You thought it was a comedy but it turns out to be extremely NSFW. What do you do?

Quietly excuse myself and leave.

Ask my date if they want to try some of those positions later.
Crack a few jokes to ease the tension, then ask my date if they want to go somewhere else.

Silently watch the movie while pretending everything's fine.

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