Dating in the modern age is somewhat of a social experiment; and as with anything of experimental nature, you never quite know what you're going to get. We have our rule books, our playbooks and our little black books, but there's still plenty of room for error, especially in a big city like Toronto. With that said, I'm here to help by giving you guys some insight into the worst things you can do on a date in our beloved city. 1. Get Distracted by Your Phone I get it, we live in the social media age and we can all be guilty of a certain excited twitch when we see a new Instagram notification light up our iPhone screen. But when it comes to dating, at least try to be fully present. If you're going to sacrifice a night in the city with your friends and shell out the cash on a dinner or some drinks, you might as well invest yourself in some quality face-to-face conversation. Those notifcations and texts aren't going anywhere, but your date is. Keep your phone out of sight and out of mind. 2. Flake on Plans Listen, there are few things more rude than the blatant disregard for someone's time. Toronto may not be the big apple, but it is a busy, happening city and it's inhabitants lead lives that maintain that hectic pace. Whether it's work, the gym, hobbies or social outings, we like to hustle. So if someone is willing to set some valuable time aside for you, don't agree to those plans only to flake out at the last minute. Make plans and stick to them, or don't make plans at all; because Toronto singles don't have time for those games, I can promise you that. 3. Blatantly Boast About Your Salary... Stay Humble my Friends Toronto is full of some of the most successful young people in the game. Whether it be investment banking, law, medicine, technology or even journalism (we aren't all starving writers), many of us are making major waves in our given fields despite the fact that majority of our generation is over-worked and underpaid. We work hard, and we are proud of what we do. With that said, don't be the guy that crosses the delicate line separating confident from obnoxiously cocky. Understated confidence goes a long way and if you are truly good at what you do, you don't need to rub that in your date's face to get the point across. So avoid the desire to blatantly mention your impressive salary at your firm on Bay Street, let your success story unfold naturally and stay humble. A little modesty goes a long way. 4. Immediately Bring up Your Ex For whatever reason, some people seem believe that the way to succeed in the art of dating is to literally put it all out there right away. You know, those episodes of the Bachelor featuring the first awkward, over-the-top date between a contestant and the Bachelor or Bachelorette as they nervously gulp down some wine before word-vomitting every heartbreak or personal struggle they've ever endured? When it comes to dating, try to keep things focused on the present, not the past. If things go well, certain discussions of ex's or past heartbreak will likely come out at their own, natural accord. If you immediately slap all your past romantic baggage on the table at Westlodge during the first date, especially if it's trash talk, your love interest might just think you're still carrying the torch for that ex-lover. People of Toronto appreciate a little mystery and, more importantly, a clean slate of conversation on the first date. 5. Be Rude to the Waiter (or any other passer-by) Manners matter, especially in a bustling city like Toronto where people can often come across as rude or short-tempered. There is nothing less attractive on a date than your companion snapping at the server or being inconsiderate to the people around you. Don't be that guy. The way you treat others is a clear indication of the person you are, so put your best face forward. Even if the date doesn't result in any real romantic potential, at least your companion can go home with a high regard for your manners. 6. Give Back-handed Compliments I don't know why some people believe that the passive aggressive tactic of backhanded compliments is the way to make a date really squirm in their seat with lust and approval because, trust me, it's not. Don't you dare utter the words "So why is a ____ guy/girl like you still single?" ... "Girls or guys in Toronto are all the same... but you seem pretty cool" or "I totally thought you were a bitch when I saw you at EFS, but you're actually nice" or any similar, unnecessary musing. Confident people give genuine, thoughtful compliments, it's as simple as that.
