It’s just too intimate, apparently.
- Greetings card marketplace, thortful, polled 2,000 Brits on their idea of the ickiest first date
- 25% of people from Londoners said that an escape room would be their worst idea for a first date
- Hiking, climbing, and table tennis also made the top five
Various dating trends have been circulating the Tiktok-isphere, from beige flags, red flags, and every flag in between, to icks and ‘benching’. It’s becoming harder and harder to keep up, and with so many different dating practices flying around the internet, how can you decide what an appropriate first date idea is for taking that talking stage to the next level?
Well, according to a new study by greetings card marketplace, thortful, there are some no-no’s when it comes to first-date activities. If you’re a fan of bouldering or climbing walls, we’ve got bad news for you.
Polling 2,000 Brits on their worst idea of a first date with someone they were meeting in person for the first time, those from London voted the following as the top five to avoid:
If you were planning on heading to The Great Escape Game for that first date, you might want to think again, as 25% of those from London voted it as their worst idea of a first date. Maybe give Roxy’s a miss too, as table tennis also made the top five.
The following were the worst first date ideas overall:
Unfortunately, if you love a puzzle, you might want to save the escape room for date two or three, as a quarter of respondents to thortful’s survey said this would be their worst idea of a first date. The thought of being inescapably stuck with a terrible first date is haunting, after all.
Taking the second spot is being invited to watch someone do something – in fact, of the Gen Z respondents, this was the worst, with 27% voting it to the top spot. Watching someone show off their skills on the first date is just too much of an ick!
A long sweaty hike is a no-go, but sign me up for a casual stroll
While taking a long hike together made it into the top five worst, the second best date idea overall was going for a casual walk, as 40% of those surveyed said that this would be an ideal first date. The number one best date idea overall was meeting at a café for a coffee, and some light food. Coffee snobs, it’s your time to shine.
Kara-no-ke
Bagging 20% of the vote, listening to someone belt out Sweet Caroline at the local was unfortunately not a popular choice. However, if you really want to break the ice, this could be an ideal choice!
Aside from the top five ranking, avid gymrats may also want to go back to the drawing board, as going to the gym together was also an unfavourable first date idea, with 17% saying this would be terrible. This was also the least voted-for option when it came to the best first date ideas.
Men think that going for a casual pint is the best first date idea – but going climbing is the worst
This may not come as too much of a surprise, but over a third (39%) of men surveyed said that going for a casual drink at the pub was their top idea of a first date, which compared to 31% of women, who voted going for coffee as their ideal option. 27% also said that going for a meal at a restaurant was their top choice.
Overall, climbing or bouldering made it to the number three spot, but 27% of the men surveyed want their feet planted firmly on the ground, as they voted it as their worst idea of a first date.
Has the cinema first date run its course?
Just making it into the top 10 worst first date ideas with 13% of the vote, was going to the cinema. 18% of Gen Z respondents said this would be an ick, but only 5% of those aged 55-64 said this would be a bad idea. Maybe it’s just too awkward to chomp popcorn next to someone you’ve just met?
The verdict
Based on the activities that were chosen as ideal first dates, such as going for coffee and casual drinks, it seems that the best way to go is to take things steady. To clear things up, thortful asked Relationship Psychologist, Mairead Molloy, on her thoughts:
“Notice how the top date ideas are all based around sharing food and drink – this is the easiest way for us to relax and feel comfortable having conversations while sussing out your date. Nobody wants to be stuck in an escape room for two hours with someone they don’t fancy!
“First dates are important to us because humans are hardwired to want a relationship, so we put a lot of pressure on them. The most effective way to reduce the pressure is to remember that a first date is not a do or die situation, but it is an opportunity to have fun and meet someone that can make your life and theirs better.”
Featured image by René Ranisch on unsplash
