Dating Unplugged

July 26, 2011 - Michael Rodriguez - Advice, Reader Questions - 2 Comments

I had a date go pretty bad last night. I met him on the internet so I thought he’d be internet savvy, but he was visibly offended when I checked my e-mail on my phone. What’s the deal?
Michelle, 26, Michigan

Well Michelle, he was probably offended because what you did was quite rude. When someone pulls a cell phone out on a date, it’s considered disrespectful. He could be the president of the internet himself, but will still not appreciate it if you pulled out your cell phone during a date.

Once at a nice restaurant, I over heard a duo who seemed to be on a date get into a little bit of a tiff. He had pulled out his cellphone and she had said, quite rudely but quite appropriately, “I sincerely hope you’re texting me right now, because I’m who you’re talking to, and I’m who your mind should currently be on. If you have something more important to do, I’d be glad to reschedule.”

Now of course she could have been a little more subtle about wanting himÂ to put his cellphone away, but to each his own, I suppose.

When you take out your phone on a date, it makes it look like you’re uninterested, no matter how interested you actually may be. You give the impression that your mind is somewhere else, and it’s in a more important place, considering you being on your cell phone is currently trumping actual conversation.

If you do have a reason to check your phone during a date, first, make sure it’s a very good reason. Checking it to see the score of a game doesn’t count as a good reason. In fact, that’s a terrible reason. But if there’s a circumstance like a family member or a close friend due to go into labour, state that at the start of your date so they’re not offended if you do take a phone call.

If you’re going to go on a date, consider doing it unplugged! You’ll have better communication and you won’t risk offending your match.