How to Avoid the Minefield of Dating

Avoiding the Minefield of Dating

Dating is never easy. Not to mention first impressions and the awkwardness of getting to know each other, the internet has created a world where every weakness, every flaw, every little thing (literally and figuratively) is on display for the world to see, including potential partners.

"To survive any worst-case scenario, you don't need to panic, have a plan, and ultimately be prepared," said David Borgenicht, author of The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating. & Sex, to the Chicago Tribune in an interview. "And that goes for dating."

For this reason, it's important to be prepared for any dating scene, lest you wonder if stepping out the bathroom window might actually be an option.

The following tips will help you avoid the dating minefield. • Spill the wine all over the table, yourself or your companion. At best, you and your date laugh about it. Bonuses? If you like them, asking them out on a second date is an easy way: go to a dry cleaner where you pay the bill. At worst? When the sparks aren't there, it's a built-in excuse to end the night early.

• You are late. There are a million ways things can go wrong – unexpected traffic, the boss asking you to stay longer than expected, misjudging how long it would take to get ready—and suddenly, you've been made to wait your meeting. If so, take a few minutes to send a quick text or call to let them know you've had a problem, but you'll be there as soon as possible. Better yet, give them a deadline. One caution: try to keep it light. If you seem stressed about being late, they'll be stressed while they wait.

• You are a smokeless tobacco user. For smokeless tobacco users, the mere thought of taking a cup or spitting bottle on a date is terrifying and, of course, completely forbidden. So what to do? You might consider investing in a portable spittoon made by FL ASR, an Atlanta-based company that specializes in manufacturing smokeless tobacco accessories.

To avoid the mess that sometimes comes with using smokeless tobacco, the FL ASR bottle has an advanced locking mechanism, which keeps it tightly closed when not in use, eliminating the risk of spills and leaks commonly encountered with mugs and bottles. Additionally, the small size of the FLSR bottle allows users to enjoy smokeless tobacco in public unobtrusively.