The word 'dating' has a certain uncomfortable stigma attached to it that immediately brings to mind long, tedious evenings with boring individuals, or fumbled attempts of passion from an unwanted suitor. But dating can be fun and exciting - it just depends how you look at it.

Going on a date with someone allows you to get to know someone better without having any obligations to get physically involved with them or even see them again. Dating does not necessarily have to lead to a more intimate relationship - you may decide after five minutes that you never want to lay eyes on your date again - and you have every right to terminate the date right there and then without explanation, although that's perhaps not the most mature way of handling the situation.

My point is that many people see going on a date with someone as a pressurized situation in which something is expected of you at the end of the evening. In fact, dating can be a great way to meet new people and make new friends, and who knows, you may even meet the man of your dreams….

Changing your attitude to dating can make it a much more pleasant experience. Adopting a more casual, 'so what' attitude instead of a 'what if' approach will allow you to enjoy the experience of spending time with someone new and different, without worrying to much about the outcome. That's not to say you should go out with just any freak that might ask you, however. Use your intuition to assess to the individual in question, and only accept dates from (or make dates with) people you'd like to get to know better.

How To Make The Date

You meet someone with whom you have an instant connection out at a party, and you'd like to get to know them better, but you're too shy to ask them on a date. Ever been in this situation, or a similar one? Most likely the answer is yes - many people are too embarrassed to make a date with someone they find interesting or attractive.

If you are prone to shyness, and find asking someone on a date far too overwhelmingly intimidating, bear in mind that there are ways around this. Asking someone you have just met to go out to dinner with you, one-on-one, can be an extremely uncomfortable situation, for both dater and date, so to speak. It's tantamount to saying "I find you attractive and I'd like to get to know you better", which may work well in certain situations, but can backfire disastrously in others.

Unless there is an immediately perceptive chemistry between you and your prospective date, of which you are both acutely aware, chances are that most people would see the 'romantic dinner approach' as a little too direct. You'd do better to ask the person to join you in a less intimidating environment. A good option is extend an invitation to a less formal event, within the safety of a group. By asking someone to a barbeque at your house, for example, or to the beach with a group of mutual friends, you can get to know them better in a less pressured environment. If, in the context of this more casual set-up, you get the feeling they might like to see you one-on-one, you can than ask them to join you on another occasion - perhaps a more intimate one.

What To Do On The Date

There is a certain protocol that it is wise to observe during a first date, that is, if you hope to secure another one in the future. The following is a list of pointers, hints and absolute no-no's to help you on your way. If, on the other hand, you discover that your date is a creepy pervert or an absolute bore, feel free to use these suggestions in reverse to discourage them from requesting a second meeting.

Don't be late. There is nothing worse on a first date than being kept waiting, so make sure you arrive no less than five or ten minutes late. While a delay of minutes may be construed as 'fashionable tardiness', twenty minutes or longer of waiting is likely to be considered just plain rude. So don't be late - unless you have a damn good excuse!

Don't be early. Conversely, being more than five minutes early for your date will probably be regarded as overeager, and can be rather off-putting. Rather be five minutes late than ten minutes early.

Be polite and remember your manners. Being overly familiar, using excessive bad language or being brazenly bad-mannered in front of your date (or anyone else you would like to impress, for that manner) is likely to be an instant turn-off. So be eloquent, watch your table manners, and don't fart, burp, or pick your nose - not under any circumstances.

Pay attention to your personal hygiene. Although a powerful body odour may be attractive to some men or women, you can be fairly sure that the majority of people prefer the 'just-washed, spring-fresh' approach to hygiene, particularly on a first date. Any more experimental alternatives can be explored at a later stage of the relationship (if it gets to that), when you are both more comfortable with each other.

Other than that, my only advice is to be (more or less) yourself, and have fun!

Location Is The Key

Creating an interesting, fun and relaxed environment on a date can make or break the occasion. Think carefully before arranging your date, taking both personalities, how well you know each other, and what kind of impression you'd like to make into consideration.

Lunch or coffee is a good start. This creates a similar set-up to inviting a date to a group do, as coffee/lunch dates are less likely to end in a compromising situation. By taking the pressure off, the date is likely to be much more fun and relaxed - a simple interaction of two people, without any strings attached.

Picnics and sunsets are both comfortable and romantic. By going out on a less formal date, you create a more relaxed environment. Facing each other over a restaurant table can be rather intimidating, emphasising the need for 'chit-chat' and any lapses in the conversation. In a more natural environment, this pressure is removed, and it is often very pleasant to realise that you can be comfortably silent with another person. On the other hand, both picnics and sunsets can be construed as sickly sweet attempts at romance, so be sure to keep the tone light and lively - in other words, avoid the (figurative) cheese.