Shrink Wrap
The Key to being Polite:
Have a conversation: Sitting stone-faced is the ultimate slap in the face. Find something to talk about even if you discover you are two worlds apart. Seen any good movies lately?
Maintain Eye Contact: You don't need to gaze in a person's eyes, certainly, but staring up at the ceiling is rude.
Listen: Tune into during conversation.
Behave as you'd like to be treated: Show common courtesy. Smile, laugh at jokes, and avoid rolling your eyes to the back of your head. The goal here is to be kind without being dishonest.
**The key to being polite is to think of yourself as Lord or Lady Bountiful-much too well bred to let on that your bunions pinch or your fine sense of smell has just discerned that something has died.
If you want to be a good listener, you have to:
1. Train yourself to stay with the talker, word for word, until he or she is finished. Simple concept, but really difficult to practice.
2. Suspend judgment and open your heart and head, as well as your ears. Listen to what the person is actually saying-not what you want to hear; it's crucial not only to dating but to all human interactions.
Avoid Taboo Topics while on a date:
You want to get (and keep) the conversational ball rolling without a flurry of true confessions or 20 questions. Taking a sudden vow of silence is a major faux pas. You want to be open, not transparent. Friendly, not needy. Witty, not desperate for a laugh. To ease your over dating's conversational speed bumps, here's a primer on the four deadly taboo topics to a void like the plague:
1. Sex: Even is sex is the first thing on your mind, let it be the last thing on your lips. This covers past, present, and future sexual encounters.
2. Exes: If you're not over your ex enough to avoid mentioning him or her on a first date, you're not ready to date.
3. Politics: Currents events are good conversational fodder. But your position on the death penalty? Abortion? Welfare reform? The president? National health insurance? Gun control? A bit risky for a first date.
4. Religion: If the word "Christmas" or "Hanukkah" slips out while you're relaying a funny family story, so be it. If the Bible or the Torah or a Jehovah's Witness brochure slips out while you reach for your wallet, that's a bit over-the-top.
Joy’s when not to “cell”
*At a wedding
*At a funeral
*At the Alter
*On a date
*During sex
*In the shower
*When comforting someone who is crying
*When celebrating birthdays or anniversaries
*When breaking up
*When Making up
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