# What's your "litmus test" to decide not to date a person twice?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 2, 2000, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371 "2000-07-02T15:21:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Salton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salton)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2000, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/1 "2000-07-02T15:21:28Z")
I have a few:
[list]
[li]Carries on about the dog/cat like it was a baby.[/li]
[li]Smokes, especially if lighting up without asking if you mind, expecting you to have matches when you don’t smoke, or (stop the date now!)throwing lit half-a-cigarettes out of a moving car onto the dry grass.[/li]
[li]Assumes you love a few things you don’t. Jazz, fine wine, hats, opera, doesn’t matter what, but just the idea that you couldn’t possibly be opposed to something. Hey, we just met, remember! I’m not your twin yet.[/li]
[li]An hour late without seeming to think an apology is in order. Or, worse, trying to reschedule by phone after you’ve already shot your lunch hour in the restauant waiting area.[/li]
Passing a store on the first date and asking for a gift, not a loan, for something ordinary. (A souvenir of the day, like a concert tshirt, would be different.)
---
### Author:  [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/2 "2000-07-02T16:49:05Z")
1. someone who is rude to the waiter, coat-check boy, ticket taker, or other service staff
2. someone who gets really impatient and angry about waiting in lines or finding a parking space
3. someone who talks about how much money & possessions he has as if it should impress me
4. someone who tries to move things along too fast - not talking sexually necessarily - someone who tries to get in my emotional space. someone who shares too much, or asks really personal questions. Not sure how to define this - trying too hard?
5. someone who exhibits any self-pity about how he doesn’t do well with women and how they usually reject him (a if that’s going to GUILT me into not rejecting him?) Whining is a huge turn-off
6. talking about the last relationship is a big, bad no-no
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### Author:  [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2000, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/3 "2000-07-02T17:08:56Z")
1. The fact that my wife would not really approve of my dating anyone even once, let alone more than once.
That about covers it.
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### Author:  [@Show\_Biz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Show_Biz)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/4 "2000-07-03T00:23:17Z")
If she winces when I overstate my career.
It’s part of show business to try to look more successful than you are. If she’s trying to make me more modest on the first date, that’s it. I’m not getting any younger, so I don’t feel like trying to change now. My friends would use the PW word.
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### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/5 "2000-07-03T03:01:18Z")
If she sings, “Under the Boardwalk” on a karaoke machine well off-key and out of rhythm.
I’ve rarely been that embarrassed.
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### Author:  [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/6 "2000-07-03T04:36:31Z")
Mr. ShowBiz: PW word?
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### Author:  [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/7 "2000-07-03T04:41:07Z")
C’mon, **Rilch** , the W stands for “whipped.” Ringin’ any bells here yet? 🙂
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### Author:  [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/8 "2000-07-03T05:22:15Z")
Sorry, I didn’t make the connection between being “whipped” and wanting to present oneself as successful.
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### Author:  [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/9 "2000-07-03T07:51:49Z")
If she…
[ul][li]promises to return a call at a certain time/date and doesn’t[/li][li]talks about another guy (other than relatives)[/li]doesn’t look straight at me while talking or looks away while I talk to her[/ul]
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### Author:  [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/10 "2000-07-03T07:58:50Z")
Well, once upon a time, back when I was single, I let a friend set me up with this guy…Never again. Anyway, he was a seminary student and kept asking me all this personal crap, like:
1. Do you own your mobile home, or do you rent it? (I was 21 and owned it, damn it–well, me and the bank.)
2. Is your car payed off? (No.)
3. Did you get a raise when you had your work anniversary last week?
Didn’t take me long to figure out he was trying to see if I could support him through school. Well, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_him and the camel he rode in on.
He also had the cojones to say to me (on a first date, mind you) that he thought AIDS was a punishment from God for homosexuals. I said oh, yeah? what about hemophiliacs, etc who get AIDS from transfusions? He said, well, it’s a shame that the innocent have to suffer along with the guilty…I’m really glad he showed his true colors on a first date. Made it real easy to wash my hands of him.
AAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH
---
### Author:  [@Robin\_Patterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robin_Patterson)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/11 "2000-07-03T08:18:08Z")
Well lets see if a girl asks how much money I have left or leaves me to make out whith another guy those are bad signes. Or if she yells at the watriss or the guy selling popcorn at the movies. Oh I don’t liek girls burping or farting on dates too. Happend to me twice and I felt it was hecka gross. Or a girl one time asked me if Robin was a girl name. Hello???
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### Author:  [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/12 "2000-07-03T08:57:38Z")
Bad breath. That’s my numer one peeve.
Also, when I pick her up at her place and it’s a mess, that will do it also. Not that I’m a clean freak or anything, I’m a guy after all. But if I know someone is coming over, I clean the place up.
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### Author:  [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/13 "2000-07-03T09:23:11Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
>
> 1. Do you own your mobile home, or do you rent it?
> 2. Is your car payed off?
> 3. Did you get a raise when you had your work anniversary last week?
> \*\*
For it’s
one,
two,
three strikes, you’re out,
at the old ball game!
:eek:
---
### Author:  [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/14 "2000-07-03T10:30:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> For it’s
> one,
> two,
> three strikes, you’re out,
> at the old ball game!
>
> :eek:
> \*\*
Now wait a darned minute, DRY!! Are you trying to dump me? I swear it’s not my fault he was such a jerk! And I don’t live in a mobile home anymore, OR own a car…so what did you mean?
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/15 "2000-07-03T10:33:43Z")
The two scariest dates I ever had (both while at university):
1 / “No, really, if you’d just listen to Celine Dion I’m sure you’d appreciate her music” - and then she proceeded to play me however many bloody albums she has.
2 / “No, I just walked into a door” - in response to a puzzled glance noticing the criss-cross of cuts on her shoulders and legs. (Yes, I know it’s a serious problem. I, however, was 20 and in final uni exams. Not a problem I was really qualified to deal with or wanted to at that time)
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### Author:  [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/16 "2000-07-03T10:46:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*\*
> > For it’s
> > one,
> > two,
> > three strikes, you’re out,
> > at the old ball game!
> >
> > :eek:
> > \*\*
>
> Now wait a darned minute, DRY!! Are you trying to dump me? I swear it’s not my fault he was such a jerk! And I don’t live in a mobile home anymore, OR own a car…so what did you mean?
> \*\*
Are you kidding, I absolutely adore you!
You have only one problem, in my eyes.
He’s called a husband.
:eek:
(I may be a slut, but I’m not a HOMEWRECKER!)
Oh, and I realized that the above wasn’t your criterion–couldn’t pass up the easy baseball related joke.
---
### Author:  [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/17 "2000-07-03T13:18:20Z")
Generally, it was if they were already married, and just fooling around on their husband. But seeing as how I’m married now, I don’t date, unless it’s my wife. And we’ve already established we get along _real_ well. 😃
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### Author:  [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/18 "2000-07-03T14:08:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> If she…
>
> promises to return a call at a certain time/date and doesn’t
>
> talks about another guy (other than relatives) **and especially when she talks about her ex or some other guy she “just” dated**
>
> doesn’t look straight at me while talking or looks away while I talk to her
i’m with you on that **kasuo** , and in addtion…
if she tries to convince me that i need Jesus.
goes to the bathroom more than twice during any meal we have.
discusses her latest operations and surgeries while eating.
wears enough makeup that i can tell she’s wearing makeup.
explains right off the bat that she’s a feminist.(anyone that feels they need to make this a point to me is obviously on the more radical side, and not a true feminist, but a woman with issues.)
if she doesn’t like children (out, out, out, not a chance with me girl)
if she doesn’t like animals. (way out!)
---
### Author:  [@madd1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madd1)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/19 "2000-07-03T18:22:56Z")
Anyone that does not care about my cat.
Anyone that can tell my lit cigarette landed in dry grass as we zoom along the expressway at 90Mph
Anyone that assumes I can read minds and tell they do not like Jazz, fine wine, opera, or anal sex.
Not buying me a gift for ‘All you can drink beer day’ at the Stock Car Race.
---
### Author:  [@Fanny\_May](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fanny_May)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-litmus-test-to-decide-not-to-date-a-person-twice/24371/20 "2000-07-03T19:49:23Z")
I go strictly by the reciprocating rule.
If I say let’s go to a movie and we do, then the next suggestion has to come from them.
It’s simple and hasn’t failed me yet. Some people are just work friends, and a single movie won’t change that, and there’s no need to push it.
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