When the idea of a “first date” comes to mind, most people think of the clichés of sweaty hands, awkward silence, and innocent jitters. Unfortunately in today’s society, those clichés are outdated. Some of the most obvious concerns of first dates are easily overlooked. In a world of kidnappings, date rape drugs, and drunk driving, a girl has a lot more to worry about than just an awkward goodnight kiss.

Imagine you are out at a bar and you meet a seemingly nice young man. You exchange numbers and a few days later, he has asked you out on date. He offers to pick you up and you accept his offer because he is simply being a gentleman, right? In an ideal situation, that would be the case. However, what many women fail to realize is that they are setting themselves up for the most vulnerable situation possible.

Number one, the minute this man pulls up to your front door, he knows where you live. Let’s hope he is not the stalker type. Number two, you are about to get in a car with someone you have only met once. You'd better hope he really is taking you to that nice restaurant he mentioned on the phone. Number three, you'd better hope the date goes well, because unless you brought cash for a cab, you have to stick it out with him until he is ready to bring you home

This may seem like a cynical approach to dating, but when it comes to your own safety, you can never be too careful. One can compare having your own transportation on a first date to a prenuptial agreement. Since 50 percent of marriages in the U.S. end in failure, most couples sign prenups so that they are protected. Consider your car your “pre-nup.” It's your security in case the date ends badly.

Now imagine you have “safely” made it to the dinner portion of your date. Instead of worrying about whether the food you order will end up stuck in your teeth, maybe you should be keeping a close watch on your drink. Most women will find themselves nervously gulping down water, or maybe even wine for that matter. At some point you are going to get up for a trip to the ladies’ room. Is your date trustworthy enough to be left alone with your drink? A smart person never leaves her drink unattended while out at a bar on Saturday night, so how is this situation any different? It’s not. In fact, while you are powdering your nose in the bathroom it would be all too easy for a creep to slip a “roofie” into your drink while you’re gone.

Article Author: Jennifer Stuart

I am currently a student at the University of Oklahoma studying both Film and Professional Writing. My interests include script writing, poetry, music of all kinds, and traveling.

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