Enter your email to join Ian's mailing list:
About Ian
Ask Ian
books
Contact
Counseling
Praise and Press
to main page

 

IanKerner.com
privacy policy, disclaimer
and terms of use

 

 

 

The Saturday Early Show
How To Torpedo A First Date

NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2006

(CBS) Anyone who has been on the dating circuit knows that sinking feeling when it all starts heading south.

Maybe you're having a wonderful time on a first date, and actually start to believe there's some potential, when suddenly the deal-breaker occurs.

It can be as subtle as a gesture or as awkward as a bad dance move. But once it happens, there's no turning back.

These so-called deal-breakers are different for different people. So to explore the topic with all the interest it deserves, The Saturday Early Show invited Nicole Beland from Men's Health and author and sex therapist Ian Kerner.

They agree there are some behaviors that simply can't be forgiven, but others are much more subjective.

Among the possible deal-breakers they discuss are:

  • too much perfume/cologne
  • talking about a past relationship
  • a guy ordering an apple martini
  • woman who does the old "I'll have a salad" routine
  • body odor and/or bad breath
  • checking out the waiter/bartender
  • setting up the date via text message/e-mail
  • too much make-up/plastic hair

So what exactly are the very worst deal-breakers? Depends on whom you ask. Speaking for women, Nicole's top picks are :

  • guy that is down on his luck--pathetic!
  • guy that acts rude or cocky
  • guy that talks on his cell phone

And the top three for men, according to Ian:

  • woman who acts like she's interviewing a guy
  • woman trying to make over a guy
  • woman with restrictive eating habits (Do I look fat?)

©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.