Questions to Ask on a First Date

From LoveToKnow Dating

Thinking of questions to ask on a first date can help prevent dreaded awkward silences that can kill chemistry. The best thing to do is ask open-ended questions to help draw out the other person. It’s okay to be a little nervous. Most likely the other person is too.

Shoot. What should I say?

First Date Questions

The following are some good questions for a first date:

What is your favorite movie/book/band and why?
What were your aspirations when you were a kid?
What are your current career goals and/or personal goals?
Where did you go to school?
What was your first job? Did you like it?
What was your worst job and why?
Who has had the most impact on your life and why?
Where did you grow up?
What do you like to do in your free time?
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
What is your favorite type of food?

It’s also fine to bring up topics that are traditionally used for small talk, such as the weather, traffic or a newsworthy event on a noncontroversial topic. Just do not bore the other person to death with them if he or she is clearly not interested in these subjects.

Questions to Avoid on a First Date

While it’s good to be open to talking about a bunch of different things, there are some topics that are simply inappropriate to discuss on a first date. They could either scare the other person off or cause your date to have a bad impression of you. A few examples of these questions are:

How do you think the date is going?
How many past boyfriends/girlfriends have you had?
What are your feelings on marriage?
Do you make a lot of money?
Do you like/want kids?
How many times have you been arrested?

Taboo Topics

Many people consider religion or political topics taboo on the first date. In all fairness, this depends on the date. Some people are perfectly comfortable expressing their opinions on these topics without the potential of it leading to an argument. It can turn out to be a very interesting and insightful conversation if both parties remain civil. A good way to gauge how this will go is to mention one or both subjects in passing and see how the other person reacts. If he or she gets agitated or quickly changes the subject, steer clear. If in any doubt, avoid them for now.

Also, do not ask questions that can be seen as complaints, such as “Have you ever had service this slow before?”. Not many people want to date a negative person.

Final Thought

Listening and responding to the other person is just as important as asking questions, if not more so. If the date is going well, most likely by the middle of it, the conversation will start to flow naturally. Then it’s time to just let your personality shine.

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