Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

First Date Activities That Should Be Avoided At All Costs

Man and woman enjoying coffee
woman in black long sleeve shirt holding black ceramic mug

When planning a first date, most people chose to meet over a drink or a cup of coffee.

The stakes are low, it gives you plenty of time to determine whether or not there's chemistry, and should things not be going well, you can swiftly wrap things up after taking your last sip.

These days, however, people like to be a little bit more creative when it comes to first dates, and thus will organize a slightly unusual activity.

Sometimes, the risk pays off, and fun is had by both parties, leading to a second date, or even a lasting relationship.

Of course, there is every possibility that attempts to be creative could end up backfiring, sometimes even before the date even takes place.

Which doesn't stop people from trying them over and over again.


Redditor nojunkpeter was curious to learn what people considered to be the absolute worst ideas for a first date, leading them to ask:
"What's a common first date activity that people do that's actually really stupid to do for a first date?"

It's Hard To Decide How You Feel If You Can't Hear Yourself Think

"Loud bar."- AwkwardBlaque

Sometimes It's Worth The Gamble...

"My first date with my husband, (blind date, we talked on the phone once, I didn’t even know what he looked like) was to the symphony."

"It was an hour away and then there was the symphony with a full intermission worth of potential awkwardness, then a full hour drive back."

"I mean clearly the date went amazing."

"We went to ice cream afterwards and sat in his car talking until three in the morning."

"But I never thought about it until right now how potentially disastrous that evening could have been if we hadn’t had major chemistry."- jardinc

Best To Transport Yourself There...

"A long-ish car ride."

"I invited a first date to a great restaurant, fun environment too, but didn't think about the fact that it was about a 30+ minute drive each way."

"Kind of an awkward trip to and from, especially when it turned out that we really didn't have much in common."

"The trip back took a loooong time."- ElectricMan324

lowrider lowridermeatup GIF by Off The JacksGiphy

Double Trouble...

"In John Waters' memoir he talks about going to these 'Fright and Fight' double features where they would show a horror movie then a kung fu movie back to back."

"And I can't imagine how many poor women were taken to these to be subjected to not one but two bad movies in a row, only for the guy she's with to get in a fight in the parking lot afterwards trying to impress her."- stevebobeeve

...Though One Movie Isn't Much Better

"Going to a movie."

"Just staring at a screen instead of getting to know each other."- artemesia-vulgaris

Literally Trapped

"Escape rooms.'

"I work at one and the amount of first dates doing our rooms is too dang high."

"There aren't enough people to even play."

"If you show up with two, we make you pay for a third ticket minimum."

"You can't learn anything about each other because you're too busy playing."

"You will suck and you will get frustrated."

"Not a good look on a first date."- TJtherock

Season 8 Episode 3 GIF by PortlandiaGiphy

Even, Or Especially, If You Plan To Go Dutch

"An expensive dinner."- Throwie911

Somewhere You Can Talk, Without Shouting Or Annoying Others

"Movie, because your attention is not directed towards your date."

"Loud bar is worse."

"Quiet bar is best."

"Drinks to loosen the tongue and cozy atmosphere to reveal oneself."

"Plus, it's public enough that you can count on reasonably good behavior."- redditusernamehonked

A Good Idea In Theory, Less So In Practice...

"I took a girl to a first date at a wine and canvas thing."

"We both liked to draw and paint and had similar tastes in drinks."

'Lots to talk about and activity to occupy us if there was a lull in the conversation."

"Great idea, if only I had considered the fact that when I draw/paint I pretty much shut everything else out and just draw/paint."

"Poor girl spent 3 hours with me as I grunted out responses, had a scotch and painted something that I still use as a holiday decoration to this day."

"We did not have a second date."

"Don’t take people to a wine and canvas event if you turn into a monosyllabic, boozy artist."- ShiggityShua

Alejandro Jodorowsky Art GIF by Endless PoetryGiphy

Keep It Intimate...

"Visit with anybody, friends, parents, neighbors."

"It's insane to be around people who know the person you are dating well, and not you at all."

"It's like a job interview in front of a panel."

"No fun at all."- luckygirl54

Generally speaking, trying to impress on a first date often ends with your efforts blowing up in your face.

Which is why trying to create the best first date imaginable often destroys any possible chance of a second date.

And truth be told, sometimes you can tell if there will be a second date based solely off their coffee or drink order.

Ice in white wine is never a good sign...

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Kim Kardashian; Kimi Antonelli
Pascal Le Segretain/WireImage/Getty Images; Luca Barsali/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Kim Kardashian Just Sent A Peace Offering After She Sparked Backlash By Stealing Teen F1 Driver's Towel

At just 19 years old, Andrea Kimi Antonelli seems barely old enough to have a driver's license. But instead of cruising around town with friends, he's driving over 200 miles per hour through the streets of major cities as a Formula One (F1) racer.

The Italian driver, who prefers to be called Kimi, isn't just an also ran either—he's already won won five Grand Prix races since his 2025 debut with Team Mercedes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jesse Watters; Hillary Clinton
Fox News; Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Jesse Watters Ripped Live On Air After His Overtly Sexist Rant About Hillary Clinton's Place In History

Even Fox News personality Jesse Watters' own colleagues pushed back after he dismissed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as just a "female" who will be a "footnote" in history following her remarks that former President Joe Biden's reelection bid was a "terrible mistake" for the Democrats.

Clinton argued that Biden's first significant error was deciding to seek a second term after initially presenting himself as a bridge to a new generation of Democratic leadership.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jon Ossoff; Donald Trump
MS NOW; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Jon Ossoff Masterfully Hits Back After 'Unstable' Trump Tries To Insult Him With Cringey New Nickname

Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff hit back at President Donald Trump after Trump branded him "Jon Os(jerk!)off" in an unhinged post following the Republican runoff results.

In this year's midterm election, Ossoff will face Representative Mike Collins, Trump's preferred candidate, after Collins defeated fellow Republican Derek Dooley in Tuesday's GOP runoff.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peter Doocy; Donald Trump
Fox News; Magali Cohen/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

Fox News Just Told The Truth About Why Iran Is So 'Eager' To Sign Onto Trump's New 'Deal'

In an unexpected twist for Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, nepo-baby White House correspondent Peter Doocy called out MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's deal to end the war he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel provoked with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz that was closed because of their actions.

The son of Fox News veteran Steve Doocy spoke to Fox News host Will Cain on Tuesday from Geneva, Switzerland, where Trump was attending the G7 Summit. Cain asked Doocy if he could hear what Trump said, to which he replied that he could and that he agreed with Trump's assertion that he's "very rich."

Keep ReadingShow less
Three children blowing out birthday candles; Tweet by @Liza137823
Dennis Hallinan/Getty Images; @Liza137823/X

X User Dragged After Complaining About Neighbor Hosting Birthday Party With Six Kids In Backyard

Not everyone likes children or hearing kid noises or activities, but when you are in close proximity to a child-friendly space, you're going to hear some of it, whether that's at a park or even living next door.

X user @Liza137823 got onto the platform expecting to receive validation and comfort from her fellow X users, but all she received were critiques when she complained about a kid's birthday party happening without getting her permission first.

Keep ReadingShow less