When constructing your profile on this, or any other, internet dating website, you try to put your best cyber-foot forward. You pull on all the charm, intelligence, and wit you have at your disposal in an attempt to make sure the first things that potential dates learn about you are the best possible things.

Then why is it that so often people cant seem to take that same careful consideration and verbal editing when it comes to actual physical dating?

I blame the hormones. Those wonderful and at the same time bothersome chemicals that make us nervous, happy and evidently render us incapable of deciding what makes for suitable dating talk.

I’m not talking about appropriate in the sense of what is right and what is wrong. There is no right or wrong. Provided you are yourself and take things as they come, you have probably figured out what works for you and what doesn’t.

Having said that, appropriate first date conversations are ones that, like your internet dating profile, showcase you at your best. Unfortunately I’ve heard so many first date conversation horror stories I’m practically an expert. Trust me, verbal landmines are everywhere, and they’ll put a big black mark on what was an otherwise favorable first impression.

I present for you three things that you definitely should NOT talk about on a first date. I apologize if they seem obvious, but hey, remember the hormones? Perhaps if I write them down we can all memorize them and, hopefully, remember them come the next first date.

Romantic History

This one goes at the top because not only is it the most common conversational mistake on first days but often its the most detrimental. Everyone knows that we all have romantic history and whats more, its not uncommon for many people to start dating again before theyre completely whole and healed from their last relationship. Thats not necessarily a bad thing; everyone has to decide for them when its time to get back in the game.

Since first dates are all about optimism and the hope that this one will be different, it’s never, ever a good idea to talk about your painful and troubled relationship with a past lover. Your train will derail before it even leaves the station. Relationships go wrong, but there’s no need to talk about it on a first date.

Your family

I think theres rarely anything wrong with giving a breezy overview of your family: where they live, how many siblings you have, etc. Getting into details about how your father is an alcoholic or that your sister and mom havent spoken in yearsthe dirty details are best saved for a later (much later) time.

Dont lie but keep it positive. Theres no need to make a promising date shy away from you by making them afraid of your family. Like you need any more reason to be annoyed by them.

Marriage and Babies

Yes, marriage and babies. I mean it. Dont do it. I dont care if youre 4 hours into the worlds most magical marathon date and you are sure hes the one (actually, lets not get started on my feelings about the existence of a one), DO NOT start talking about when and where and to what type of person you want to get married.

Nor will you talk about how many and how soon you want to have babies. Theres plenty of time for that later. Im not proclaiming that everyone is repelled and terrified of these topics, even early in the relationshipbut why risk it?

Those are the big three. Notice I did not include things like religion and politics; personally, I think those things are fine. If someone is too set in their ways and narrow-minded to have an intelligent and open conversation about that kind of stuff, well, they might be too uptight to be dating anyway. Other than that, let it fly, brave dating adventurers!