These 8 Table Manners Secretly Gross Men Out, According To Research
If guys keep ghosting you after the first date, it might be time to reassess your dating habits.
Dollar Gill | Unsplash Having dinner on a first date can be risky. Unlike grabbing drinks, there's no quick escape route, and how you handle yourself at the table gives someone a pretty good read on who you are — maybe not your deepest secrets, but definitely your manners.
And according to research, table manners matter a lot. In fact, 86% of women and 74% of men say poor dining etiquette is a dealbreaker. So if you're glued to your phone, chewing like a caveman, or trying to be cute in all the wrong ways, don't be surprised if there's no second date.
Here are 8 table manners that secretly gross men out:
1. Ordering dinner for your date
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People, what year do you think this is?
Seriously. I’m not sure who these people are who still think they're doing their date some sort of weird favor by ordering for them, but apparently, these people still exist and are probably still alone, because the worst possible bad manner for 61 percent of women is when her date orders for her. I
It's not chivalrous, it's not polite, and it’s actually just straight-up insulting, rude, annoying, and every other negative adjective you want to toss in there. Really, people, don't do that. We can order for ourselves.
2. Chewing with your mouth open
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Ah! I can totally get behind this one! When I hear people eating meat loudly, it makes me cringe, and I’m not even a vegetarian. Over half of the singles, 56 percent, think noisy eating is the grossest of the gross.
Although the study didn't specify, it's probably safe to assume that these noisy eaters are chewing with their mouths open, too. Ew! Come on! You're an adult!
Close your mouth, don't talk with your mouth full, and quit being noisy about it. No one wants to hear every single chomp you take on that steak.
While chewing with your mouth open may not be considered polite in all cultures, research suggests it can enhance the sensory experience and improve food taste. It is essential to consider individual preferences and social contexts when determining whether to chew with your mouth open.
3. Posting to social media mid-meal
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So, the date is going well? Great! Do you really need to give a play-by-play about how awesome it’s going mid-meal on Facebook and Twitter? Probably not. Even if this is your first date in a long time, be cool.
You can share with all your Tweeps later the details of how smooth you were and how you're pretty sure a second date is in the works. Besides, 45 percent of people won't even give you a second chance if you spend the date updating your social media world.
4. Texting at the table
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Okay, so texting has just become so ingrained in our daily activities that maybe you're not even aware you're doing it anymore, but when you’re on a date, you really need to just put the phone away. Thirty-five percent of singles will not stand for your texting on a date. Again, while I’m sure an emergency situation is forgivable, everything else can wait.
Phone use during face-to-face social interactions, like at the table, can decrease enjoyment and perceived connection.Studies show that participants feel more distracted and less socially engaged when phones are present, potentially undermining the benefits of in-person interactions.
5. Answering phone calls
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Emergencies are understandable, but a call from anyone else? Nope, and 33 percent of singles agree. I think what we're gathering here is that having your phone out can be dangerous.
Between texts, social media, and the inescapable urge to photograph the way the light bounces off your glass of wine and really brightens the tomato and basil on your plate, it's probably safer to just turn the thing off and put it away.
6. Taking pictures of your food
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"The date was going really great, but then he took out his phone to photograph the dessert …" Do you really want to be that person?
Sure, we're all guilty of taking photos of food; it's just an accepted, yet bizarre, behavior in which a lot of us indulge. However, there's a place and a time for everything.
If a third of singles (33 percent) think the worst thing you can possibly do on a date is take a picture of your dinner, then just don't. You can play fancy photographer and capture the emotional essence of your burger tomorrow.
Some research indicates that taking photos of food can lead to a more positive perception of taste. One study found that social media platforms where food photos are shared can sometimes contribute to social comparison and body image issues.
7. Picking a fast food place for dinner
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Before you even get to the actual date, you should know that if you're considering hitting up a fast food joint, you're not only going to get marks for bad manners, but you're also going to make a bad impression.
Of those surveyed, 23 percent said that the quickest way to ruin a date before it even gets started is to take them to a fast food place. Not far behind was sushi at 14 percent, with respondents just not feeling it. I'm going to assume these people have never had a properly made crunchy, spicy tuna roll.
8. Ordering something loaded with garlic
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While it should be no surprise that insulting your date's dinner choice is a huge no-no, it doesn't stop 16 percent of singles from being turned off by garlic or onion.
Perhaps it's because they're already thinking ahead to the goodnight kiss, or maybe they just have an aversion to keeping vampires away. Whatever the case, for this particular group, nothing says rude like you downing garlic as if it’s the last bulb of it on the planet. But if the date is going poorly, then I say, order another round.
Amanda Chatel has been a sexual wellness and relationship journalist for over a decade. Her work has been featured in Glamour, Shape, Self, and other outlets.
