March 31, 2009

Quick Rant: Lunch Daters

Alright, I got the memo: you're a busy guy. You're burning the midnight oil on some big project so you try to squeeze in some date time with me over your lunch break. That's sweet, right? Well, maybe in theory, but in practice lunch dates are the worst.

For one thing, you're a stress mess. You'll show up panting 'cause you hoofed it the three blocks from your office to the restaurant. Oh dear.

Secondly, you are distracted by the time constraint. Before we even sit down, you announce how you only have an hour to hang out. It's hard to be relaxed when you check your watch every five minutes.

And, without fail, the first ten minutes of the date will be him just unloading about how awful his morning went. Yes, your boss sounds like a tyrant. How could the intern not know how to work a fax machine properly? Why is your secretary never at her desk? I nod, trying to empathize with your petty office dramas when what I'm really thinking is, "Where's the good-timey dude I saw last weekend and what have you done with him?" Bonus points if he excuses himself to say hi to a "client" at the next table and leaves you to pick at your Caesar salad by yourself.

Oh, and the last five minutes of the date will be him complaining about all the work he has to do once he gets back to the office. Great. I applied mascara for this?

I don't care how amazing the lunch specials are at this eatery, it's not worth hanging out with a crummier, stressed-out, slacks-wearing version of the dude you kicked it with last Saturday night. Save the dates for nighttime, where they belong. Just say no to lunch dating!

15 comments:

The Royal Bakers said...

What?! We LOVE lunch dates. There's no pressure for sex at the end of the date, but who doesn't like a quickie in the middle of the afternoon?

-Aileen & Nerissa

Anna said...

Well, maybe I need a guy to take me on a great lunch date and change my mind.

So far, my lunch dates have been more like LAME dates. I'll do my hair up like Barbarella, wear a cute dress, and the guy will be more focused on headin' back to work on time than showing me a good time. Yawn!

Sarah said...

Hey, in all fairness to the imaginary intern, fax machines are the bane of technology!

Anna said...

Haha, Sarah! True!

Pursuit of Matching Accessories said...

I just accepted a lunch date and was looking forward to it... until I read this! Haha. Oh well, I'll let you know how it goes.

Anna said...

Yes, let me know how it goes. It's entirely possible that I am the one person in the world who hates lunch dates. I'd like to be proven wrong!

Julia said...

lunch daters also have a tendency to cancel an hour before hand because they are "stuck at a meeting" BLAH

haveboard said...

Us dudes just can't win. I either need to stop reading this or give up.

Anna said...

Don't say that! You CAN win!

For an awesome lunch date, I would've rather he picked out food with me at DiBruno Bro's and sat in the park as we made fun of people as they walked past us. He'd crack me up as I'd sip my iced coffee.

I've had GREAT lunch dates before, but in this instance, my fancy lunch date suuuuucked.

I love dudes. Don't give up on us!

Pursuit of Matching Accessories said...

Ok so about a month ago I got taken on a truly nice lunch date. It sucked. We talked about work and then never talked again, and now avoid each other like the plague. I've been on two casual lunch dates with this other guy (including yesterdays) and it was fabulous. I think it depends entirely upon the person.

Unknown said...

i have yet to have a lunch date. I've had great lunch dates w/ friends...so i don't see why a lunch date w/ a dude would be bad. hmm....now I want to try a lunch date.

Anna said...

I just outlined why a lunch date with an office drone-type dude is bad!

On the other hand, lunch dates with unemployed dudes rule as the leisurely pace is almost European. Lunch dates with dudes who wear nice pants and have to watch the clock are the worst. Seriously.

Julia said...

Just went on a mid-afternoon coffee date and it felt very leisurely even though we both had a schedule to keep, so I guess its half about your "date"

Anna said...

Oh, it's 100% about my date. He was a twat, but not on our actual Saturday night date. Just on our lunch date. Hence, the post.

Glad you had a good time, though!

Laplace said...

Has there been a thread about topics of conversations on dates? What's allowed, what not? Seemed very interesting to me half-time nerd.

Philipp

P. S. Excuse my perhaps confusing English, I am from Germany :D

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