Do you follow any rules when it comes to dating? If so, what are they? Why do you follow them?

I have some fro myself, but I do not set any for anyone else

I am well groomed for a date
I do not pay mind to other men on a date even if a major hottie walks by - my eyes are only for the dude who has sacrificed his Saturday to me
I usually offer to chip in

that's about it

I only ever had two rules (kept me single for a long, long time...)
They were:
Don't date married men
Don't date coworkers.

I've never seen either of those things turn out well in the long run.

Otherwise??? Whatever works goes!

To thine own-self be true has been working for me. I have had to quit being a martyr. It just doesn't work for me. If I have to change from being myself to someone that I don't even recognize any more then something is wrong. That old people pleasing thing comes up again like it did before treatment from time to time. I just have to remember that it just isn't honest. It has always been a problem with my relationships and dating is no exception. My ex brought it up one time. She said, "What are you ashamed to be with me?" My last wife almost quoted what she said verbatim. It is like this fear of what if people get to know the real me. Like one can really hide the real them. I really believe until I get over this issue I have with myself I have no business in trying to date. It is like I am this real big red flag with little red flags all around me. It reminds me when my Atheist father was trying to practice being reverent. All I could do was try to hold the laughter in. And when he said that he would swear to something over a stack of Bibles. Like what would the difference is swearing over a stack of Bibles if one Bible wouldn't do? So my one rule is if I have to change to suit someone then its not really me they are dating any ways.

Good rules. I have tried the coworker thing and it didn't turn out well.

Since I've never been on a date, I'll tell ya the rules my father lived by instead

1. If she drinks beer, leave her.
2. If she wears sneakers, or trainers, leave her.
3. If she doesn't seem your type, leave her.

:)

I asked people here for their rules. Not for them to give other peoples' rules.

But, since you gave someone else's rules, do you agree with them?

He's my dad, what do you think?

Well, I don't know, which is why I asked.

I agree with him :)

I've heard of some dating rules before which are basically certain expectations. No rules here other than common sense. This means I expect the same in return. I look for complete sincerity. No waiting for 3 days to return calls back etc.

I feel the same way. I never got the three day rule or any of those silly rules.

Another rule that I hate is the expectation that the man has to pay for the date. I do enjoy being invited but I'm a sincerity freak. I don't want to be treated to something based on the fact alone that we're on a date. If he wants to treat me or if I want to it, it should be because it's an authentic desire, unrelated to expectations and unrelated to our relationship status (friend, date, family, acquaintance).

One internal rule I have when I feel uncomfortable about someone paying my bill is, I ask myself would this person be as generous to one of his buddies?

I always offer to pay my half, especially on the first date. If he insists on paying, that's fine. But, I don't expect him to pay for me.

My only rule is that its gotta be a place we both enjoy, whether it be too eat, or to have a beer and play pool or a golf outing, whatever we agree to do is sure to be fun for the both of us!!!

If you're paying your own way, why does it matter if he invests money in the first date?

Ok. So, what kind of money does someone have to invest in a date to show they're able to commit?

I was looking for you to be more specific. I didn't understand the investment of money, then saying it could be cheap or free. It just didn't make sense and I was curious.

that still doesn't explain the money thing. But yes, I think an investment of time and energy is important. That's why I like both me and the guy I'm dating to plan dates. If he's not willing to plan something and just wants to rely on me to plan, it isn't going to work out well.

I've never done very good with 'rules'.