The Benefits And Downsides Of Blind Dates

Men's Dating

The Benefits and Downsides of Blind Dates

Sam Stieler

Written by: Sam Stieler

Sam Stieler

Sam has been writing about dating and relationships for more than three years now. He holds a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, has self-published a few of his own books and is currently working on mastering the double right turn in his salsa dancing classes.

Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

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Is there anything more common than having a friend who wants to set you up with someone they know who is “perfect” for you? These dates may not always end as perfectly as everyone hopes, but they aren’t all bad either. Before you agree to your next blind date, take a look over the following pros and cons to decide whether the potential upsides outweigh the potential downsides!

Pro:

Your friend knows you well, which means they have a good idea of what you like, what you don’t like, what you’re looking for, and what you’re absolutely opposed to. With this knowledge in hand, your friend is likely to set you up with a pretty good match.

At the very least, your friend isn’t likely to set you up with someone completely terrible, which you aren’t guaranteed meeting a girl off the street.

Con:

Sometimes your friends might set you up with the kind of girl they think you should date and not the sort of girl you actually want to date. For example, if you’ve been dating casually for some time, your friend might think it’s time you settled down with a serious relationship.

To help facilitate this change of pace, your friend might set you up with a great girl who is just looking for something different than what you’re interested in.

Pro:

You aren’t directly connected to this girl. She isn’t part of your immediate social circle, so you don’t need to worry about uncomfortable blowback if your date doesn’t go well.

Con:

You might experience some tension with your friend if your date doesn’t go well. As long as you’re not a complete jerk on the date, your friend’s negative reaction has more to do with their expectations than anything that’s wrong with you. Plus, dealing with a little disagreement with your friend is easier than handling the aftermath of a bad date with someone in your immediate social circle.

 

“Sometimes all it takes is one good blind date to

give you the confidence you need to have

the sort of relationships you want.”

Pro:

Going on blind dates is a good way to meet women you wouldn’t normally run into through your normal life. Studies have shown that most of us meet the most significant people in our lives through our weak ties and not through our daily routines. In other words, we’re more likely to meet future business partners, mentors, serious girlfriends and even wives through other people than through or usual day-to-day experiences.

Con:

Blind dates often have a lot of expectations associated with them. Most people aren’t going to set you up on a blind date with one of their friends so the two of you can just hook up for the night. Most people set up blind dates with the idea that a long-term connection will result from it.

Pro:

If you are naturally shy or nervous, then blind dates are good ways to meet women because you don’t need to be particularly brave or proactive to set one up. Often they require nothing more than letting your friends know you’re on the market.

Con:

If you’re deathly shy, then the date might not go so well. Still, if you’re really that shy and nervous, then going on blind dates is a low-impact way to develop confidence and help work through your emotional problems in a relatively safe environment. And sometimes all it takes is one good blind date to give you the confidence you need to have the sort of relationships you want.

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