You Have 10 Seconds to Ruin a First Date—What Do You Say?

Ever wondered how fast you could ruin a first date? Turns out, it takes just 10 seconds—and sometimes even less! The question “You have 10 seconds to ruin a first date, what do you say?” from Reddit has sparked thousands of funny (and painfully real) responses. Let’s dig into what makes those opening lines so memorable—for all the wrong reasons.

Why First Impressions Matter on Dates

First dates are kind of like job interviews but with more potential for awkward silences and nervous laughter. While everyone wants to appear charming or interesting, one misplaced sentence can send things spiraling. That’s why those crucial first moments (yes, even the first ten seconds) can make or break your chances at love—or at least at getting dessert together.

People often focus on what *to* say during those initial minutes. But knowing what *not* to say is just as important for avoiding an instant crash and burn.

The Fastest Ways to Ruin a First Date

So what are some of the quickest ways to sabotage your own evening? Here are some classic blunders straight from real-life experiences and Reddit’s best (or worst) answers:

• Bringing up exes right away (“My ex always ordered this dish too!”)
• Oversharing about health problems (“Let me tell you about my latest rash.”)
• Asking intensely personal questions (“How much money do you make?”)
• Confessing undying love immediately (“I think I’ve found my soulmate.”)
• Telling offensive jokes or sharing polarizing opinions
• Talking only about yourself without asking anything back
• Admitting you Googled them extensively before meeting (“So I saw your high school yearbook photos…”)

A lot of these might seem like common sense—but nerves can lead people down strange conversational paths!

Real-Life Anecdote: The Ten-Second Tank

Here’s a true story that sums up how quickly things can go south. A friend once told me about their worst-ever blind date. They sat down at the table, introduced themselves, and before they could even open their menus, their date blurted out: “Just so you know, I’m only here because my mom made me sign up for this app.” Ouch! Ten seconds in and all hope of chemistry had vanished.

The whole evening turned into an awkward marathon where both parties counted down the minutes until they could leave politely. It goes to show—sometimes honesty isn’t always the best policy… especially in the opening act.

How Not To Ruin That Crucial First Impression

Of course, not everyone is doomed by nerves or bad jokes. There are ways to steer clear of disaster when meeting someone new:

• Stick with light topics at first—music, movies, travel plans
• Avoid interrogating your date; let conversation flow naturally
• Be genuine but don’t overshare right away
• If something awkward slips out, laugh it off rather than doubling down
• Above all else—listen as much as you talk!

Remember that most people are just as nervous as you are. Approaching things with kindness (and maybe steering clear of TMI confessions) goes a long way toward making sure your ten seconds set the right tone.

The Takeaway—and Your Turn!

Ruin a first date in ten seconds? It’s easier than you’d think! But with a little self-awareness and restraint on those opening lines, disaster can usually be avoided. Now that you’ve heard some prime examples of what *not* to do—what’s the wildest thing someone ever said on your own dates?

Share your stories below or check out more cringe-worthy moments in the full Reddit thread [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1nx24hx/you_have_10_seconds_to_ruin_a_first_date_what_do/). Sometimes laughter really is the best way to recover from an epic fail!