Seven Great Ways to Pop the Question
And no we're not talking marriage-although, if you're ready to pop that question to someone you met on this site,
major kudos to you. Just a word to the wise: Best make sure you've had a face to face meet and greet before you get
down on one knee and right click on, "Will U Marry Me?"
No, the question we're talking about is a good, old fashioned first date, and while you could go the traditional route
of saying, 'Do you want to go out on a date sometime', for many, that's just not an option.
Why? Because so often these days, you aren't just asking out some stranger in a bar-you're asking out a friend.
Something so impersonal could be seen as too intimidating, too stale-these days, when it comes to popping the question,
tried in true is done to death.
Gone are the days when a guy courts a girl-in fact, ask most people, and your standard 'Do You Want to Go on a Date
Sometime' has been replaced by drunken overtures and text messages. There's no romance to it anymore-in a fast-food world,
everybody wants it now, now, now, and the people you should be really considering as dating material get pushed to the
side for an easier target.
But it doesn't have to be that way-even, shocked to say, when you're meeting people online.
Dating in today's world takes personality, so it should reason that the best ways to pop the question should require a
bit of personality too. Make a bold statement-after all, if the answer comes back no, once you get over the initial shock,
the only two people who ever need to be any the wiser will (in all likelihood) keep it to themselves.
If You've Yet to Meet, Say it With Camera Phone: Most folks like to start out with an innocent coffee, but for the few
of you who, after months of chatting online and on the phone, decide to dive right into the pool, try a little camera
action on for size. Simply type: 'Turn on Your Cam - I Want to Show You Something'. Intrigued by what you might be prepared
to put out there, imagine their surprise when the big reveal is emotional. Sure, you might catch them off guard, but being
a bit daring usually delivers big results.
Or If You Must, the Regular Phone
I always go back to that moment in Clueless when the two girls are wandering through the halls of high-school, talking on the
phone while mere feet from each other. Pretty stupid, unless you toss in the surprise element. If you two already have a pretty
solid rapport, try popping the big question via phone-only to be standing nearby when you get your answer. Of course, if the
answer's no, you can always position yourself just out of sight for a clean getaway.
When They Can't Make a Run for It
The best proposal I ever got for dinner and a movie sometime was on a Ferris Wheel. Now that might sound rather gutsy-especially
when you consider we had at least five minutes to go before the ride ended-but it forced me to take a minute and think about
things. And truth be told, anyone with enough self esteem to pop the question in that close proximity with no option for an early
out gets a yes out of me.
What Else Would You Cheers On
Enjoying a nice, friendly dinner? Suggest taking it to the next level as you raise your glasses to cheers. "To us," you could
say. "And I'm wondering if you'd be game to give us a chance." Dinners are about conversation, and it opens the door for you to
make your case-why you're worth going on a date with.
How About a Friendly Wager?
People make bets every day-small bets, usually. a dollar here, lunch there. But if the wager were, say, a date, how inclined
would you be to accept. The beauty of this tactic is, the minute someone knows the stakes and accepts, it's a pretty clear
indicator they're interested anyway. Go ahead with things and win, you've got your date. Lose, and it's a prime opportunity to.
In the Sack
Just as some of us have friends we'd like to date, some of us have friends with benefits we might like to date. And since we
tend to spend most of our time with the latter in bed, then that seems as fitting a place to pop the question as any. In case
you haven't sensed a trend here, putting yourself out there emotionally is usually the best way to get the response you want,
but given the already casual nature of this relationship, start out by suggesting something casual.
Write it Down
I suggest this for anyone who's asking out a friend who may not feel the same way. Sometimes, it's difficult to tell, so what
better was to do it than with flowers, a teddy bear or some kind of casual gift accompanied by a note? It's an opportunity to
pop the question while simultaneously removing you from the situation. Don't consider it a cop out-consider it a memorable way
of getting your foot in the door.
Know that these are just suggestions, and none of them are a suitable replacement for going with your gut. If you think the
time is right to pop the question, pop it-you're never more prepare to ask someone out than when your gut won't let you have
it any other way.
Top