The Lunch Date: Your Segue to The Friend Zone
MCONNORS / MORGUEFILE.COM
Few things put the kibosh on sexual attraction like The Lunch Date.
It implies a desire to hang out that is, unfortunately, less for the purposes of scoring a date and more for the purposes of ‘catching up’ while making small talk. It’s a disappointing invitation if you’re the interested party on the receiving end, and an excellent deterrent if you’re the uninterested party doing the inviting. The Lunch Date is your ferry to Platonic Island. It’s subtle and non-confrontational, but still gets the job done. The Lunch Date is the final frontier before that dreaded place all crushes go to die: The Friend Zone.
While invitations to “grab a drink” or “meet up somewhere to hang out” remain shrouded in mysterious intentions, The Lunch Date is a beacon of clarity and steadfast meaning. Obviously no example can apply to 100% of cases, but I maintain that few people would invite someone in whom they’re romantically interested to lunch. It just sends the wrong message.
DARNOK / MORGUEFILE.COM
For starters, lunch is the least personal meal you eat. It occurs smack dab in the middle of the day and is usually pretty short in duration when compared to its colleagues. Lunch is also very likely to be eaten at a crowded restaurant with a high turn over rate (not to mention a plethora of other people’s offspring, ew). This means both inviter and invitee are limited to superficial (read: platonic) conversation – which isn’t exactly conducive to getting to know someone intimately. Brief noshing in crowded, well-lit areas does not a sexy date make.
In fact, pretty much everything about The Lunch Date implies a general lack of both interest and effort on the inviter’s end. It practically screams, “Let’s just be friends!” and can eventually land you a permanent “Oh s/he’s just my friend” role if you’re the unrequited/secret piner type who never speaks up. You must be on guard at all times against The Lunch Date’s stealth attack, and only employ it as a weapon in the most dire of situations. Be careful with The Lunch Date, treat it with respect. Because you never know when you’ll be on the receiving end…
Posted in Dating in the District
October 30th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
[...] While invitations to “grab a drink” or “meet up somewhere to hang out” remain shrouded in mysterious intentions, The Lunch Date is a beacon of clarity and steadfast meaning. Obviously no example can apply to 100% of cases, but I maintain that few people would invite someone in whom they’re romantically interested to lunch. It just sends the wrong message. (CLICK HERE to read more after the jump…) [...]
November 10th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Or, it screams “the next occurrence of a coinciding free evening in our mutual schedule is two weeks hence, so lets grab some lunch and a mini garlic-breath make-out session next to the Colombia Heights metro station.” The lunch date implies that you are as or more interested in getting to know what’s going on in someone’s head than what is going on in their pants. I do agree, however, that it should be used sparingly.
December 10th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Well, when you put it that way Charlie, I’d like to go on a lunch date with you.
Although Suzette makes very good points regarding the “lunch date,” it’s also a way to get to know someone without making it intimidating. Think about it, when you’re getting ready for a “date” you change your outfit at least twice, wear matching shoes with your purse and act differently to attract the guy.
For lunch, it’s a more relaxed atmosphere making it easier to get to know someone without all of the scary strings. Plus, it isn’t a total let down if you guys don’t end up making out at the PIKE frat party on friday night. After all, it was only a lunch date…