Still, despite the hip factor of tattoos, there are some which can be instant turn-offs to the opposite sex.  Below are five of the worst offenders.  Getting the below tattoos might speak to your inner soul, but it might speak louder to potential dates, screaming, “Run away!”

Video game characters

Sure, it might be nostalgic to have Super Mario plastered across your back, but what does it really say about you?  You like video games?  The Xbox 360 beside your television and the Nintendo DS in your back pocket say the same thing.  Do you think you are Super Mario?  One would hope not, especially if you’re reading too much into the whole “mushroom” thing.

The bigger problem is the video game characters signal “nerd” to most people who see them.  That’s fine if you’re fine with limiting your dating possibilities to the “nerd” subgroup, but for those who are not it’s best to avoid.  Fair or not, that is still how most people would view a huge Mario and Yoshi riding across your thigh.

The devil

Look, maybe you are a tough as nails biker out looking for a fight.  Maybe, but then you likely aren’t reading this article in the first place.  Since you are, it likely means one of your favorite past times isn’t stirring up trouble at Rolling Stones concerts.  For anyone but those folks, and maybe firemen and soldiers the devil simply is laughable.

What’s the message you are trying to send by placing Satan’s face on your shoulder?  That you’re as tough or as mean?  No, you’re not–that’s already been established.  Maybe you worship the devil?  Maybe, but Jesus, Moses, and Mohammad are no better choices.  It says less about your soul and more your desperation to prove you’re something by drawing pictures of it on yourself.

The name of an ex

This one should be obvious.  Yes, there is the romanticism of permanently branding yourself with the name of your significant other.  Wait, strike that last part.  There is nothing romantic about that.  Instead it seems to signal a sort of sad co-dependency you share.  That’s made even worse when you’re no longer with that person.

The worst thing you can ever do in a relationship is completely subjugate yourself.  A tattoo of the other person’s name is the adult equivalent of your mother writing your name in your underwear before camp.  It signals that left to your own devices you would lose track of whom you belonged to.  You’d be better served by instead getting their favorite flower, animal, or line of poetry tattooed in honor of them.

Anything to do with a band

It can be guaranteed said band thinks far less of you than you do of them.  See the above rule.  Buy a t-shirt or a second copy of their new CD instead.

Someone’s face

The obvious problem with getting an actual face tattooed on you can easily relate back to one of the issues listed above.  Less obvious, at least to some, is that a face is generally meant to look one certain way–the way the person looks.  With Mario or the devil there is some artistic interpreting to be done.

So, in about ten years when you’ve put on a few pounds, that face is going to look bloated.  Not just bloated, but horribly distorted depending on the amount of weight gained.  Compare that to Mario who looks kind of funny the fatter he gets.  Jack Johnson, on the other hand, begins looking kind of scary.  This may not be so much a concern for the immediate future, but if you think you might be on the market again, it’s probably to keep one face per body.

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At least, that’s what a clip from the Tyra Banks Show would have you believe.  In the clip a couple appears on Banks’ show.  The woman wants more attention from her man, while he seems more interested in playing video games.  Of course, this is really no different from men who devote time to watching football or playing golf.  Many women feel undervalued in relationships.

What is interesting is the response it has drawn from some gamers.  Poke around on message boards and you will find cries of “bitch” and “whore” directed not only at the woman in the couple, but also host Tyra Banks and guest Morgan Webb (from G4’s X-Play).  Really?

If male gamers would like for the women in their lives to take their hobby seriously, the correct response is probably not to call them a bitch or a whore when they ask for more attention.  When choosing between Master Chief and a woman, the woman will almost always be the correct choice.  The exception being if the Earth ever really does get invaded by the Flood, in which case you should probably stick close to the Chief.

But seriously, is this the way gamers want to react?  A woman questions their obsession and they freak out?  These aren’t even women in their lives, but people on television.  One can only imagine the fury that might erupt had this been questioning from a woman in the same room as them.

Look, if your partner feels neglected by your hobby, then you probably need to choose between the two.  Making someone continually feel neglected is good for neither of you.  And before you make that decision, examine again what you are giving your devotion and time to.  Video games are great, but better than flesh and blood companionship?  The woman in this piece isn’t even asking him to give them up, but simply to devote more time to her.  That doesn’t seem unreasonable.

Via | Game With A Brain

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The recent piece on what makes a man a jerk on a first date stirred up some strong emotions (some laughable), but turnabout is fair play. Here’s five ways for men to tell that their date is a jerk. Let the angry women writing in commence.

Doesn’t offer to pay for dinner
While it may still be common courtesy for men to pay for a date, or at least to offer, it is also just plain manners for a woman to offer to pay her way. This shouldn’t just be an empty offer, either. A woman should go on a date with every intention of paying her way. The man, in turn, paying is simply the nice gesture. Dating should not be viewed by women as a way to get a free night on the town.

Answers her cell phone at any point
No one is so important they need to be reached at all times. Short of someone being sick in the hospital or being a doctor, her cell phone should go on silent when the date begins. Even if she is worried about receiving an important call, the most one should do is check the caller ID and then left it go to voicemail if it isn’t life or death. A date is a few hours one day out of the week. There’s plenty of time the rest of the week to talk on the phone with friends.

Judges the cost of the date
Women often get a bad rap for this, and unfortunately it is true for some. If a woman is judging the suggested retail price of the date, then there is something horribly wrong with her priorities. Sure, if a man takes a woman to White Castle on the first date that probably isn’t too great of a sign, but there are far more important issues to pay attention to. Namely, how is he treating her? Whether he sprung for the premium tickets at the concert or not shouldn’t be the foremost thought in her mind.

Complains about the date activities
Sure, the man should consult the woman about what they’re doing on the date. However, whether he does or doesn’t, the woman should be above complaining about the date activities while they’re going on. Now, obviously, there are exceptions to this. If you take a woman to, say, a morgue, she has every right to complain (who does this?). Short of that, however, she should keep the complaining to herself and just chalk it up to a bad date. If the guy seems to be trying, there’s no reason she should kick him while he’s down.

Doesn’t put some woo into the date too
It’s commonly practiced that on a date a man does the work to woo the woman. While that may be true, it doesn’t excuse the woman from trying, too. Guys, if you go to the movies and she refuses to see anything that doesn’t have Drew Barrymore in it, then she isn’t really trying. Dating is a two-way street, or at least should be. Women who refuse to bend a little on anything during the date (and no guys, that doesn’t mean sleep with you versus won’t) are sort of missing the point. They’re looking more for a lap dog than a companion.

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First dates are incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. Why anyone would want to make a first date worse defies logic, and yet some people do. Ladies, if your date does any of the following on your first date take it as a sign to leave.

Comments on how much you’re eating
Look, even as a joke between best friends food can become dicey (no pun intended). The last thing anyone should joke about on a first date is how much the other person is eating. If your date does, take it as a sign to get out of there. Making such comments is a sign of control issues. He makes you feel insecure so that he can feel more in control of the situation.

Brings up sex during dinner
Yes, all men think about sex. And they think about it even more on a date. Still, he should be able to control himself at least through dessert. Sure, there is such a thing as playful flirting about sex, but it should come after the chocolate sundae. It isn’t being prudish, because if the guy can’t wait that long to even mention the subject it means he has no other interest in you than that.

Doesn’t offer to pay for dinner
This might be questionable to some, but even in this day and age men should offer to pick up the tab. If you simply insist on going Dutch, or the two of you have discussed it in advance, then that’s fine. There’s a chance that he might not be able to afford it, but most men simply would take the woman somewhere cheaper than ask her to pay. If he does ask, it’s a sign that he isn’t fully committed to the “wooing” of you.

Takes you to see the new R-rated action extravaganza
Unless the two of you met cute while discussing films at the video store, and therefore he clearly knows your taste in film, it’s a fairly bad sign for him to take you to a big action film. Why? He’s just letting me be part of something he enjoys! No, he’s being selfish. The first date should, again, show some signs of wooing. That includes taking one for the team and seeing something you will enjoy as well. That doesn’t necessarily mean a romantic comedy, but neither does it mean something you will detest.

Answers his cell phone at any point
Assuming the two of you aren’t planning to meet others, or his aunt isn’t sick in the hospital, this is a very bad sign. Sure, many people text message now while driving or even while in church, but both those show a lack of respect for the activity the person is participating in. While out with you his attention should be focused on you, and now what his friends are scoring at Halo at home. If he starts the typing, send him one yourself, “l8tr.”

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One of the biggest issues in dating can be religious differences. Today people are more likely than ever to date outside of their religion, and it can certainly present some obstacles. Keep in mind the following tips to help smooth the waters.

Define your own religious views first
It’s important when dating to know your own religious views. This may sound silly, but many people simply go to a church or synagogue or another house of worship and never truly define their personal faith. For instance, just because you are raised Baptist does not necessarily mean you most identify with that particular denomination, or even Christianity.

This isn’t a call to rethink your faith, but to define it clearly for yourself. How important is it to you? What importance do you place on attending religious services weekly? More than once a week? Is prayer a daily obligation or something you only turn to in times of need? Again, it may sound silly, but for some people they simply don’t know. From the basics, you can move on to more advanced issues of morality and church obedience.

Know what you want in a spiritual partner
It is one thing to know what color eyes you want in a mate, but what about their spiritual beliefs? Does it matter if they are the same faith as you? If they’re Christian, can they be another denomination within Christianity? How important are specific issues of faith versus others? Again, defining your own views first will make it easier for you to know what is and what isn’t a deal breaker.

Be upfront when meeting someone new
This applies to online dating and meeting in person. If that person absolutely must be Catholic for you to have a happy relationship, then by all means let them know. No one wants to enter a relationship under false pretenses, and religious convictions are one of those things that don’t easily change. If you have defined what it is you are and also what it is you are looking for, then there should be no problem in being upfront.

Do keep in mind that many people do not hold hard and fast lines with religious beliefs. For example, many Christians move openly among different denominations not giving much thought to the name on the door. Let the other person tell you their beliefs instead of reflex responding negatively to their initial answer.

Determine your willingness to wager on conversion
You should never date someone with the sole purpose of trying to convert them to your faith. However, if you meet someone great and think they might eventually convert, or you to their faith, then you have a whole other issue to debate for yourself. Are you, or are they, willing to wait it out and see where it goes?

Keep in mind; this can lead to one of the harshest kinds of breakups. Leaving or being left due to a lack of conversion, when everything else is fine, is one of the most heart crushing ways to end a relationship. It will almost certainly lead to bitterness for one member of the couple. It’s a wager, but many individuals make it.

Decide if separate faiths are a possibility
While it is hardly recommended to people of faith, many couples manage to survive with different faiths in the same relationship. Usually these are small differences, such as one half going to a Baptist church and one going to a Methodist church. However, some couples keep entirely separate faiths.

Do keep in mind, that while this can work to some extent, it presents huge problems if one hopes to have children. At that point the couple usually must decide between one faith or another to raise the children. Again, it can be done, but it is far from ideal.

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Leading with your worst feature
This may seem like common sense, but if you’ve been on any online dating service you know many people make this mistake. So, what is meant by worst feature? Well, if you’re unemployed, it is perhaps best not to list it first in your description. Same for the massive amount of debt you have, the fact that your last five boyfriends dumped you, etc.

No, this is not advocating for lying. There is a thin line between the two and sometimes people get confused. Still be honest with matches about such issues. Instead, consider leading with your best features such as your sense of humor, or being a good conversationalist. Everyone has baggage to unload and there’s no reason you have to well before anyone else.

Not just bad photos, but unappealing photos
Most people cannot and should not have professional photos done to place online. It seems incredibly needy and is just a bit over done. On the other hand, neither should you pick at random from your photo album, nor have someone randomly email you one featuring you from theirs.

What is meant by this? Have you ever seen the photo of the obviously attractive person just in their sweats? Their appeal factor drops significantly to most people, partly on the basis that this appears to be someone who doesn’t care to take care of themselves. There’s nothing wrong with going casual, but an old faded pair of blue jeans and a stained t-shirt are not the casual you are looking for. Try business casual, instead.

Presenting someone you wouldn’t be interested in
This third mistake really ties into the previous two, and that’s presenting someone that even you wouldn’t be interested in. It’s amazing how many online daters do just this. Not only do they feature unflattering photos and post their worst features up front, but they make themselves out to be the most boring person in the world.

This can often be chalked up to spending no real time on the profile part when signing up to a site. Here’s a good rule of thumb: spend at least as much time on your profile as you do in the bathroom getting ready each morning. Any less and you’re doing something wrong. Craft something interesting about yourself, even if it’s just about the cool new restaurant you tried. Give that reader a reason not to hit the back button on their browser.

Being too quick with the reject or delete button
This is perhaps the cardinal sin that most online daters commit. Just because dating sites allow for you to filter down searches into your choosiest of choices doesn’t mean that’s all you should be interested in. Many fantastic relationships have been forged between two people who were not each other’s ideal.

Instead, try giving the other person a chance to impress you. Yes, they should have done so at the profile stage, but many people don’t put their best foot forward until the personal communication stage. Give them a shot. If after a couple of emails you are no more interested then you have probably at worst wasted five minutes. What’s five minutes in the pursuit of love?

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There’s common sense, and then there’s just being an idiot. The following four things have all really been said to women on dates. Is not saying them simply common sense, or abstaining from being stupid? You decide.

“Wow, you really caked on the makeup tonight!”

Most women, at least on dates, worry about their makeup. Yes, even the women who wear very little. It’s difficult for them not to as makeup ads litter the landscape, and just try picking up any magazine targeted at women without being drowned in ads from Cover Girl to Lancome. So when on a date, never tell a woman her makeup looks bad. Even if you’re dangerously worried she might be the second coming of Tammy Faye Baker, keep your mouth shut. More to the point, most men know nothing about makeup and should probably leave the criticism to those with a little more experience.

“How do you think your spiritual gifts can benefit me in my ministry?”

If you happen to be a young minister of some type, keep in mind that dates are about the other person as much as they are about you. Asking someone how their spiritual gifts can benefit you is akin to asking how their good looks can compliment yours. Dating is not about finding a new piece to fit into your incomplete puzzle. In fact, your puzzle should already be complete. It is also important to keep in mind, despite the jokes, that dating is not a job interview. Do not ask your date to bring a resume or recite one from memory.

“You think you’re a princess of something, always expecting me to open doors for you.”

Women do not generally think of themselves as princesses. Yes, there are the occasional ones who appear on My Super Sweet 16, but for the most part they’ve long outgrown those fantasies by the time they begin dating. Women do generally think they should be treated with some respect, the same as men. Not holding doors for women may not score you any particular points with them, but complaining about them wanting a door held will almost certainly lose you some. Save yourself some trouble and simply hold the door.

“Why are you wearing that tight t-shirt? Are you trying to accentuate your breasts?”

Yes, she is.

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Poetry reading
It may not sound as exciting as an explosion filled movie, but that’s kind of the point. Poetry readings are calm and relaxing (usually) and expose you and your date to the arts. You can also usually find one for free if you live in a town with a college or university. The downside is, of course, that like a movie you can’t really chat while at the reading. However, it does serve as the perfect segue into getting a cup of coffee afterward to discuss what you just heard.

For men who may balk at spending an evening at such an event, just remember that women generally embrace a man who can show he possesses some deepness and culture.

Youth baseball game
America is littered with little league baseball fields and they can make an excellent destination for a date. While it may not be too much fun to watch the real little ones play, the tween and teen age groups can produce a very enjoyable baseball game. Such games never have an admission price, and even concession stand prices are usually much less than what you’d expect at a movie. Plus, you have the added bonus of being outside and enjoying some fresh air.

Art museum
It may not sound like the hottest hot spot for a Friday night, but art museums can be fantastic for dates. First, they show you have a bit of class and culture (obviously a big theme in these picks). Second, most art museums can be gotten into relatively cheap, if not for free, and routinely host swanky affairs on weekends. Sure, you might be a mild-mannered accountant by day, but at night you’re black-tie-event mingler. Show your date that being with you will allow them to rub elbows with the cultured and they’ll be impressed.

Yoga class
This one is a bit tricky, if only because not everyone can do yoga. Please be aware, this is not the place to take your slightly overweight date, because you’ll likely make them feel self-conscious the entire time. However, if your date is the type that spends at least a few days a week at a gym, this might be a fun change of pace for them. It allows you both to get a decent workout, plus it gives you something to talk about afterward. Follow it up with a nice lunch or dinner at a fairly healthy restaurant and you’ll seem the health concerned type. For anyone watching their own waistline this is appealing to think they might have met someone to commiserate with.

Feed the animals
No, do not simply set up in an alleyway planning to feed the strays. This will only frighten your date and ultimately make them consider you a little creepy. Instead, there are many free, public locations where there are animals you can feed. Many city parks feature ponds with ducks or geese, not to mention squirrels and other animal life. Buy a cheap loaf of bread and you have yourself a cost-effective hour of feeding the animals, plus plenty of time to talk and get to know one another. Keep in mind that some parks prohibit feeding the animals, so be sure to check in advance. Feeding the animals will show your date you’re an animal person, which is key to many with beloved pets.

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What’s weird about the piece is it’s pitched not as places to meet rich men or in shape men, but simply men. Here’s a hint about finding men–they’re basically everywhere. If you can’t find men without reading Cosmo, then perhaps there are bigger issues you are facing in your dating life. Now, are Apple stores good places to meet smart and wealthy men?

If that’s all you are looking for, then yet, you will likely do better at the Apple store than at, say, the grocery store. There will definitely be a higher percentage of smart men with disposable income there. However, that is to say nothing of the iPod and iPhone fawning teens you will have to avoid on your trip inside. Additionally, while computers generally mean well educated and well-to-do; they also generally mean a higher geek quotient. Not that there’s anything wrong with geeks. Just keep this in mind if you hear mention of Star Wars or Battlestar Galactica.

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Melissa and I met in college. She worked at the college library and seem to be quite intelligent. She read a lot, and talked a lot about reading. Yes, obviously there is more to intellect than that, but then again, it isn’t like I have an IQ test on ready at all times. So a girl who actually bothers to read, and bothers to read more than Danielle Steel, seems like a good bet for at least a passively interesting conversation. Not always so, as Melissa taught me.

Melissa and I started dating and things seemed very good at first. She was funny and a fair bit more outgoing than I, which is a good thing. As a more reserved person I need someone who can step it up to pull me out of my cave. She was also short, cute, and perky–the killer three for men, and a disgusting three for other women.

Still, all good things must come to and end, right? With Melissa and I it began one night while at dinner. The restaurant, as many do, was playing its background music way too loud. This normally gives me a headache, and depending on the artist it can migrate to migraine, but they were playing some good 80’s Madonna. I’m no Madonna nut, or even much of a fan, but I will give her some credit for being listenable. And that was when it happened. That was when she said those words I will never forget.

“I love Madonna! She’s my favorite artist!”

See, there’s nothing wrong with liking Madonna. There’s nothing wrong with liking tofu. There is, however, something wrong with either being your favorite. How could tofu possibly be your favorite food as long as chocolate exists? It can’t–that’s the correct answer! Same with Madonna. Sure, stick her on your iPod play list and groove to her at the gym, but don’t list her as your favorite musician on your MySpace page. I assure you that men will pass you right over.

To be fair, Madonna was not the end, but the beginning of the end. Once your image of someone has been so shattered (remember, she must be smart–she reads) it can never be repaired. With Melissa I started to notice other faults as easily as I had once noticed her assets. She was a Tim McGraw fan. Tim McGraw is to country music what Michael Bay is to films. Seriously, look it up! It was on last year’s SAT.

But the curtain pullback didn’t end there. Oh no. I learned soon that Daddy Daycare was one of her favorite films. Yes, the Eddie Murphy film. Nothing against Eddie, as Trading Places would have been an acceptable choice–even Shrek. Still, the biggest revelation was yet to come. The book lover who I thought I could love? Turned out to be a book lover, with the emphasis on the “a.” Yes, she really only read one book–over and over again. This book also so happened to share the same name as her (keep in mind that as with all stories, Melissa’s name has been changed).

How does one react to such revelations? Did I think she was shallow? Probably to some degree, but I knew she wasn’t a bad person. Instead, I just realized she wasn’t an incredibly bright one, or at least not in the way I perceived intelligence. She was funny, nice, and completely boring to talk to–a fun first date, but with little potential for growth (as they’ll tell you on CNBC). We’ll chalk it up under the “Okay to Judge a Book By Its Cover Rule.”

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