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Valentine's Day: The etiquette for a virtual date

Many of us are smelling the air of romance as Valentine’s Day is approaching. Lockdown romances are getting more and more fruitful as couples are getting used to speaking with each other over messages and video-calling. This tantalising courtship ritual is, in some way, quite an old-fashioned way of romance, which was all about writing letters to each other. Distant romance has become much easier to pursue in the digital world. The world of dating apps is flooded with men and women putting their best foot forward with most eligible bios and photographs. If you are planning to foray into the world of virtual dating, these tips can be helpful:

Examine your aspirations honestly: What are you looking for? Are you looking for a companionship or a long-term commitment? Many dating apps are unpaid and extremely fast-moving, hence not necessarily very reliable. A casual date often goes disastrously wrong for many reasons; nobody cares as there are many new matches available at the swipe of a screen. This practice can be intoxicating if you’re impetuous but more reserved people may feel that it is worthwhile investing in a more exclusive site, and seek the elusive perfect match.

Be honest with the real picture: It’s tempting to promote yourself with an outdated picture, or a glamorous one. The likelihood is that, in our current circumstances, you’ll be scheduling a virtual date over a video call, which can be unflattering. It’s important to show the real picture right from the beginning.

Humility is the ultimate sophistication: Try and be humble, sound positive and be confident. Nothing is less charming than when someone lapses into boastfulness. Tales of family wealth, professional success or financial prowess make it seem as though you’re trying too hard to impress. Only a weak individual falls back on these things. Similarly, false modesty is not charming either, you may risk coming across as being too needy, emotionally.

Remember, if all your virtual dates are fruitful, you’d like to take the next step and meet in person. Nothing beats human connection. Be far removed from the pressure of candlelit dinners for intimate conversations, choose to go for a walk on the beach instead. Wishing you all love and happiness.

wknd@khaleejtimes.com