Editor's note: Some names in this story have been changed.
Most people wish they understood the opposite sex better.
Certainly most men (me, to name one) wish they knew what women actually want. Well, I'm a go-getter, so I decided to look into this.
It was a costly process. My interviews never came easy. I gave two massages, watched one chick flick and listened to a list of complaints about men that would make Paris Hilton swear off guys.
But it was worth it. Ladies and (the far more interested) gentlemen, I present: The things women wish men knew.
Getting her phone number
The trick to getting a number that's actually real is to seem nonthreatening.
Now don't take that the wrong way. Don't try to come off as "Captain Clean." Don't talk to her about puppy dogs and ice cream. You want her phone number, not a recommendation for a place to get a manicure.
The best way to keep her from reaching for the mace when you reach for your phone? Mention a group activity.
"If you're talking and you discover a common interest, you should use that," said Amanda, 21. "Say something like, 'Oh, we both like ice fishing. Well, my friends and I go all the time. You should come sometime.'"
Is there a friend zone?
You're thinking, "But if I do it like that, she won't know I think she's hot. I'll get stuck in the friend zone."
Trust me, if she gives you her number, she already knows you don't just want someone to get coffee with. Actually, most women seemed to agree that it's not what you do that determines whether you wind up in the friend zone.
"Any guy is in danger of being in the friend zone if he's not her type," said Shelly, 22. "But if he is her type, and she's attracted to him, there's no way he'll get put there. That's just the luck of the draw."
How long should you wait to call?
Guys, women know all about the three-days rule, so don't make it gospel. Most of the women I talked with agree that as long as your call isn't the night you meet her or dripping with desperation, you're all right.
"Any time between a couple of days and a week is good," said Britney, 20. "If I meet him on a Friday and he calls on Monday or Tuesday, that's not too desperate, but I probably haven't forgotten about him yet."
Where should you go on a date?
So you got her number without seeming creepy. Check. You were her type. Check. You call a few days later to hang out and she accepts. Check.
Weren't expecting that one? Well, here's what you should be planning on doing:
Again, go with nonthreatening. Avoid dates that make it seem like you're a couple. Yes, I know you want to impress her, but you'll have plenty of time to pay for expensive dinners and take long walks on the beach with her if you do well on the first few dates. Save Build-A-Bear for your one-month anniversary.
Your aim here should be for middle ground. Find a cool, nice place where you can have some dinner, or a fun activity you'll both enjoy.
One thing to avoid?
"Never go to a chain restaurant," said Taylor, 20. "I like a place like Casa De Pico, something that is unique."
Taking the next step
So you've done everything right. You've impressed her. Time for all your hard work to pay off. Well, if you want to do the no-pants dance, here are some ideas.
Again, middleground. It's the 21st century. Women will kiss on the first date (among other things), but every woman I talked with said something along the lines of "take it slow."
"When a guy is a gentleman on the first few dates, it makes him so much hotter," said Ashley, 23. "I'll sit there and think to myself, 'What, I'm not hot enough for you? Fine, I'm taking my clothes off. What about that?'"
Now that's my kind of understanding.
-Devin Kunysz is a marketing junior who gives amazing massages, listens intently and often gets the "let's just be friends" talk.
-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.
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