Every great date has a way for you to screw it up. Just try bringing up a few of the taboo dating conversation topics while out for a night of romance and you’ll see exactly what I mean. There are some things that should be left unsaid – at least at the start of a new relationship.

Leave the ex in the past – at least at first. Talking about your ex is one of the big taboos during a date. Sure, you may be able to pull it off, if you know how to do it right, but who wants to take the chance? If they ask about it, deal with the question and change the subject or throw it back to them. What could go wrong? You could bad mouth your ex and some might start to wonder if you’ll be bad mouthing them after it’s all over. It’s always better to be the bigger person. You might slip up and mention too much about your ex and your date might think that you still have feelings. Who wants to compete with an ex? Or, you could commit the ultimate taboo and call your date by your ex’s name. There are a lot of dating conversations that would be too taboo for you and your next date, but talking about the ex is certainly at the top of the pile.

Sex is a taboo, plain and simple. This is mostly for the guys out there who might have lost touch with reality. Get a hold of your bodies and minds, boys. Your one-track mind for sex might be something you were born with, but it doesn’t belong on a first date. Sex is a personal activity and asking people about their favorite positions, the number of people they’ve been with, the last time they had sex, how may STD’s they’ve had or abortions is not polite conversation. Sex belongs in the bedroom and you probably won’t find it easy to get there if you keep bringing it up.

"Your personal beliefs also qualify as too taboo for polite dating conversation."

Money is another conversation that is better left for later in a relationship. Money is important but it’s not that important to your relationship that you need to know how much someone makes when you first meet. Asking someone something as taboo as how much they make shows a lack of understanding of how people communicate. It’s too personal to discuss with someone you’ve just met so stay away from it if you think you’d like to see them again.

Your personal beliefs also qualify as too taboo for polite dating conversation. If you’re a priest or someone else who thinks that religion is an essential part of the mate you date, sure, shoot it out there. Mind you, if it’s so important that you need to bring it up on date one then you should cover it before that moment arrives. When you’re on a first date, talking religion can be taboo for some. Leave it to later. Spend your time looking for general conversation that will tell you more important things such as how they take their coffee in the morning.

If you met on a political chat board or dating site, who you vote for is fair game. For the rest of us, politics should be passed as a topic for conversation. It’s not that it’s too personal. It’s taboo because people are passionate about it. Sure, talk about things you’re passionate about, but if you get someone’s back up on a first date, it’s doubtful there will be a second. You can smooth out small problems such as a disagreement on political parties after a relationship is on its way, but in the meantime, leave discussions about what’s happening on the Hill to the politicians.

Those are some of the big taboos you might encounter in any first date conversation. Avoid them at all costs! If you can think of any others, feel free to leave us a note below. Good luck on your next date!