Looking for love this holiday season? We’ve got some tips for you. Or rather, some pitfalls to avoid.
2,000 single people recently participated in a survey conducted by the e-cigarette brand Blu about their top 50 turn-offs in a potential mate. Not surprisingly, body odor is the #1 reason people avoided any follow-up dates, with almost three-quarters of participants saying it was a deal-breaker. So shower up, fellas!
Related: Guys Reveal The Highs And (Mostly) Lows Of Online Dating
Bad tempers came in at a close second, followed by lying, being selfish, and having bad breath. Some other reported turn-offs included having dirty fingernails, taking too many selfies, referring to oneself in the third person, and sporting a bad fake tan.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Fifty three percent of respondents said they formulate their opinion on someone within the first 15 minutes of meeting, and over half said they would drop a person who seemed otherwise perfect but had one glaring flaw.
Related: 5 Tips To Getting The Results You Love From Your Online Dating Profile
Naturally, since the survey was conducted by an e-cigarette maker, the study also found that people prefer to date someone who vapes rather than someone who smokes, though the majority said they’d ultimately prefer to date a non-smoker. The poll also found that most people still consider things like a funny sense of humor or good personal hygiene more important than wealth or personal style.
Here are the top 50 turn-offs:
1. Body odor
2. Bad temper
3. Lying
4. Being selfish
5. Cigarette breath
6. Bad breath (unidentified food)
7. No sense of humor
8. Yellow teeth
9. Eats disgustingly
10. Having dirty clothes
11. Being rude to waiters
12. Had nothing in common
13. Dirty fingernails
14. Smoking
15. Smelly feet
16. Talking about exes too much
17. Being sexist
18. Bad fake tan
19. Being jealous
20. Being obsessed with money
21. Took too many selfies
22. Being cheap
23. Coffee breath
24. Can’t handle alcohol
25. Referring to themselves in the third person
26. Someone who looks at themselves more than you
27. Dandruff
28. Talked about babies/marriage on the first date
29. Someone who doesn’t make you a priority
30. Horrible perfume/aftershave
31. Had piercings
32. Being late
33. Annoying laugh
34. Being insecure
35. A nasal voice
36. Tattoos
37. Bad make-up
38. Friends didn’t like them
39. Bad haircut
40. Bad fashion sense
41. Obviously checking out your body
42. No career ambition
43. Too much perfume/aftershave
44. Big nose
45. Had rubbish taste in music
46. Still living with parents
47. Bad shoes
48. Had rubbish taste in TV
49. Living with parents
50. Wore braces
SonOfKings
Right after #42. No career ambition, I would add “Overly status conscious or career obssessed.” Career ambition is expected and necessary, but I get a little annoyed when a guy spends the entire date reciting his resume, five-year plan, and extends his “30 second elevator speech” to become a lengthy dissertation. Date is over at that point.
DannX68
Racism.
Heywood Jablowme
#32. Being late.
Wouldn’t this rule out, like, all gay men everywhere? Seems like everyone is on “gay time.” One annoying stereotype that’s unfortunately all too true!
bushwickfreddy
@DannX68: Seriously, I can’t believe racism wasn’t on the list…but “bad makeup” was. Perhaps we should assume only one twink-filled WEHO bar was polled?
ErikO
The worst are the women and men who assume that you have a lot in common just because you are sexually compatible, or who want way too much too fast or too soon.
SportGuy
@DannX68: #1 on my list
woodroad34
1. Someone who assumes you’re going to pay for everything and never puts their hand in their pocket
2. Someone who likes to get drunk on a date and then have sex.
Sukhrajah
46. Still living with parents
47. Bad shoes
48. Had rubbish taste in TV
49. Living with parents
50. Wore braces
Ok, so…
1). American’s don’t use the word ‘rubbish’ in that context. The specific use/context here is clearly a British one…
2). ‘still living with parents’ is higher than ‘living with parents’. What logic?
3). ‘Wore braces’; firstly – yes, let’s reject the people with disposable income! Secondly, if I were a cynic, I could see this two ways, in a British persective; the British either despise a proper smile, or simply despise the process of creating said smile and are anti-braces or any signs therein. Is that what it is – everyone waiting for a jump in technology? Veneers and ‘riders’ not all the rage? Deep down, nation of Great Britain – what is it with you, bad teeth, bad food, and can’t even speak American right!
Howard
With all of this who the hell would even want to date? May as well just climb under a rock and hope for the best!
He BGB
When I find out they’re Leo or Capricorn. Capricorn will not give you the time of day unless you’re rich and/or famous (or very important in some capacity). Leo people will hurt your feelings and blame YOU.
Funny, Donald Trump is alot of these 50 things and he had to go to a small eastern European country to find a woman who wanted a green card and his money.
sanfranca1
Big nose?! I’ve seen some really sexy big noses.
Kangol
@DannX68: Exactly! Misogyny, classist/snobbish behavior, and cruelty towards animals are high on the list.
Chris
#1: People who take lists seriously.
Life is short. Tear up the rule book.
Realitycheck
As much as I dislike many of the things on that list, “if” anyone is looking for mr perfect, get used to be alone.
Daggerman
…some I agree with some I don’t, the list of put-offs…but the last comment I can’t really disagree with.
1898
Racism is definitely near the top of my list. I live in a neighborhood with a lot of different ethnicities and different skin colors. If a guy makes hateful comments about that, he won’t be invited back.
Also a turn-off:
Meeting up “for a drink or two” and the guy orders 4+ drinks. Not attractive. Although I guess it can be informative to see what kind of drunk he is.
Guys who arrive way too early. This is just as annoying as guys who are late. If we agree to meet at 7:30pm and you text me at 6:45pm saying “I’m here, where you you?” it drives me f’king crazy. This happens to me much more frequently than guys who are late.
Closeted guys who barely make eye contact and have to be several feet away at all times so that they won’t be found out.
Lying. Dishonesty. Deception. I see more of this than any of the other 50 things on the list.
tghost54
I recently packed up my apartment and put everything in storage to stay with my parents for a while.
They are both in bad health and I found out were unable to go to the store so neighbors were bringing them food.
I was furious that they both kept this from me. They replied they didn’t want to bother me with their problems.
I commute two hours each way to work now while I see if they improve or have to go in assisted living.
So Lives with parents should not be stigmatized all the time.