First dates are usually awkward events that have become part of the courting ritual landscape for the 21st century. Books have been written about them, films have poked fun at them, and gossip has been passed about each and every one. There are many opinions concerning first dates, as women have mulled over them and men have found ways of getting – or avoiding - them. While our society contains many unspoken rules about first dates, it is always useful to have a few tips on hand when assessing the person across from you at the dinner table.