Getting a tattoo, for most people at least, is sort of a big decision.  It’s one of those life long decisions that isn’t easily taken back (and somewhat messily if so).  It also has evolved as a way of making a statement about a person.  A person stamp indicating the bearer’s soul, or something like that.

Still, despite the hip factor of tattoos, there are some which can be instant turn-offs to the opposite sex.  Below are five of the worst offenders.  Getting the below tattoos might speak to your inner soul, but it might speak louder to potential dates, screaming, “Run away!”

Video game characters

Sure, it might be nostalgic to have Super Mario plastered across your back, but what does it really say about you?  You like video games?  The Xbox 360 beside your television and the Nintendo DS in your back pocket say the same thing.  Do you think you are Super Mario?  One would hope not, especially if you’re reading too much into the whole “mushroom” thing.

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At least, that’s what a clip from the Tyra Banks Show would have you believe.  In the clip a couple appears on Banks’ show.  The woman wants more attention from her man, while he seems more interested in playing video games.  Of course, this is really no different from men who devote time to watching football or playing golf.  Many women feel undervalued in relationships.

What is interesting is the response it has drawn from some gamers.  Poke around on message boards and you will find cries of “bitch” and “whore” directed not only at the woman in the couple, but also host Tyra Banks and guest Morgan Webb (from G4’s X-Play).  Really?

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The recent piece on what makes a man a jerk on a first date stirred up some strong emotions (some laughable), but turnabout is fair play. Here’s five ways for men to tell that their date is a jerk. Let the angry women writing in commence.

Doesn’t offer to pay for dinner
While it may still be common courtesy for men to pay for a date, or at least to offer, it is also just plain manners for a woman to offer to pay her way. This shouldn’t just be an empty offer, either. A woman should go on a date with every intention of paying her way. The man, in turn, paying is simply the nice gesture. Dating should not be viewed by women as a way to get a free night on the town. (more…)

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First dates are incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. Why anyone would want to make a first date worse defies logic, and yet some people do. Ladies, if your date does any of the following on your first date take it as a sign to leave.

Comments on how much you’re eating
Look, even as a joke between best friends food can become dicey (no pun intended). The last thing anyone should joke about on a first date is how much the other person is eating. If your date does, take it as a sign to get out of there. Making such comments is a sign of control issues. He makes you feel insecure so that he can feel more in control of the situation. (more…)

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One of the biggest issues in dating can be religious differences. Today people are more likely than ever to date outside of their religion, and it can certainly present some obstacles. Keep in mind the following tips to help smooth the waters.

Define your own religious views first
It’s important when dating to know your own religious views. This may sound silly, but many people simply go to a church or synagogue or another house of worship and never truly define their personal faith. For instance, just because you are raised Baptist does not necessarily mean you most identify with that particular denomination, or even Christianity. (more…)

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If there’s one critical mistake people make in online dating it usually occurs in their profile. No, not the more ethereal mistakes you might make such as a bad headline, but the more obvious ones. Below are four of the most egregious errors people can make.

Leading with your worst feature
This may seem like common sense, but if you’ve been on any online dating service you know many people make this mistake. So, what is meant by worst feature? Well, if you’re unemployed, it is perhaps best not to list it first in your description. Same for the massive amount of debt you have, the fact that your last five boyfriends dumped you, etc.

No, this is not advocating for lying. There is a thin line between the two and sometimes people get confused. Still be honest with matches about such issues. Instead, consider leading with your best features such as your sense of humor, or being a good conversationalist. Everyone has baggage to unload and there’s no reason you have to well before anyone else. (more…)

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There’s common sense, and then there’s just being an idiot. The following four things have all really been said to women on dates. Is not saying them simply common sense, or abstaining from being stupid? You decide.

“Wow, you really caked on the makeup tonight!”

Most women, at least on dates, worry about their makeup. Yes, even the women who wear very little. It’s difficult for them not to as makeup ads litter the landscape, and just try picking up any magazine targeted at women without being drowned in ads from Cover Girl to Lancome. So when on a date, never tell a woman her makeup looks bad. Even if you’re dangerously worried she might be the second coming of Tammy Faye Baker, keep your mouth shut. More to the point, most men know nothing about makeup and should probably leave the criticism to those with a little more experience. (more…)

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First dates are often regarded as the toughest, and if you’re the one planning them they’re even tougher. Do you go all-out romantic, or something more casual? Do they like Indian or Chinese food, or would a traditional American eatery be best? One can drive themselves insane contemplating all the choices. In order to help out some, here are five alternative ideas for a first date.

Poetry reading
It may not sound as exciting as an explosion filled movie, but that’s kind of the point. Poetry readings are calm and relaxing (usually) and expose you and your date to the arts. You can also usually find one for free if you live in a town with a college or university. The downside is, of course, that like a movie you can’t really chat while at the reading. However, it does serve as the perfect segue into getting a cup of coffee afterward to discuss what you just heard.

For men who may balk at spending an evening at such an event, just remember that women generally embrace a man who can show he possesses some deepness and culture. (more…)

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Cosmopolitan, that last bastion of respectable American journalism, recently published an article on the best places for women to meet men. Included among their selections were the weight room at the gym, a Fortune 500 or tech company and an Apple store. Yes, as in Apple computer. Not that there’s anything wrong with dating a Mac geek.

What’s weird about the piece is it’s pitched not as places to meet rich men or in shape men, but simply men. Here’s a hint about finding men–they’re basically everywhere. If you can’t find men without reading Cosmo, then perhaps there are bigger issues you are facing in your dating life. Now, are Apple stores good places to meet smart and wealthy men? (more…)

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There’s nothing wrong with having out-of-date musical tastes. In full disclosure, most of my favorite musicians were born before my parents. Still, there is something to be said for having interests beyond fifty-year-old rock stars.

Melissa and I met in college. She worked at the college library and seem to be quite intelligent. She read a lot, and talked a lot about reading. Yes, obviously there is more to intellect than that, but then again, it isn’t like I have an IQ test on ready at all times. So a girl who actually bothers to read, and bothers to read more than Danielle Steel, seems like a good bet for at least a passively interesting conversation. Not always so, as Melissa taught me.

Melissa and I started dating and things seemed very good at first. She was funny and a fair bit more outgoing than I, which is a good thing. As a more reserved person I need someone who can step it up to pull me out of my cave. She was also short, cute, and perky–the killer three for men, and a disgusting three for other women. (more…)

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