Gals, play by the rules...

When you are dining with the devil, make sure you have a long spoon. This idiom always fascinated me with its literal meaning and intended one. It basically meant that when you know you are in unfamiliar environment, make sure you are well covered for the risks involved. This is one lesson I would love my daughter to learn from me.

Dating rules are fascinating because there are no fixed rules, they are merely a set of guidelines to be followed if you don't have to cut a sorry face for yourself. No one better to teach these rules than your father and never listen to the inputs on these by your mother. I wish every father took some time out for his adolescent daughter and taught her these basic rules which would help her in her social life perpectually.

Date rapes are on the rise and if you study the pattern, in most cases, the victims are teenage girls and most of the agressors are boy-friends and his cronies. Let us forget about incest angle for a moment, because there is a bigger moral evil to be addressed in those cases. Date rapes can be avoided 100% of the times; all you have to do is look out for the classic signs and avoid walking into the traps. The problem is, that most dads dote their daughters so much that they dont accept that she is ready to date and be involved with a guy. It seems to them that their daughters are too small to do these things and in many cases, date rapes are a rude awakeing to such gullible fathers. Satuatory warning: Mothers cannot be good teachers in these cases because simply they cannot fathom the innovative brains of boys. They are more suited to take their loving sons to task and teaching them to respect women.

The problem arises with boys being starved for female affection and ends up with the rape of an unsuspecting girl; however the guilt of it charrs both of them forever. Let me state a few rules for you so that you can enjoy your dates and be safe at the same time. Avoiding a social life is not the solution and grounding yourself in your prime age is a total no-no. Enabling you to face the world is what we are aiming for.

Rule #1: Date a guy that you want to go out with, not the guy who asked you and you dont wanna let down. Believe me, in 90% of cases guys expect a NO. So its okay if they hear it from you.

Rule #2: A date is always about you, and keep it about you. Remember, just because he buys you dinner; you dont owe him anything. Your company is totally worth it, dats why he asked you in the first place.

Rule #3: Avoid alcohol at all times while on a date, it inhibits your rationale and getting a girl drunk is the easiest way for a guy. Dats you walking into a big trap.

Rule #4: Never trust a guy. Period. You may know him for years but always look out for classic signs of betrayal. Dont let it hit you hard by being totally trusting. Guys use anything as a fair game, so be aware of the "male rules".

Rule #5:At all times it is your responsibility to look out for your female friends and dont compete over guys. There are fewer women than men in this world, so all of you are assured of a mate : )

Rule #6: Never hangout with a boys gang where you are the lone female. Its okay to lookout for your safely and put in a polite but firm NO.

Rule #7: While on a date, you have to always look for yourself and do what pleases you at all times, trust me the guy is always looking out for himself. Its okay to be "the bitch" on a date rather than hear others call you his.

Rule #8: If a guy is too good to be true, there are 100% chances that he is bullshitting you. Never trust his words.

These are few general rules, and are meant to keep you safe. Always be on the lookout but dont be paranoid. I am not an expert at dating but I see it as a sport and as in all sports there are few rules to be followed to make it a enjoyable experience.

So long...