Victim of Culture

Five first date ice breakers

The most difficult part of a first date can often be finding something to talk about.  Some people fall back on asking a lot of questions, but that can often make a date feel more like a job interview and put both parties on the defensive.  Instead, having a few good topics to go to in a lull can turn a disastrous date into something salvageable.  The following topics are effective ice breakers to give you both something to discuss, and perhaps make you a little more memorable at the end of the night.

Chicago World’s Fair of 1893

A World’s Fair may not seem like much of a topic for conversation, but this was no ordinary World’s Fair.  Ever heard of the book Devil in the White City?  It chronicles the events of that fair, which among other things featured the debuts of the Ferris Wheel, Cracker Jack, and Juicy Fruit.  It was the inspiration for L. Frank Baum’s vision of Oz (as in The Wizard of).  And, oh yeah, it was the site for one of the first serial killers known in American history.

Scary?  Sure.  But also one of the most fascinating parts of American history most people have never heard of.

Plus – You get to seem very intelligent and knowledgeable about a diverse array of subjects.

Negative – Neuron pathways between you and serial killers are created in your date’s head.

Badgers

What do you know about badgers?  Probably not much, and the same can probably be expected of your date.  Dazzle them with your extensive knowledge of this carnivorous mammal!  For example, did you know badgers live in burrows called setts?  No, fascinating!  Did you know they’re capable of fighting off bears?  No, do tell!  Were you aware that the Wisconsin state capital features a gold statue of a woman with a badger on her head?  Okay, now you’re just getting weird.

Look, people love animals.  Badgers are animals.  Therefore, people love badgers.  This is elementary logic here.

Plus – You come off as an animal lover, and who doesn’t love an animal lover?

Negative – You come off as a PETA level animal lover, and who loves a PETA animal lover?

The Canary Islands

You may be thinking this is a silly topic, but again, this appeals to animal lovers.  First off, many (you’d be surprised) would not probably be the whole Canary Islands thing together with the bird of the same name.  But far more interesting is the fact that the islands probably gets its name from the Latin for dog.  It was literally the “Island of the Dogs.”  Except, there weren’t dogs there but monk seals, or “sea dogs.”

So yes, basically the Canary Islands have a far more interesting etymology than anything else you know.  And discussion of their name is probably a better date topic than how your parents named you for the lead singer of an 80s hair band.

Plus – You seem interested in the cultural heritage of other nations.

Negative – You seem interested in said cultural heritage, but later are exposed for the shallow xenophobe you truly are.

Terminator 2

The second in the Terminator franchise is considered by many to be the best, but that’s not the only reason it’s listed here.  First, it’s the rare type of action film that’s enjoyed just as much by women as men.  Second, you can contemplate together its time paradox storyline.  If they succeed in destroying all the Terminator info in the present, then does it mean the future never happens?  If so, how does Kyle Reese travel back in time in the first film to father John Connor who succeeds are destroying Kyle’s future in the second film?  Looney, I know.

As a bonus, if your date is religious you can bring up the whole John Connor / Jesus Christ connection.  A young boy born to someday save humanity?

Plus – This might provide easy set up for a second date—watch the movie!

Negative – If you live in California you may be tired of hearing and talking about the Governator.

Ponies

If you’re a guy, you’ll seem ultra sensitive.  Women love sensitive men, and ponies.  It’s like hitting a ground rule double.  If you’re a woman, you’ll just seem like most stereotypes of women that men already have.  Plus, you get to talk about ponies, and what woman doesn’t enjoy that?

Plus – Ponies.

Negative – This runs dangerously close to relying too much on gender stereotypes to actually work in reality.  And yet, it does work.

Related posts:

1. Hating others for your own shortcomings, and why you’re an idiot if you do
   There is not a man alive who hasn’t been rejected by a woman at one point or another.  No, on...
2. Games as art: where are they?
   It may incense gaming fans, but many still view games as time occupiers for children.  One would be hard...
3. Dollhouse is the rare feat in modern television, a show truly about ideas
   Be aware, heavy spoilers follow if you have not finished the first season. Joss Whedon’s show Dollhouse never had...
4. Motivating the men of media
   With the video game press show E3 upon us, I find myself in a deluge of game trailers.  Certainly...
5. Ignoring Sarah Palin is like ignoring Transformers 2
   It seemed nothing could knock Michael Jackson from the top of the news heap, but Sarah Palin managed it. ...