I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of people in the world - people who enjoy dates and people who hate them.

I hate dates but I realise they are an integral part of a single person's life. I understand that to have something that even remotely resembles a relationship, you're probably going to have to go on a few dates.

I envy people who enjoy dates. These people take dates in their stride. They don't spend days evaluating what would be a suitable date outfit. They don't dread that first meet (Do we shake hands? Do we hug? Will we do that weird half handshake, half hug thing?). They don't consider the worst scenario that could occur on the date (what if I choke on my drink and die?). They don't stress about how they're going to negotiate the stairs or other obstacles to and from the date location. They also don't send their best friend a three-page long text message listing their biggest date fears and asking for reassurance ("But what if I get too drunk and spew everywhere?" - very likely).

This odd species of date-lovers seem to see a date as an opportunity to showcase themselves. They're so confident and suave and casual about it. I guess their ego deters them from even recognising the possibility that the other person would find a fault with them.

Us date-haters fear the judgement. A date is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences you'll ever have to endure in your life. A first date is essentially just you trying to sell yourself as a cool and interesting person to someone you've never properly met (whilst sober). It's like an interview but you're not being judged on your skills and qualifications, you're just being judged on you. I think that there's an unspoken rule between good people that what happens on a date, for the most part, remains between those two people out of mutual respect. However, unfortunately, every now and then you'll come across a dater who doesn't abide by this rule.

Quite recently I fell victim to one of these people. Post-date he decided to make a dig at my chosen hairstyle for the evening. Apparently he said I hadn't made much of an effort with my bun and motioned as if lifting a pile of snakes onto his head. If I were Medusa I'd turn him to stone. I considered getting back at him and saying it was because I wasn't that interested and therefore didn't deem the occasion to be deserving of clean, shiny hair but then I remembered the rule.

For a while I thought all girls hated dates and guys were totally cool, calm and collected about it but a friend of mine recently told me otherwise. I asked him if he enjoyed dates and he said he simply considers them a part of life, similar to what I do. I asked if he would ever judge a girl for the way she dressed on a date and looked at him in horror when he said he would but then he followed it by endearingly saying he'd be worried that she'd be 'dressed up' and he wouldn't - he's a humble date-hater.

I don't think I'll ever be someone who enjoys those first dates but I guess I'll have to power though until I meet someone who isn't so shallow as to judge me on my hair-do.