[Rate_Determining_Step]

Here's how to reel 'em in laddie.

Just chill. Treat each date as a TV episode of "Joey" or some other innocent exercise. Have fun, expect nothing other than a nice time out. Don't be too serious, reflective, deep, etc. Be charming.

I never kiss them or try to make the moves on them.

This does a couple of things... But mainly, you don't come across as a needy loser. They see confidence and ease. And... THEY get all carbonated up, dying to tear YOUR clothes off.

You can also concentrate on sizing them up. It's hard to not reveal a lot yourself after two or three platonic dates.

[mylife]

So the way to reel em in is to hide yourself away?

[IslandJeff]

Thanks, RDS - that's all good and comes naturally:

But there's a distinct qualitative difference between how to be a nice "arm-candy" date and breaking the ice and getting past the cynicism, particularly among fellow travelers more than a couple years into their thirties.

No, sure, you can't get on bended knee on the first date, but isn't there any innocent way of being serious without being a pushover?