Be honest. Life is just too short.

If someone says flat out,"I need a bible-thumpin' , Trump lovin', baby producin' machine.."
Just run. Your future breakup is not worth the years you will spend figuring it out.

You should absolutely be honest. To be frank, if someone is so insecure that pretending to be someone they are not, is preferential to being single, they have no business looking for a relationship with anybody but a therapist.

Ever heard that saying, "Honesty is the best policy?" Well, it really is.

Are you serious? The answers to your questions are no, no, and yes.

Let me ask you a few more questions.

Do you want a relationship based on lies and bullshit? If so, pretend.

And, "play the game until you get what you came for?". If all you want is to manipulate people into having shallow sex with you, then pretend.

Be honest, all the time. No pretending anything. Why on Earth would you want to pretend to be anything for someone else, if that anything isn't who you really are? That makes NO sense and WILL come back to bite you square in the ass later on. Do not misrepresent yourself, under any circumstances. No game playing. It's immature, and if you're just playing the game "until you get what you came for", you're not only dishonest, you're an asshole.
You ask the questions that are important to you. About anything. Don't be a schmuck.

1st date I would keep it light.

In my opinion, it's better to be honest.
Because what you say can easily come back and bite you in the ass.
Why waste so much energy in being something you're not?

I am honest, I am who I am and what I am. I'm too old to play games. I don't want to waste time cultivating a relationship with false pretenses. I ask questions I want answered, and I ask about the important stuff. Usually I will know most of the important stuff before we meet in person.

I am 67 and divorced after 30 yrs. Hitting the dating scene recently from dating sites, I make it a point to tell the truth , be open and straight from the go. I'm burnt out from marriage to try and create a false profile I most likely wouldn't recall. It's really a lot easier to date be honest, your at ease with yourself and can let your personality shine thru. If it doesn't work out now then it never would have worked out making up stories.

Honesty. Suppose you "play the game" and "get what you came for" but then later, you get fond out... awful situation. In my youth I was a pig, but an honest pig.

I always find honesty is the best policy. Before I meet someone for the first time I already know about their attitudes about money, sex, religion and politics. I need to know their values to see if we are compatible. Life is short and fleeting. Visiting fellow site member after talking on phone for weeks.

You can't manipulate or obfuscate your way into a quality relationship. Be honest, be kind, and see how it goes.

My memory is pretty good, but not good enough to try to remember a litany of lies. Besides, lying is just not in my nature. No, don't "pretend" to be something or someone you're not. Unless the cops are looking for you.

Honesty is the best policy. A relationship founded on lies will be bound for failure. Besides lying takes energy and requires you to remember every thing you said untruthfully. The truth is just easier.

Yes of course..and who wants a relationship on the 1st date?..sex maybe..but a relationship?

I think you should be honest, but you don't have to trot out your whole history right away (unless directly asked, then don't lie). Many of your questions will be answered, even if not in detail as the date progresses, so no need to push right away. Just be honest & be yourself.

1. Absolutely not.
2. Play what game?
3. On a first date, not like an inquisition. If things naturally come up, sure talk about it.

For me, believe/non-believe and voted republican or not will ALWAYS come up prior to a first date. My new rule for MY life.

My style was always to engage in general conversation. If the person seemed interesting, I might pursue other issues like the person's opinion on issues. If the likes and dislikes were similar enough, I would attempt to continue the relationship. The probing questions came later.

Damn - you're a boomer too - I would hope you'd have the answers to these ...

If one chooses to be a game player, they're likely to turn off just about any sincere person out there.

Every combination of people is a whole new pairing. How the interaction goes will be different for different people, depending on what's important to them, and what they seek from the potential relationship. Then - what level are they hoping to take it ? Lots of variations out there !

I say just be the best version of yourself you can be. Be as charming and attractive as you can be, but don't try to be someone you're not. A first date is like a job interview: put your best foot forward, but don't lie or you'll get fired for false pretenses.

You should never pretend to be something you aren't. That can get you viewed as dishonest if it comes out later.

Shouldn't/couldn't most of those issues be resolved,at least to go/np-go level, before you have that first date?

You should always be honest. Frankly, I'm tired of the catatonic autopilot that everyone seems to constantly be on. I want the real, dirty, fucked up truth about people to see if their demons will play well with mine.

Probably why I'm single.

Honesty is the best policy, I think. Sharing how you used to dress your hamsters up and attempt to make them ride tiny trikes might be best left for later on down the road however.

I'm always myself. If someone doesn't like it then they can get to steppin'.