To not want to ‘sit in the park’ on a second date?

I'd prefer to sit in the park than go for a romantic meal (whatever that means). I don't find eating romantic. But that's me....

Yeah, mental.., that’s the exact word he used to describe it: mental.

He knew he was not going to get bored with me at that point, I guess. 😁

Plus you know, if you get on... YOU CAN LEAVE THE PARK

Believe ir or not being impressed and getting to know one another are not mutually exclusive. The majority of people who have experience in dating know it is low effort to suggest things which lack imagination like this. Again, on one of the wettest years on record.

Find out if he means chavving out in the park with some Lambrini and a couple of Lambert and Butler that he nicked while his dad wasn’t looking.

I think I would be taken with that @NotAgainWilson and I'm a woman. It's a bit mental and I like it.

Money can be seen as a bit of effort bur effort can be shown in other ways such as sugestisting something that aligned with the other person's interests, whether it's free or not. The majority of people want to make an effort for people they like and that is usually recognised by the other person and appreciated. As I have said I love parks, it would be fine as a later date but in the early days it's better to put more effort into ideas.

I have only had a first date sitting in a park once. It wasn’t a picnic, he got a couple of Costa coffees before meeting me and we spent 3 hrs talking in the park before moving to a gallery cafe for another 2 hours when it started raining.

I am not going to say that this led to a relationship and a ring on my finger, mostly as once in the park we realised that I was a head taller than him but being at the park felt so natural and relaxed, it allowed a very nice and long relaxed conversation that we continued meeting for a coffee regularly for a couple of months until we found our respective partners 🙂

I had a third date in the park with another guy. Again, not a picnic. I pulled out of my bag a silver kettle, porcelain cups, biscuits and a hot water thermos, he found the surprise hilarious, he was quite taken by it 😁. We were together for almost 4 years.

Nope.
I wouldn't be at home to that.
I bet he's tight and want his hole after a cheap/free date.

My first date with DH was when he took me for a meal to the nicest restaurant he knew. I was well impressed and next time we went to a very nice pub and ate in their restaurant (my treat)!

What makes going out for dinner putting in more effort than the park? Other than effort = spending money which several pp’s seem to be implying, especially with the tight comments.

Maybe you should say no, and leave him for someone who does like to sit in the park. I really like to sit in the park.

I’m neither desperate nor underage and I’d be fine with it. And I’m far from the only woman who has said that on this thread!

But then my criteria for a good date doesn’t involve “being impressed”, it involves getting to know the other person.

Women on dates aren't generally grabby though. Even if someone gets 'treated' to a nice meal or something else, it's invariably an awkward experience before you get to know someone. Everyone who is dating feels slightly awkward and is just trying their best. If a man approaches dating with a cynical mindset about women, he is best avoided. No wonder so many women end up with alkies/ depressives/ mentally detectives if they consider if OK for men to approach women with such a low view.

The majority of women who aren't either desperate or underage would be disappointed by being incited to a park on what is one if the wettest years on record. Unless OP has missed some crucial info like it's actually an especially beautiful or special park, she is in the majority in that it wouldn't impress most women.

Some people are saying he's 'testing' her 😂 I mean what on earth, she is intending to date not qualify for Mensa.

This comes from a woman eho happily splits on a first date (as it's awkward to expect more before you even know each other). I would expect that if he was interested he'd want to do something he thinks OP would really like.

Yes I was a bit tongue in cheek with that bit.

And OP its only a suggestion, thats what a suggestion is, you can also suggest somewhere, or why even did you wait for him to suggest something?

Jesus, I read your post completely wrong.

Park where I used to live = superb!
Few metres away from coffee/sandwiches/cake/shops/cocktails even. Bowling, golf, loos, wildlife.

Here = nature park, no takeaway coffee, no amenities. I'm not climbing lonesome hills with someone and the odd dog walker on an early date. There's one in the centre I really like though.

Sounds nice to me dependent on the park and the weather.

I doubt he's testing her. I think he just thinks "a park walk will be nice, we can get to know each other a bit"

I have only made it half way through this ridiculous thread and already Im cringing for people

The rules?

No effort?

A park is ideal, agree on the day due to the weather, clarify whether going for a coffee somewhere first or after

He is probably testing you OP to see if you think its beneath you or you're too grabby and snobby for him.

Poor people are allowed to date too .

Maybe he likes fresh air, bird song, restful environment, gentle stroll and chat.

This isn't a mental suggestion. Why do people think it is? He's not suggested they go at midnight, has he? I'm honestly stumped.

That depends on the company, doesn’t it? I know some firms where it would be far more appropriate to turn up for an Interview in a T shirt than a suit! Like dating, it’s a bit of a “know your audience” thing. He seems to have got it wrong with the OP, but it doesn’t mean it was a stupid suggestion - as can be seen from this thread, quite a lot of women would like it.

Fair play.