It’s 10 a.m., you turn over and a vaguely familiar face which you haven’t seen before last night is staring right back at you — the one-night stand. The dreadful walk of shame, whether it’s you or him, is not something to look forward to. While painfully awkward, remembering five etiquette tips will help it pass by more quickly.
1. Don’t linger
But before you get to the ride home, it’s important to remember that whether you’re the girl or boy, do not overstay your welcome. Despite the fact you may wake up cozy in bed, as reality sets in, make the getaway quick and don’t linger.
2. Please, take her home
Although a girl may not want much to do with someone after a one-night stand, you should be familiar enough with etiquette to know that you should at least help her back to her house — sorry boys, a cab doesn’t cut it. You may wish that both parties involved could get out of it more easily, but usually that’s not the case, so man up and drive her back to her place.
Blair Ratner, a sophomore nursing major, explains that it isn’t that difficult to just drive someone home and save them the embarrassment of finding another ride.
“How hard is it? Just help the girl get home,” Ratner said.
3. Don’t babble
So while your car ride may be awkward enough, figuring out what to talk about can be even harder.
Anne Kassalow, a junior human development major, makes the point that sometimes a person can look dumber trying to think of something to say, than not saying anything at all. Although it may seem helpful to try and pull conversation out of thin air, it could make the situation worse.
“Word vomit is the last thing you want to occur while you’re trying to piece together the night and how to get the hell out of there,” Kassalow said.
4. Give a little thanks
Even though you don’t want to sound stupid, boys and girls should both have the courtesy to thank the other party for the night. It doesn’t have to be sexual, it doesn’t have to be affectionate, just a mere agreement between the two that the night was good. A simple “thank you” may seem a little over the top, but there’s no harm in remembering to say the night was fun to make both people seem more comfortable afterward.
5. Don’t ignore the past
So after everything else, how do you act when you see the person next? Whether walking on campus or across the bar, chances are you’ll see your one-night stand again, but it doesn’t have to be completely awkward.
Pamela Wexler, a sophomore accounting major, makes the point that not all girls are looking for something grander after a one-night stand.
“Don’t ignore them, say hello. A simple acknowledgment is fine; chances are we don’t really want to talk to you either,” Wexler said.
It’s easy to wish that a one-night stand would just disappear out of mind and out of sight. However, if a person handles the situation in the most proper way, it can be as painless as ripping off a Band-Aid.