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Topics: Sex and Relationships, Mental Health
A dating expert has warned about the five icks which 'don't just turn her off', but 'kill attraction completely'.
I mean, you could simply turn around to your significant other, friend or sister and ask them about the behaviors or acts they find 'icky' however, if you'd rather read about it and avoid the potential embarrassment of going red in the face when you realize you do multiple of them, an expert has thankfully weighed in.
It's important to note, icks are certainly not always fair or justified - anyone remember that tweet about a woman getting the ick when her boyfriend fell down the stairs and sprained his ankle? - but there are five behaviors which aren't necessary, are easily avoidable and aren't really asking for much.
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Dating expert and matchmaker Louanne Ward has taken to Instagram to reveal the 'five dating "icks"' she's seen in her years of experience which 'don't just turn her off' but 'kill attraction completely'.
Oh and 'once she sees it, she can't unsee it' and the 'spark' will reportedly be 'gone' for good. And first up?
First up can start before you've even had the chance to message, let alone meet up and could potentially be the reason so many women are swiping left on you.
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If you have an AI version of yourself as your dating profile picture - or whatever social media platform you're communicating on these days - it's not an accurate representation of you. And depending on what it is, it could just be cringey too.
Pouting? So 2014 - unless you're a teenager, throw the pose away and even then, stop taking yourself so seriously.
As Ward notes: "If your dating profile looks like it belongs in a Marvel casting folder… she’s not swooning. She’s dry. You’re not mysterious. You’re just overedited."
*Mic drop*
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"Lastly dude can you please stop doing this with your face. this sulking pouting 'puppy eyes but also smouldering' thing. whatever this is called. stop. it’s so tiring," a Twitter user echoed.
However, we're certainly not done there, and it's funny the user should mention another pose, because it's next up on the list.
Once again, stop taking yourself so seriously and acting like a model. And if you're a model? Well, take a day off.
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Granted, it can feel like photographs of ourselves can be hard to get right, but try more natural poses or candids which give an insight into what you're really like.
Or if you do simply love a good smoulder? *Swipes left*
As Ward noted: "She thinks you’re auditioning for an off-brand aftershave commercial. She’s gone."
"Smoulder was giving me such an ick I could not stop myself from looking away," a social media user wrote.
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But how about an 'ick' to do with the way a man can talk to a woman?
I think this one can be viewed as an 'ick' for most people, not just women - 'cutie baby talk'.
Ward explains if a woman is spoken to 'like she's your puppy, toddler or cartoon sidekick'? It's a big no no.
It's not 'cute' but 'cringey' and could well lead to your partner 'mentally exiting the chat'.
Indeed, the proof being in the pudding, one Twitter user said: "Ok i need to know y’alls biggest ick lmao. i’ll start - i can’t stand baby talk, especially with a baby voice
"My last ex started talking like a baby when trying to get freaky and i would instantly dry up and it may or may not be part of the reason i broke up with him LOL."
And next up is a similarly child-like habit which should've been broken a long-time ago.
Interestingly, Ward's focus here is on a guy's 'fingers' being in his 'mouth' mid-meal. Me? Well, if someone's rude to a server, that's it, they're out.
However, Ward notes many women get the ick if a guy 'picks food out of [his] teeth with [his] nail'.
"It’s not just a hygiene fail. It’s a primal repulsion," she states.
Look, it is a bit grim, but we're all human - maybe just save it until you're official before you give your teeth - or nose - a cheeky pick though eh?
A Twitter user weighed in with their own meal-time ick: "When people lick their finger when they eat I think it’s the most disgusting thing in the world."
And last but never least, a highly undesirable attribute which can lead to fears it's a wider issue.
We're all adults here, there's no need to throw our toys out the pram.
There will be times we all lose our cool sure, but being in control of your emotions and knowing how to process them is pivotal when it comes to being ready for any sort of relationship.
If the car in front of you isn't moving? No need to shout. Your phone playing up? Don't throw it.
Ward warns: "It’s not passion. It’s pressure. And pressure doesn’t feel safe."