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First dates are typically filled with a flurry of emotions: excitement, anxiety, fear, nervousness, and plenty of others. First dates leave a lot of room for something to go wrong or for there to be tons of awkward moments. With all of this combined, there are definite dos and don’ts when it comes to a first date, namely when it comes to location. There are some places — a lot actually — where you really shouldn’t go on a first date, or else you risk having an unhappy, and really awkward, experience. Here are 14 places to avoid going on a first date.

Source: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

In the first episode of the web series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” creator Issa Rae’s character claims that the worse thing anyone can be is black and awkward, simultaneously. Whether that’s true or not is up for debate. But, if Rae’s YouTube views are any indication, awkward Blackness is a more common condition than once thought.

Any awkward girl can tell you, the workplace is ripe with opportunity for the condition to make itself known. Cringe-worthy moments are waiting around every cubicle corner. Fear not. Just because you’re awkward, doesn’t mean your coworkers have to know. Master the scenarios below and you’ll maneuver through the office like a social butterfly.

Scenario #1 – Unexpected Alone Time

You call yourself being a good employee and busting down hundreds of years of stereotypes when you stroll into the conference room on time for your meeting. You find only one other strange soul shares your punctuality. Your thirstiness has been rewarded with being forced to fill silence with a person you never intended to say more than hello to.

Luckily, being a good conversationalist requires good listening skills more than anything. “Most socially confident people deliberately learn specific skills, like understanding the predictable format of a conversation with new people, and focusing on the topic rather than on how one is being perceived,” according to Erika Casriel, writing in Psychology Today. Put the pressure of being entertaining on the other person. Focus on being interested (or feigning interest) in what the other person is saying.

Scenario #2 – Attack of the Personal Space Invaders

You feel like your coworker is getting a little too close for comfort. Or maybe, your boss routinely mistakes your hair for a Shih Tzu that welcomes petting from strangers. We all want to be friendly, but we also all have boundaries that we prefer not be crossed. For your own peace of mind, learn how to put people in their place, nicely.

The key to maintaining personal space is making sure everyone knows where boundaries begin and end. None of your coworkers are mind readers, so bring unacceptable behavior to their attention and let them know why you are asking them to adjust. The trick is to pull off your truth telling pleasantly and firmly. It’s a balance that may take some practice, but a smile goes a long way.

Scenario #3 – Odd Girl Out

You thought you left cliques behind in high school, but your office culture has an established hierarchy, and you are peasant status. Cliques form for a variety of reasons and most of the time they are not malicious. People with similar interests and personalities and those that work in close proximity gravitate toward each other. Don’t take it personally.

One way to penetrate a clique is to take up an interest common to the group. If company kickball isn’t your style, try a one-on-one approach. “If a group of people [isn't] including you, try to develop a relationship with each person individually,” said Julie Jansen, author of You Want Me To Work With Who?. Jansen says people are more open to new friendships when you approach them individually. Instead of tagging along with the group, ask one person to grab coffee with you.

Scenario #4 – F.M.L.

You managed to make it from home to the office without noticing the toilet paper stuck on the back of your pants. Or your boss randomly chooses you as the object of his displaced divorce rage. A truly awkward individual knows that social situations are not always to blame for life’s cringe-worthy moments. Sometimes life conspires against you. When life hands you lemons, make f*** it lemonade.

Humans have a knack for making situations worse by forcing themselves to relive an embarrassing moment over and over. The sooner you let it go and laugh about it, the sooner everyone will move on. Even better, being embarrassed can make people like you more. Researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered that being embarrassed—or even just acting embarrassed—convinces others that you’re more trustworthy.

C. Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City, perfecting living the fierce life at The Red Read. She is at your service on Twitter @CleveInTheCity.

If you have been missing “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” since the season finale where J picked White J as her man, met Donald Glover and got a new crazy boss, then no need to be sad any longer. Creator Issa Rae, who also plays the hilariously awkward J, premiered a trailer for the new season, which is premiering on June 14. In the trailer, Rae recounts season one and all the drama that came with it, but does so in hysterical and lyrical fashion. Her TWA is a bit bigger and her rhymes are still crazy. And in it she also shouts out all the stereotypes of black folks you see on screen that she is not: “Not a basketball wife, not a n***a in a dress, not a sassy fat b***h, not a hot s****y mess, I’m awkward and blaaaaack…” Pharrell then stops in to give her the side eye and make her feel even more awkward. But let me not give it all away. Check out the trailer and let us know your thoughts.

Excited for the new season?

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Photo courtesy of orijinculture.com

After another lengthy wait–I don’t even remember when episode 11 premiered, but I’m pretty sure it was a month ago–”The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl” is back! Sadly, it’s back to debut the season finale of the popular web series, which has had us rolling on the floor laughing, singing the random song, “Booty Shawts,” and coming to terms with our own awkwardness. Director/writer/editor Issa Rae’s web series has garnered a huge following, and we hope to see it back very, VERY soon (just not on television). So to celebrate the season finale premiering tonight, we wanted to take a look back at some of our favorite ABG episodes in all their awkward glory. Be sure to tell us your faves! “Drop dat beat Cece!”

If you haven’t tuned into the web series “The Mis-adventures of Awkward Black Girl” you’re missing out on a hilarious collection of everyday awkward moments that mirror many of the events that take place in almost any black woman’s life, if not any woman’s life in general.  The main character of “J” played by writer, director and actor
Issa Rae, has found a way to relate to the often misunderstood woman who doesn’t live up to neck-swirling, gum-snapping stereotypes that are unfairly associated with black woman. With a cast of characters including a handsome chocolate office crush, a power hungry co-worker and a boss lady whose enthusiasm for black culture is more insulting than it is inspiring, you’ll find it hard to not relate to some of the random situations that take place in a day in the life of J.

As a tribute to this popular series that makes a sarcastic comment on what it means to be black and awkward, I’ve put together a list of situations that will just never ever be comfortable even if you’re cooler than an ice-cube tray in Siberia.  Because the truth according to our favorite awkward black girl J is, “We’re all awkward in our own way; it’s natural.”