the unmentionables

With just two days left until Adventures In Speed Dating, I have a little confession to make. (I haven't made one in a while, so I'm due, okay?) I haven't ever really done a lot of dating. At least not in this way, in the meet someone at a bar, chat them up, go on a traditional first, second, third, etc., date, learning more about the person as the relationship develops.

Instead, because I've spent most of my adult life in college (and most of that with access to Facebook) I was fairly well acquainted with the vitals of every boyfriend I've ever had well before our official "first date." I've known all the very important things I need to know before I'll even consider letting someone share my air space -- religious preferences, favorite sports teams, bands they love and bands that make them want to gouge their eyes out -- well before I had to decide whether or not I was actually interested in pursuing anything further.

And as we've discussed before, just because you meet a guy in a bar doesn't mean he's not a religious zealot or guarantee he could tell you which sport requires an orange ball and two round goals.

Since I am heinously prone to overthinking just about everything, you can imagine that I have already analyzed every speed-dating strategy for illuminating these types of facts early in the game without seeming like, well, that person. That dreaded person who talks about those two dreaded things you're not supposed to talk about on a first date: religion and politics.

But I wonder if the rules are different in speed dating? After all, I'm sure most people would agree that those two issues can be deal breakers in a relationship -- if I can't eliminate them straight away, I could end up going on four first dates where I find out his dad's a reverend and his mom is the president of the Ladies' Republican Choir.

So here's where you come in. How do I bring up divisive topics like religion and politics in a five-minute date? Or should I broach them at all? I'll also ask you what I asked my Twitter followers today: what one question would you like me to ask every guy I meet Sunday night? It can be funny, serious, embarrassing or a blatant overshare -- do your worst. I'll choose a winner from the entries, and I will live-Twitter the entire experience. You can follow my adventures as they happen Sunday night on Twitter or by staying tuned to the feed on the right-hand side of the page.

cheers,
elizabeth