Those who have worked in the service industry can usually tell you a few horror stories about first dates.

I once saw a woman ask a waiter if there was a back exit, hand him some money, and beat a hasty retreat, although the guy was about eight drinks deep by that point and didn’t seem much bothered.

With the rise and rise of Tinder, first dates between people who have never met are increasingly common.

You might think you’re decent at picking up signals, but chances are former FBI agent and body language expert Joe Navarro has you beat.

As part of a WIRED series, Navarro focused on dating, and the intentional and unintentional non-verbals we send:

What kind of signs do we show during dates that we don’t even realize? Can we display our affection for someone without even explaining it verbally?

I imagine it would be fun to watch The Bachelorette SA with Navarro – not long now, people who enjoy horrendously cringeworthy South African telly.

Anyway, here are some handy tips on what to look out for, whether you’re the person on the date, or a service industry worker trying to figure out if somebody needs an excuse to get the hell out of there.

[source:wired]