The Bad Date. If you spend enough time dating people that you've met online, it's eventually going to happen to you. You'll get there and as soon as you see that the guy looks completely different from the pictures he'd shared, you know that it's not going to work. Or the girl starts to talk and you rapidly realize that your personalities are absolutely incompatible. But you're a nice person and you don't want to be rude. How do you make your exit without being mean?

Here are some tips for ending a bad first date early:

• Give it a chance. Don't write the person off in the first few minutes. You're nervous, the other person's nervous, things could get better. Remember, this doesn't have to be your life partner; it could just end up being a friendship so be open.

• Try to end the date. If the date is just plain awkward, simply say that you're tired and want to call it an early night. Chances are, the other person feels the same way that you do about the date so they're going to get out of there quickly.

• Look for a break as a good time to leave. You planned lunch and then a walk; after lunch, say that you're going to skip The Walk. Or you planned a movie and drinks; skip the drinks. Most people know what this means but take less offense than if you just leaving immediately.

• Be honest. If you've given it a chance and you know that it's not going to work out, be honest. If you think you want to be friends, say so. If you don't think you want to be anything, be as honest about that as you can without being cruel. Most people would rather hear the truth than be confused about what's going on between the two of you.

• White lies. If honesty isn't your cup of tea, white lies are the next best route. Say that you don't think you're ready to date after all. Say that you just had a great date the night before and want to explore that. Something that makes it about you and not the other person. (Just make sure that they aren't going to stalk you online to check your story!)

How do you end a bad date? Have you ever had anyone do something really awful to get out of a date with you?

Learn additional dating escape tips from Michael Matkin

• Post-Valentine's Date Ideas
• Userplane Chat and Instant Messaging Launched on Date.com
• Too Broke to Date?
• Date #2 Rule of Thumb
• The Barrier: Moving Your Date from Cyberspace to Real Space
• Online Service Promises Safer Date
• Make a Date With a Computer and a Dog
• Crazy Blind Date
• Bringing Gifts on a First Date
• Ex's Don't Make Good First Date Conversation