You don’t go on a date with the intention of saying as little as possible. This is not a meeting with the IRS. You need to get to know the person you’re dating, and vice versa. This is not going to happen if you are both cagey and secretive. On the other hand, you are under no obligation, and have nothing to gain, by blurting out every imperfection you have or every indiscretion you have committed.

Be honest about who you are, what views you hold, and your goals in life. You don’t need to talk about that time you got drunk or how you fight a lot with your sister. The later you are in the dating process, the more open you should be. With each date, you should feel ready to share more – so disclosure is also about timing.