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    How to Be a Kinder, Gentler Break-Upper

    When breaking up with someone after one or a handful of dates, remember that it's not just Blanche who depends on the kindness of strangers. So here's how to be a little bit nicer about the fact that you don't, actually, want to embark on a beautiful relationship with them: Be specific about the qualities you admire in them (e.g. their excellent taste in domestic beer, their mad poker skills), and very general about those that make a relationship impossible (avoid mentioning that you could never be seen in public with someone who wears Docksiders). Blame it on a lack of chemistry or click -- being dumped is never quite as painful when you can chalk it up to "chemistry."

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