dating
All about dating. First dates, three years into a relationship, Tinder, and more.
Why
I’ll be the first to say it: I’m sick of age gap apologists. I’m sick of people seeing no problem with today’s dating era of ages. I’m sick of people not knowing what legit consent is and what constitutes as "okay," to the point that people have to sit there and explain what the problem is to college age adults and over.
By Jeremy Jett8 years ago in Humans
What It Means to Be in a NSA Relationship
Being in a no strings attached (NSA) relationship is like breaking the rules, but getting away with it. Meaning you're not in a fully committed relationship that only consists of pleasure and excitement. There's no love behind it, not being dedicated to this person, and you can also date other people while having an NSA relationship. That's why many men and women are so into it, but it's not for everyone. Not many people can handle a casual relationship because it's possible to end up falling for this person and that's not what having an NSA relationship is about.
By Rachel Blanchard8 years ago in Humans
A Love Letter
It feels like it was just yesterday that I saw you for the first time. Warm brown eyes filled with life and laughter, you carved your way into my heart and haven’t left since. I cannot imagine loving you more than I do at this very moment and yet I know that in the time to come, I will love you even more. I know that I should probably be weighed down by the intensity of the feelings that I have for you, but never have I felt more complete.
By Rose Fernandes8 years ago in Humans
Saturday Night Bible Study
Who has been dragged to bible study when they where young? We all had to do it, and sometimes it was even fun. Fast forward about ten years. I had just gotten out of a very abusive relationship. I wasn't looking for a new boyfriend. This guy seemed pretty nice, so I had decided I would hang out with him a bit. For a few weeks we would just sit out on my porch and talk. He was easy to talk to. He seemed like a good 'ole country boy. Right down to the dirty cowboy hat. He even had a can of tobacco in his back pocket and called me ma'am. Sounds like the beginning of a cute country movie, right? Wrong! So very wrong.
By Kathleen Williams8 years ago in Humans
My Second Love
The first time I fell in love was utterly disappointing. I don't really think I was ever in "love," at least not the real kind of enduring love. The kind of love that makes you care more about that person and their wellbeing and about how you can support them. No, this love was all about me and what I wanted from it. In the end, it festered and died as he had found someone else to fill the needs that I neglected to.
By Michele Saba8 years ago in Humans
Long Distance
My boyfriend and I have been together for two and half years now. We have the same sense of humour, work well together and both have similar ideas for the future. For me, he is perfect. It has, however, not been all plain sailing. The main problem in our relationship is that there are about one hundred and fifty-three miles between us. Long distance can cause a strain on our relationship. There is not being able to see my boyfriend as much as I would like, as well as the time and money that goes into traveling. But when you are really committed to each other, there are things that make it all worthwhile.
By Charlotte Waugh8 years ago in Humans
Who Picks Up The Bill On The First Date?
So you went out with him after all! Good on ya'. You had a great time, a nice meal, and a lot of "getting to know one another." You order dessert, and you find out he likes chocolate over strawberry. Great. The waiter comes over to your table and leaves a small black tray with a daunting piece of paper on top, and a smile before leaving you to it. Suddenly, only a single question remains: who pays the bill? The man, the woman, or both? Maybe once you’ve been dating for a while, you could agree on what works for you as a couple, but in the early, nerve-racking days, it can be tough to figure out when you've only got mere seconds to decide. Is there a dating formula to determine the right answer here, or some dating etiquette book to check out? A 2015 Sage Journal article breaks this down for us a little bit: over 17,000 heterosexual, unmarried men and women were asked to determine who pays on the first date. Despite the fact that 74 percent of the men and 83 percent of the women report that both members of the couple should contribute to dating expenses after dating for six months, 76 percent of men said they feel guilty when accepting women’s money on the first date. 39 percent of women wished men would reject their offers to pay while 44 percent of women were bothered when men expected women to help pay. Yet even in today's day and age, there still doesn't seem like a solid, right-or-wrong answer to this question, but more so a few general guidelines that are widely accepted when it comes to our dating etiquette.Much of the data in the Sage Journal article states that there is a clear illustration of how people might be resisting or conforming to traditional gender norms. Historically, "dating" was related to the male’s displaying benevolent sexism, dominance, and the ability to fulfill the breadwinner's role during courtship, thus the traditional ideal that the man should pay for the first date and, ideally, for a few more into the relationship. Realistically, it does seem to be the courteous thing to do and suggests a sense of responsibility, stability in his own finances, and the level of enjoyment of his date’s company. Farnoosh Torabi, a female writer for time.com's Money column said in a post from 2014 that, "If I ever insisted on paying my half at the end of a first date when you offered to treat, it may have been because I never wanted to see you again. My persistence to pay was—at best—code for, 'Let’s just be friends'." That being said, there certainly is no reason why a woman shouldn’t offer to pay for a drink before or after dinner or make some other small gesture to contribute towards the date. The key to who pays on the first date is simple: it is a test to showcase how the man handles himself and not how the dollars and cents are divided. Whether the man or woman instigated the date, the man should be prepared to pay first. Can't afford a nice dinner? Try a coffee date, because it shouldn't take an expensive meal to get to know if you can connect with someone. If the woman insists on paying or putting something of her own towards the bill, accepting it with grace instead of immediately allowing them to pay or rejecting them outright will score you more points in the long run—if there is still a chance, that is. Bernardo Mendez of Your Great Life TV states: “If during the course of the first date you decide that you absolutely don’t want to see this guy again, insisting on paying for your half can help you signal more clearly that you’re not open to it.”The trick to it is not to make the cheque scenario awkward when it arrives to your table. An impressive way for a man to handle the bill is to discreetly settle it on his way to the men's room in order to avoid having any conversations about it. Trust me, you'll be MVP of the night with this move, fellas. The important take away from this is to know that paying for a date is more about the person than it is about the money, whether it is the first date, the second date, or the one-year anniversary! Paying for things generally gets easier as the relationship deepens and evolves so it is best to put your focus on the person in front of you rather than in the weight of your wallet. The chivalry at the beginning of a relationship is important, so prioritize this during the first few weeks of dating someone new.
By Delilah Jayde8 years ago in Humans
The Do's and Don'ts of Online Dating
Most people want to have a meaningful relationship with someone, however, "dating" can be a miserable task. First of all, you have to meet someone, then you have to muster up the courage to ask that someone out on a date. If the answer is affirmative, then you get a second helping of worries to deal with as you work to impress this person you want to get to know. If the answer is negative, you will eventually try it all over again with someone else, but you will never quite recover from the crippling pain of rejection.
By Kathryn C. 8 years ago in Humans
