Wednesday, October 11, 2006
On Dating
What is a date? What constitutes a date?
Damnit, I really don't care to write about dating. It is interesting that courtship used to revolve around the home, and in the 1920's, calling turned into dating, and moved away from the home into a more public sphere.
I wonder if people really date anymore. It seems like our culture looks down on dating and wants people to strike straight to the heart, and go for love, that one true love, the fairy tale love. Dating, to me, is casual. It's like a friend with slight privileges. Dating does not mean, necessarily, monogamy, and it certainly does not mean sex, unless that sex is really casual.
When a couple begins to plan their future together, then the relationship becomes something else, something grander, and something with responsibility to the other. What is this called? Not sure.
Are there rules for courtship? I suppose there are some rules, although they are often in flux and not entirely set in stone. For example, the man is no longer required to pay, although as a gesture, this is a good thing, unless, of course, your dating partner is an outspoken feminist, then you should suggest a "dutch date," and impress her with your progressiveness in that way. You should, in most cases, I believe, kiss on the first date. If you do not, it might be construed as a lack of interest, or if you're male, that you're gay, neither of which are desirable if you with to continue the romance.
What is a date? What constitutes a date?
Damnit, I really don't care to write about dating. It is interesting that courtship used to revolve around the home, and in the 1920's, calling turned into dating, and moved away from the home into a more public sphere.
I wonder if people really date anymore. It seems like our culture looks down on dating and wants people to strike straight to the heart, and go for love, that one true love, the fairy tale love. Dating, to me, is casual. It's like a friend with slight privileges. Dating does not mean, necessarily, monogamy, and it certainly does not mean sex, unless that sex is really casual.
When a couple begins to plan their future together, then the relationship becomes something else, something grander, and something with responsibility to the other. What is this called? Not sure.
Are there rules for courtship? I suppose there are some rules, although they are often in flux and not entirely set in stone. For example, the man is no longer required to pay, although as a gesture, this is a good thing, unless, of course, your dating partner is an outspoken feminist, then you should suggest a "dutch date," and impress her with your progressiveness in that way. You should, in most cases, I believe, kiss on the first date. If you do not, it might be construed as a lack of interest, or if you're male, that you're gay, neither of which are desirable if you with to continue the romance.
