Poll: Dating?

[Hat of Controversy]

I've never understood the whole "dating" thing. That is, I've never understood why I should shell out a ton of my hard-earned cash to provide several meals for some spoiled/pampered female just for a "chance" of getting to dive into her nether regions.

Not when I can just spend a little on the occasional "fling" with a more "open" woman (i.e. prostitutes). At least the prostitute or the one-night stand or whatever is more up front and honest about it.

I was just curious as to ya'lls take on the whole dating thing?

And before anyone tries to bring it up - NO! I have never been on a "real" or "formal" date, I have never paid for some female acquaintances meal ticket, and I've never had a girlfriend on account of pretty much all the women I come across are either A) pampered beyond repair B) in possession of a "great personality" but horribly overweight or C) is already in possesion of a child or to old to even really consider (A woman who is almost old enough to be my mom does not interest me. Sorry mom.)

Though I wouldn't mind having a bit of fun with a decent hooker or two.

OMG I'M SO SEXIST!

 

[Marter]

I view dating as an activity to get to know another person, not to get the chance to have sex with them. That's why you do it, at least, that's why I would.

I've been on one "formal" date.

 

[Radeonx]

Why do you date?
To connect with someone on a personal level. That's it, and that is what makes sex better.
Sure, you can get a meaningless prostitute, or you can have sex with someone you have an emotional connection with, which makes it more meaningful.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Yes i go on dates. For me it's a way to get to know a lady and find out what hamsters she has controlling her.

 

[Evilbunny]

Most of the girls I've been out with refused to let me pay for them, although I offered to.

Dating can be fun, you just have to date a nice girl who is fun to be with, that's all. I'm sorry you have such a negative view of it.

 

[child of lileth]

I don't get into serious relationships often, but I date new people semi-often.

As far as money spent on dates goes, even if they offer to pay for everything, I pay for at least my half. I think it's kind of rude for someone to expect anyone they dated for any amount of time to pay for everything though.

Personally, I think you need to just stop looking at it in such a negative way OP. It's not the end of the world to pay like $10 for a few hours (maybe more, maybe less) of conversation, and just to spend time to get to know someone a little better. I mean, the whole first post is nothing but complaining. Not all girls are gonna try to take all of your money or anything.

 

[Mr. McFuzzers]

I try to date often but i've been single for a while now. *sobs*

 

[SniperWolf427]

Nope. I went on a few, but there's too many rules.

I find the best things are just those relationships where it seems to just happen.

Bingo.

"Looking" for a person is such horse shit. Chances are, you'll make a shit ton of mistakes with people you'd prefer to have never been acquainted with. The best way to go is to just chill and you'll bump into someone that you may find yourself capable of caring about.

Oh, and you'll definitely never meet anyone cool if you're just looking to get laid.

 

[AstylahAthrys]

I've been on dates... and I'd kill to go on another one. It's been over a year and I'm getting lonely =(. Also, girls will often offer to pay (at least I always do) and it's not just a chance to get lucky. It's a chance to spend time together and get to know each other. And if you're broke, go cheap. That's especially fine if it's the first date.

 

[Flight]

I'm not interested in relationships right now, so no dates for me.

 

[alittlepepper]

Most of my formal dates these days are with my fiancee, who I met through work (I was working as a bartender at the time, and they were a customer. We hit it off, rest is history). But I enjoy the dates we still go on, it's nice sometimes to set aside a time just specifically to spending time with your date/partner/whatever. It has a specialness to it that someone is specifically altering their schedule to fit in time with you. Plus, it gives you more time to get to know that other person and find stuff that you either like or dislike about them, which is pretty important in a relationship no matter at what stage it sits.

Occasional fights being a sign of a healthy relationship where people voice their problems, of course.

 

[the_bearpelt]

I do have to point out one fatal flaw in your argument: you're assuming that YOU have to pay for the woman's food. Many women prefer to split or pay for it all.
I can't really comment on a man's reasoning behind it because I'm not one, but I know from a woman's perspective that it's (GENERALLY) because they're looking for someone to be close with or looking for a future husband.
I hate to sound weird, but when it gets down to it, most women do think about their date "is he husband material?" or some other relatable question. Women who are interested in getting married, anyways. It's less likely that a woman is trying to get a meal ticket.

For men, I would hypothesis, it depends on what they're looking for. If they're looking for sex, then it's possible they do the dates because they really like a certain woman or because they're morally uncomfortable with one-night stands or prostitutes. If they're looking for a relationship, dating is usually the way you find one.

I have to say, you must not know enough kinds of women, to have that opinion. Either that, or your own perceptions are skewed and you're imagining their "pampered" attitude. If it's the first one, then you just need to meet better women.

 

[The Red Spy]

From how I look at relationships, sex shouldn't be that important (if at all). If you are just going to casually date any person you can, going through the social norms of cheap trinkets & a meal, then you do not care for that person and so why would you bother in the first place?
If all you're after is sex, do whatever you want (within reason), there are 'services' out their for you, but having a working relationship is much more beneficial and so much more fulfilling. A proper relationship, is not based around give and take, you work with each other, you help each other, without the compulsion to get something out of it. Well, that's my ideal.

 

[Outright Villainy]

I don't date. Hanging out seems to work well for me, or going to the cinema.
You know, when it's relaxed and not formal, which just puts this giant barrier up there.

 

[Forgetitnow344]

I date, but the women I date understand that men aren't supposed to pay for everything. Shit's equal.

Equal rights or chivalry. Pick one because you can't have both.

 

[leviathanmisha]

These days I'm pretty much tied down to my boyfriend...but we go out to dinner and stuff, but yeah...I feel like I'm married most days...

 

[skywalkerlion]

Generally when I want to enter a relationship with a girl I like them more than I want to have sex with them. It's because I want to know them and share a life with them as opposed to "What a *****, but at least I bet she's good in bed. You know, a place I likely won't get her in for a good while."

That's why I go for 2 attributes:

1. A nice face
2. A personality I can identify with

I think people going for body first are kidding themselves if they think they'll ever make it into any type of meaningful intimacy, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

EDIT: I agree with The Red Spy completely.

 

[SturmDolch]

I voted no because I have a girlfriend so of course I don't date..? I don't really understand the whole idea of dating, though. I thought I was dating this girl when we went out for dinner and to see movies. Even now I guess we're dating because we still do those things. But apparently that's not dating, that's just hanging out, because she says we should go on dates sometimes, too. This confuses me and when I ask her if what we've been doing isn't dating, she says, "Oh. True!" and laughs. But I'm still bugged by it. Gotta love growing up in a Swiss household in Canada... Hell, most people don't even get engaged anymore there. Here, it's apparently expected that I ask her dad to marry her!

 

[DC1]

When I read those first two sentenced, I lol'd.

The only girl who I want to date is someone who's been my friend, yet she's more content spending her time being fucked by some pint-sized punk who brings absolutely nothing to the table.

 

[Penguinness]

I've never understood the whole "dating" thing. That is, I've never understood why I should shell out a ton of my hard-earned cash to provide several meals for some spoiled/pampered female just for a "chance" of getting to dive into her nether regions.

I think you misunderstand the whole dating thing...