Poll: Do You Date?

[Blood Brain Barrier]

Dating is outdated. There's so many ways of finding out about people nowadays, at least in the modern West.

It does depends what you consider a date though. My current gf and I went out for coffee as friends would once or twice, then an informal round of drinks, then eventually her place. I wouldn't call any of those dates, at least I didn't think of them as that at the time.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

In the traditional sense, no because I'm no longer courting. Happily married. But technically we do have "date-nights", so that may count. But in my view its not the same, rather a foundational upkeep that we do for each other. In this economy though its not easy to go out.

 

[Dr. Thrax]

I haven't bothered dating and probably will continue to not bother, being gay and living in the Bible Belt of the US kinda works against you.
Once I saw all the bullshit relationship drama that was going on during middle and high school I threw my hands up and said "Fuck no! Ain't nobody got time fo' that!" and have avoided dating like a plague. I'd much prefer good friends and casual sex.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I don't really do it much, since I've got no one right now. When I did though, it was alright. I'd rather go and just hang out more than date, to be honest.

 

[thisbymaster]

Dating is an interesting thing. If you are still only seeing each other after the 3rd date something is wrong. The girl I currently have, we had about 1/2 a date before inviting herself back to my place and throwing me on my bed. Then after getting started told me she was shy and walked out.

 

[Yuno Gasai]

I have an online dating account. It's pretty dormant nowadays, but I still check it occasionally.

I do date. I quite enjoy it, actually - though I haven't had much luck, to be honest. I see dating as an excellent opportunity to get to know someone, with varying degrees of success (depending on how compatible the two of you are, whether or not you reciprocate each other's affections, etc).

I particularly enjoy the awkward or unusual dates because they make for excellent anecdotes. I went on a date where we went to the aquarium together and were stopped by a rather forward photographer who apparently assumed we were already an item because he was asking us to pose as though we were married and/or about to "get busy" in the bedroom. It was one of the most awkward experiences of my life, but it broke the ice, and it made for an excellent story!

The only issue I have with dating now is that it means different things to different people. Some will assume that if you go for a coffee date with them, you shouldn't attempt to go on a date with anyone else because it's unfair to them. Others believe you're free to date as many people as you like providing you haven't already agreed to be mutually exclusive. I think it's important to try and establish what 'dating' entails with someone before you agree to go on/date them, regardless.

When I'm actually in a relationship, I still like to go on dates - but with my partner, of course. They allow for a change of scenery and let you share new experiences together. How can that be bad?

 

[mitchell271]

Yeah, I've dated. I'm not currently but I'm hoping to change that soon as there's a girl I like and I think I'm getting some sort of reciprocated feeling back. I've had a handful of girlfriends, and I've noticed the first three dates going almost the exact same every time.

Date 1
Dinner in a nice restaurant and talk about anything and everything. Could be about work, school or any interests at all. I've heard horror stories of incredibly awkward first dates, but I've only ever dated people that started as friends first. Hopefully this new one isn't awkward because we're only acquaintances.

Date 2
Day-time date walking around downtown. Just hanging out like friends except still somewhat more intimate as it's possibly the beginning of a relationship. Now that I think about it, it's as if the purpose is to get to really know the other person and figure out if I'd want to be with them.

Date 3
Homemade dinner followed by half of a movie on the couch. You know what I mean

 

[Riot3000]

I picked the forever alone option because yay me.

Seriously though I barely ever date and at first I thought that was personal failing but now I am starting to care less and less. I have had great relations with many cool gals and made some life long friends so I feel grounded in that. I take a appreciate what you have vs a focusing on what I don't have approach maybe to a delusional level. LOL

I am well aware of the stigma, shame and pity that comes up from this option but I will live with my choice as it doesn't harm anyone.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I try to get dates, I've been on a few. I'll get there eventually.

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

I used to date, but it's been a long enough time that the "not anymore" option seemed appropriate.
I contracted a wonderful little disease known as herpes, and since then women tend to reject me with an alarming frequency, it's been like, 2 years since I last "dated" anyone, and that was the last of a dozen or so rejections due to my condition, I don't think I'll ever be able to find anyone that way, so, dating, not really my thing anymore... If a relationship grows out of something else, cool, if not, whatever, not like I can choose who wants me, I'd just rather not be where I'm not wanted, and apparently anywhere near a woman who is aware of my herps, is one of those places, so I'll just try to be content with female friends who don't know, and try the whole, being alone in bed till I die thing.

 

[persephone]

I've only ever been in one relationship, and we went out on a "proper" date all of once. It was awful. Granted, the relationship had its problems and didn't last, and it might've been quite nice with someone else, but I've got the data I've got.

I don't date anymore, though; I consider dating to be a sort of grand investigation for marriage, and I've concluded, for various reasons, that I'm pretty darn sure I don't want to get married. So, dating would be a bit silly.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I used to date, but it's been a long enough time that the "not anymore" option seemed appropriate.
I contracted a wonderful little disease known as herpes, and since then women tend to reject me with an alarming frequency, it's been like, 2 years since I last "dated" anyone, and that was the last of a dozen or so rejections due to my condition, I don't think I'll ever be able to find anyone that way, so, dating, not really my thing anymore... If a relationship grows out of something else, cool, if not, whatever, not like I can choose who wants me, I'd just rather not be where I'm not wanted, and apparently anywhere near a woman who is aware of my herps, is one of those places, so I'll just try to be content with female friends who don't know, and try the whole, being alone in bed till I die thing.

Oh dude. I was going to post something witty and shit, and then I saw your post.

Makes everything people say seem like so much entitled whining.

Best of luck to you, mate. I hope life stops shitting on you so much.

 

[Alarien]

My wife and I have a 3 year old.

Do we date?...

NO

We have more important things to do that date... LIKE RAISE a FUCKING 3 YEAR OLD.

Sex and dating are not equal.

I hope to continue my love affair with my wife despite the fact that WE... HAVE A KID.

 

[Julius Terrell]

I would if I can find someone willing to actually date me.

 

[kickyourass]

I would like to, but literally every single person that I am interested in is taken and rather happy about it, so that takes romantic relations of any kind off the table for the foreseeable future.

 

[The_Echo]

I don't like the idea of dating. It feels really... locked-in and formal, I guess. Even if it's just dinner and a movie, I'd really rather call it hanging out with a girl than being on a date with her.

Dates carry certain connotations, which I think make the atmosphere a little too expectant of certain behaviors when I'd really rather just have fun and not worry about whether or not she's the type of lady who wants me to open a door for her.

I think spending time with someone allows a natural bond to be formed (if possible) and going on a date with someone sort of... forces two ends to meet.

Then again I've never been on a proper date so I'm just talking out of my ass.

 

[NoeL]

I hated the whole dog and pony show of dating, and routinely had to go to places I wouldn't normally frequent to engage in a social ritual I don't particularly like.

That's not really what dating is. Dating is spending time, often in the form of some activity, usually in a public place, with someone you're interested in getting to know more and engaging in a romantic relationship with. Alternatively, it's doing those things with somebody you're already in a relationship with. If you and your gf decided to go check out a movie together, or go to an aquarium or something - those are dates. You don't need to dress up and go to a fancy restaurant for it to be considered a date.

Anyway, OT: Yes I date. As a recent example, yesterday I met a girl I'd been talking to online. I went to her place and we played Nintendo for a few hours. That was a date (admittedly a rather pathetic date, but a date nonetheless).

 

[A.A.K]

Since I got back into Uni in July, end of July/early August, till last week, I've had something like 12 or 13 dates across 8 different women..

Never worked out for one reason or another. I didn't flinch when a dog got hit by a car and was ripped in half...or the woman I was seeing had a boyfriend (which I didn't find out till I received an unpleasant phone call a week after the 2nd date), or I simply couldn't stand being around her when she wanted to tell me her opinion on something...etc.

Recently however I decided not to pursue a relationship for a while. Done with having women eat my money and shit out headaches.

 

[Bat Vader]

I am 25 soon to be 26 and I have never once been on a date. Honestly, it doesn't bother me all that much. I prefer all the alone time that I can get so I feel that dating or being in a relationship would just be a bother to me.

 

[smithy_2045]

I've maybe been on 1 date in my life, and even classifying that as a date is a tad dubious. I haven't tried a great deal to court a companion though, so that's a significant factor in the lack of dating.