The Vagaries of Dating The Vagaries of Dating

I took the back way home a couple months ago, and drove right by the School for the Blind as hey were loading into their limos for prom. They were hot. I mean, all of them. Girls, guys... all of them looked like movie stars. I was stunned.

i am outraged - i don't come here to be insulted

''as for public space, a friend of mine just got back from paris and she says the rules are very different there - the street, public transport, the park, anywhere really, are all seen as acceptable domains for the pursuit of 'dates'''

how nice. I'm definetely in the wrong side of the channel.

As far as the tube/park/ anywhere but bars: I don't think there is a a definite ans on the question of 'can you even ask?'. I think some girls might be ok with handling a situation like that whereas could be offended if someone asked. that's the way i'd think abt it but i've never done it. But that's the kind of thing that gives the fear.

i know i was being fatuous but thats the one i was after

Dick,
There ain't much sw activity around O'Hare. I would check Mannheim between Belmont and North, there are occasional wsw's on that stretch in the early AM. Take a drive into the apartment area just north of Grand on the west side of Mannheim, I think that's where they come from. Albeit rare, but I usually see one once every couple weeks around there. Never the same one though.

I never get to Maywood, but I've heard that St. Charles Rd has some frequent bsw activity. (east of 1st Ave?).

But if I were asking for help, I'm sure this would not be helping.

however, it can be a bit creepy if people are too lecherous on the tube or bus. just smile at someone first, to see if they're even interested in making eye contact.

If N. didn't consistently use this line, he would never date.

Meaning he does date? But you've always insisted otherwise.

Like I say, fingers burnt myself, hope it's someone else mate.

in what way is victoria to stokie a heart?

i. one-way system at victoria
ii. hyde park corner roundabout
iii. one-way system at piccadilly
iv. one-way system at hackney central
v. lea bridge roundabout

i, iii and iv are all heart-shaped, more or less (well less, really, but not as less as a roundabout is)

(also i + iii + iv = 8 which is the shape of two hearts forever intertwined)

I can never quite think of what to say.

''however, it can be a bit creepy if people are too lecherous on the tube or bus. just smile at someone first, to see if they're even interested in making eye contact.''

I have never seen anyone ask or try to chat up someone on the tube or bus. has anyone?

a friend of mine got picked up in a parking lot. it was her apartment parking lot, and the guy lived there too, and they ran into each other and made small talk a couple of times before he asked her out though. that sort of scenario could be creepy though, especially at night.

500 posts by tomorrow morning on this plz.

I need a specific form of words to convey 'Am I your girlfriend or not' but not those exact words. And I need them not to scare the person off. I'm not planning to use them yet but keep them in abeyance for the right moment.

Why does it matter?

I'm not asking that facetiously, I'm wondering which part of girlfriendness you wish to ascertain your right to - and then ask that question instead.

Like, "Is this exclusive?" or "Is this short-term, or are you thinking longer?" or "Is this just sex, or is this emotional?"

OK, maybe those questions are even worse than "Am I yr girlfriend or not." But perhaps you could think which part of girlfriendness is important to you, and ask yourself if those needs are getting met or not.

i think i overheard a coupla college kids out on a coffee date the other night, i'm not sure. it didn't sound very romantic, more like they were reviewing their sexual and drug use histories to determine whether they would sleep together

#figuringOutHowToLive

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLvMpBnVEAA5piw.png

makes u think

A research scientist at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction couldn't possibly be wrong about that, what with that classy Oxford comma and everything.

So like three weeks ago I was at a cafe, sitting next to v attractive and interesting woman who was on a date with some dude. I kept wistfully thinking "why can't I meet people like that", but then a week ago I saw her on OkCupid and immediately messaged her, and now am about to meet her this evening. Anyways, I'm not sure if telling her this story at some point (like, not immediately) would come across as a) totally endearing or b) totally creepy.

maybe after you marry her

I would very much like to know what became of EDB!

As shitty as dating via dating apps is, attempting it without one is a trial all its own. I've been "out" twice with this girl I had met before via shared interests but never really hung out with properly, took a chance and asked her to a film event (I know movies tend to make for the shittiest dates but it's the most obvious mutual touchstone as she has an advanced degree in film studies), a nice time was had but no firm followup plans were made, nor any outright overtures I could detect. Then we met up a second time a couple of days back - another movie, followed by drinks and about three hours of the most engaging conversation I'd had in a long time. On the way home (same direction), there's slightly more intimacy, but was it just the cocktails? Years of singlehood teaches you to doubt every potential sign. Anyway we have plans to catch Let the Sunshine In but it'll probably take at least two weeks since has a busy night-work schedule and I might lose my mind in the interim.

this sounds very promising! just chill out and stop using words like 'touchstone' imo

you have and may continue to do cool things together! let the intimacy take care of itself

yeah I guess I shouldn't be so neurotic about it, it's just a natural side effect of not doing any real dating for basically a decade

this sounds nice! ride the wave imo, wherever it leads seems like it'll be a good place

EDB is ed b. iirc?

this sounds nice! ride the wave imo, wherever it leads seems like it'll be a good place

ime this is never the case but I earnestly appreciate the optimism!!

The ending of Let the Sunshine In should be a good lead in for drinks on a 3rd date.

Good luck Simon. sounds positive

you can do it simon.

Go Simon!!!

I had a stellar day with a lady Friday and I look forward to the next time. I’m patient and not pushing things too hard but I take it as a good sign that she stayed up with me from early afternoon to midnight /)

I am about to tell you an epic tale about subterfuge, dating in the 21st century and the fall of human civilization. This actually happened to me and it could happen to you too. Get some popcorn. *Thread*

— миша (@bvdhai) August 19, 2018

completely nuts

PS my thing went nowhere lol

saw that earlier via max tundra retweeting an ilxor, which felt weird

Max Tundra is extremely online

Emily Witt writes well on Feeld, online dating during and post- pandemic, with a couple of lines on Roe. All pretty well handled.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/feeld-dating-app-sex

Though it could've been better if someone from The Queer community wrote it but that's not The New Yorker.

Nothing is enjoyable anymore.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/22/is-housing-crisis-killing-romance-modern-dating-jane-austen

Obviously it's all very middle-class. Partners can't get out of abusive relationships due to scarcity of a safe, affordable space. But you can see this stuff extending through society.

this has been "a thing" in the SF Bay Area for quite a while. ... the article definitely has that middle class focus, (to the point where I lost patience with it) but the housing crisis/relationship "stuck-ness" is harder on poorer people.

It's another category of gofundme campaign now ... along with "help pay medical bills" ... that is a clear example how broken "the system" is.

Sarahell otm. Of course everything is harder on poorer people, and one still hears the standard advice "well, then don't be poor."

Yeah I couldn't finish that piece either.