Rant on Dating

(photo of Nannie by Heidi Brackett)

Hello everyone! My best friend (one of them) Nannie just posted this on her Facebook, and I think it's so good that it needs to be shared. In my opinion most people have the wrong idea about dating, which is why it seems to be much harder than it should be. Go Nannie!

My Rant on Dating
by NannieKate

Ok, so I was just talking to this kid about dating and now I'm thinking about it a lot and I have lots of opinions about dating and I want to get them clear and organized for everyone to see so when people ask me why I don't date I can tell them to look on facebook. It will be much easier this way.

Surprisingly I do get asked the question "why don't you date" a lot. The short answer is this: Because I don't get asked.

The long answer is this:

• Dating is not hanging out. Hanging out is informal usually with a group and requires no effort. You don't need to look nice, smell nice, or be nice. It doesn't matter what your doing or anything. Its just there. Blah.

• Dating needs to have the three P's: Planned, Paid for, Paired off. When I say paid for I dont think that it should be expensive, if it is that might make me feel uncomfortable even. There are plenty of inexpensive date ideas. This also comes from Elder Oaks talk. you can view it online https://new.lds.org/ensign/2006/06/dating-versus-hanging-out?lang=eng I pretty much Love this talk everyone should read it. It is very insightful!

• Dating requires effort! When ever I get ready for a date I really get ready. I try to look as good as I can for whatever it is we might be doing. And I like getting ready! It makes me feel pretty and like I'm doing a little something to impress whoever I'm going out with. I dont just throw on a tee shirt and jeans and hope my mascara isn't smearing. I can wear that hanging out but dating is a little more upscale.

• To go on a date they guy needs to have enough courage to ask the girl out. Formally. A text message will not do. A phone call is ok but in person is best. It doesn't have to be awkward and there is no need to get all tongue tied about it. Your not asking her to bare your children. Your asking her to spend a few hours with you. Not a huge deal. And the girl could ask the boy. Still not a huge deal.

• Dating on campus isn't casual. Dating her on campus is hanging out and then becoming a couple. Obviously I don't consider hanging out to be dating so that won't work for me and I don't really want to be in a committed relationship with anyone. We all know that committed relationships only end two ways.

• I don't date because I'm not looking to get married. I'm attending a church school. There is that huge stereotype about getting married and you know why its there: because its true. Holy crap so many people on campus are married or getting married. I really don't want to be married yet. So if I don't date my chances of getting married soon drop dramatically. I like that. Thanks I like being single.

Now all that being said I am not against dating. I do want to date casually. I like dating. I find it rather fun. And it boosts myself confidence. But I like dating in my way and no one else seems to get that. Either way if posting this gets me real date or if this is just sent out into the abyss I'm not at college to date. I am here to learn and earn a degree.

Dating could make it a little more interesting though.

:D