Member-only story
A Dating “Rule” that Actually Makes Sense
It’s actually about respect, not manipulation
Confessions of a Social Butterfly
I love to date. Let’s just put it out there. I think dating is fun. Meeting new people, going to cool places, boosting each others’ egos… what’s not to like?
Back when I was in college, in the Stone Ages, I had an active social life. I had at least 3 dates most weeks and my calendar was booked a month in advance.
“The Rules”
Fast forward a decade. I’m older, not necessarily wiser, and I’m in graduate school. The dating scene has changed. I can’t just go to a frat party and pick up a guy because the undergrads are way too young for me. Heck, even the men in my classes are too young — I worked for a few years before going back to school.
So it’s making it harder for me to date. I complain to a friend. She suggests something called “The Rules”. I pick it up. I read it. I throw it in the trash.
What rubbed me the wrong way about “The Rules”
The book struck me as being manipulative and formulaic. I’m an independent person who thinks dating should be more organic. Where’s the fun in checking off a laundry list or being constrained?
