Dating used to be about rules. They've changed over the years - from "good" girls not calling boys to "The Rules" of the 1990s that told us exactly what to do if we wanted to snare a millionaire or otherwise catch the man of our dreams. What I've found most distressing about this whole internet dating thing, aside from dealing with the aforementioned weight gain, is that there are no rules. Everyone has tips and suggestions - but there's no Excel file with everything laid out for me! No rules! How will I survive this experiment?
I'll make the rules up myself, based on my experiences and those of my friends.
A few starters:
1 - Don't tell your mother. I don't know about you, but mine would kill me...or follow me on dates to make sure I didn't run off with a sociopath.
2 - Respond to everyone who initiates contact. I know it's not easy for me to step out of my comfort zone and make the first move, so it's only fair to acknowledge those who do make that step.
3 - Rule number 2 does not apply in the case of poor grammar. Everyone makes mistakes, which can be overlooked, but if you don't want to be called "Rose Peddle" one day, make sure your date understands singular vs. plural and homophones.
4 - Make sure you can still squeeze into the outfits in your profile pictures. It is definitely tempting to use older, more flattering pictures, but this will only bite you in the ass when meeting someone for the first time.
5 - Men are hunters. Let them hunt. ARGH!
Additional rules to be determined - What is the best timeline for initial contact to meeting in person? When do you take communications outside the online dating tool? When can you be alone with new dates? Do you Facebook stalk them?
So much to think about! Is this experiment over yet? Online dating makes going to the gym look fun!
I need these rules laminated on a little card for my wallet. That or tattooed on my arm for easy access.
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