Posted on 04/05/2011 7:05:29 PM PDT by TheDingoAteMyBaby
Match.com has released the results of a new study examining the dating habits and behaviors of the 105 million single adults in America. One third of the population of the United States is single, and this means the dating process involves people from all age groups, backgrounds and personal beliefs. The study involved 5,000 singles from around the country to discover the real procedures and rules of dating in this day and age.
The results show that while traditional dating rules are still followed, other changes have occurred. New developments like social networking tools and online dating have made it commonplace to “friend” a potential date as a way to signal interest. Post-date communication is often handled through texting instead of a phone call, and young singles tend to avoid contact if they aren’t ready for a second date. Older singles are entering the online dating game, but they are more cautious of meeting someone they’ve connected with through a website.
Women and men both still feel that men should take the initiative to ask for a date, but 41% of women are comfortable with picking up the check for a first date. A third of both genders agree that you can measure the chemistry and connection between two people within 15 minutes, but only 12% would actually leave at that point in the date. Half of all women surveyed still want men to make the call after a first date, but only 6% of men are doing so within the first 24 hours.
64% of daters feel that post-date communication can be handled through emails and texts, but 80% still think phone conversations are best. Men introduce dates to their friends much sooner than women do, regardless of the age of the singles.
Except for meeeee. ;D
Well, I am a middle-aged, single woman living in a metropolitan area. Most people would describe me in the terms you used - mellow, polite and so forth. I don’t have any ex-boyfriends, ex-lovers, ex-husbands or children.
My baggage seems to be my lack of baggage. What I mean is, it’s pretty odd to be in your mid-thirties and have never had a boyfriend/girlfriend or any kind of dating experience.
You’re on. Thanks, and best of luck.
Well if I may say...
You’ve got a great username.
(But, I’m sure you hear that every day)
;-)
Maybe I’m jaded or weird but these alleged changes seem mostly superficial to me.
Heh!
That’s totally alien to me as I haven’t watched a TV in about four years now.
Quite liberating.
Well, it may not be common, but it certainly shouldn't be damning for you.
It could be worse. I was told straight up by a serious GF that "back in the day", I would have been WAYYY too straight-laced for her. One night, she had too much to drink and laughingly blurted out that she "never had any use for guys like me" when she was younger. Of course, she realized what a "great guy" I was (with a good job and a couple of houses, of course) and let me know that; "See, the nice guy DOES win the girl in the end!" Of course, "winning" meant that I was selected to pick up all of the baggage that I mentioned in the earlier post.
I broke it off, found a straight-laced, decent, and wonderful woman without all of the baggage and drama, and married her. Yep, the Nice Guy does win the girl. I made sure of it.
(high five)
You know someone writes an article about how dating has changed forever, about every ten years or so. The more it changes, the more it stays the same.
And despite all that, you aren’t the least bit bitter.
LOL, it burnt my arse. Ain't gonna lie, FRiend.
True, many women will date the thug at 20, marry the nice family man at 30, and complain that their husbands are boring. I for one don’t share the attraction to bad boys; I suspect it’s rooted in father issues.
I think we’ve all been there.
I didn’t know Freepers had a singles list?
Interesting thread as what seems to be ‘change’ on how dating is appraoched and maintained when it’s really a matter of what form of communication is used....which isn’t a change really since eventually you do meet and you communicate in person.
As for internet dating sites....really not different from the newspaper ads once used it appears. I’ve never visited them for that reason. Had a friend who would answer those ads and agree to meet at a mall or public place. She would hide out til they showed up but never revealed herself to the likes of those she saw. Total waste of time she said, and eventually met a fellow thru a friend, married and very happy.
I hear far too many men and woman complain about married life...... Another reason to remain single.
Good for you!
I did meet my last mate that way, though. We were together for about eight years, but that ended about three years ago.
I now figure my final glide bath is so steep, there is not much point in circling around in search of a co-pilot.
Talk about a blast from the past!
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