Do you believe that the purpose of dating is to find a spouse?

OH GOD. first of all- hey Val! how is the southern belle???

and, the only thing I have to contribute to this convo is, people are fuckin' scary.

then end.

isn't that awful?
I keep my knives close by.

No, the purpose of dating is to meet someone you feel you can establish a life with.

That may take a long time, and it may not be in the form of a spouse.

HAY, LITTLE P! I'm doing well, how are you? Also, I agree that people are scary.

My thoughts on this subject fall much more in line with Centro's than any others so far. I believe dating to be a fun thing that you do as you please, and it may possibly also be a learning experience in discovering the things that you like and don't like in other people and yourself.

That does not seem to be the thinking of many other people that I talk to.

I'm so convinced that may fake boyfriend is "the one". Especially since my "potential" landlord is now my new official landlord, and my old landlord is constantly trying to get me to meet him for lunch somewhere, and my old boss keeps telling me that he's in love with me.
dude, drinking a bottle.5 of wine makes me BARF out the awkward info.
i srsly want to DIE sometimes.

yea, my roots are in nashville, so the fact that I'm not already on my third child makes some of my old friends talk to me like I have mental problems.

Someone said that dating is just like making friends, only there's the possibility of getting laid.

I find this to be a pretty wise option, if you can manage it. Dating, and relationships, really, are one way we find out about ourselves not just other people, and communities are built in all kinds of ways.

I suppose it depends on what you want, yes?

Fuck no.

@val O GIRL I KNOW THAT LOOK. what the fuck is the point of getting married at 23???? ugh

i think that the point of dating, at our age, is to get experience with relationships, to connect with other people, and to better ourselves. i think once you hit 30, yeah, maybe it's to find a life partner.

Having grown up in Alabama, it does seem the urge to marry young is a regional cultural thing.

Being 32, it also seems that getting past 30 changes your perspective on dating a bit.

I think the purpose of dating, like most human interactions, is whatever you want it to be. Finding like-minded people to date though is the tough part.

Hello Val! Long time no see! Do NOT be thinking about marriage at your tender age. Have FUN! Dating is about experimentation... finding out what you like and don't like, want and don't want in a potential "forever" mate. Sure, some of the dates may turn into short term or long term relationships, but it's all about the learning experience you have along the way to meeting "the one". And don't worry, there are many more than one "ones"... I've met at least 4 in my life... am searching for my 5th!

oh goodness no. i date people so that i can create huge tangled webs of emotional madness. i'll find a spouse in the classifieds.

@centro: yeah, roughly. or as my brother told me this morning, i'm a terrible slut. and he's jealous.

GROWNUPPUNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!! OMG, you're back. Thank Jesus.

No, because I go out with some people who I don't think I would want as a spouse. Just not to be alone for even a small amount of time is reason enough to date I think.

The purpose of dating is for Osteocephalic to dole out orgasms like adorably wrapped chocolates. Isn't it?

Well, I suppose there are different schools of thought. While I don't go into every date eyeing dudes up as potential husbands, I figure after date 3 or so I know wether or not I want to spend more time getting to know them. If so, awesome, if not, I don't hate being alone all that much.

The idea of being in a relationship just because it's 'comfortable' and so I can not be alone, makes my skin crawl.

Well there is the "dating" where "Yeah, I went on a date with this guy this weekend, it was fun" and then there is the "dating" where "I've been dating this guy for 4 years."

The first one is absolutely for fun and doesn't have to be for marriage. The second one? Yeah, if you aren't going to get married, should probably drop it. Unless you never plan on getting married at all, which plenty of people do.

@Namrok: See, I still think the latter situation doesn't have to lead to marriage. Why not date someone for years if you're having fun and you love them, even if you don't think you'll get married? Maybe if I were older I would think differently, but at my age? Nah.

This is why I almost never date! Because for the answer is mostly "yes." Although with the occasional provision for "I don't really think we'll work long-term, but honestly who knows, and anyway I really really like you and emotions win out so let's see where it goes for now."

But technically, well. I don't want to bother with dating. I just want to find someone and settle with them dammit. Too bad I'm both too picky and too difficult.

never, and i can't imagine thinking that way. it's not that i actively don't want to get married, because i do, but it's not like... a goal in itself.