http://www.quamut.com/quamut/etiquette_and_manners/page/dating_etiquette.html

I cracked up when I happened to land on the article above. Or am I the only one who read it as if some sort of ‘poison control direction’ as opposed to any guide to what is supposed to be fun?

The first thing that occurred to me was that would just scare kids away from dating rather than encouraging them when it is described in that appropriated manner. Later on, though, I just realized that the guide is not meant for teenagers.

I had to ask myself where the impression came from and made out that it is attributed to the objective and the architecture of the article, which seems to be designed for an absolute beginner of dating. Someone who can’t date without an instruction manual to ask someone out, and it is OK to study and prepare to be nice to someone of your interest. Yet, I came to understand this strange anxiety people have about meeting new people. So this kind of writing might be a good epitome of how scary dating can be to those, and imagine the fear and loathing they have about the custom and they still dare to do it.

But the exact line that hit me the hardest was that you have to be clear if you are interested in developing a date into a romantic involvement. This translates that you have to communicate your intention to have sex when allowed, according to what the guide says.

Geese, now I know why I don’t date unless I get paid for it.