If we can't establish if a second date would be welcome while on the date, then the only reason for a phone call is to ask me out again. Really no reason to call and say your not interested for any reason.

Of course, but haven't you ever had it established on one date that a subsequent date would be welcome (by both of you) only to have it never occur? The phone call would be preferable, to me. I never needed a reason. A distinct lack of "I'll call you," or "We should get together this weekend," while on the date, would have sufficed. If "I'll call you" was said in haste or error, an end to the stringing along also would have sufficed.

There was one blind date, where we were both quite certain after a not-really-pleasant hour, that it's completely not working. He said it, I agreed with him, and we ended up spending an hour later in chatting and whining about dating. It was the most pleasant hour-in-a-date I've had in a long time.

The fun came in once the pressure was off.

For instance, I was thinking about how many Buffistas IM each other, call each other, etc. There are boards where I've been a regular poster for a really long time and I can only think of 2 people I've ever been able to make that leap with. I'm always afraid to ask for anyone's contact info because I'm afraid they'll think I'm prying.

It's a hard line to walk. I figure here, people who really don't want to be contacted will opt for their addresses to not be available from their profile.

You're just shifting where the information exchange takes place.

The best of that isn't a conversation, though. After a just-okay first date (and most of mine have been from online dating, so blind), a hand shake and "nice meeting you" or whatever is clear enough.

After a just-okay first date (and most of mine have been from online dating, so blind), a hand shake and "nice meeting you" or whatever is clear enough.

What do you do after the second date? Or the fourth?

You're just shifting where the information exchange takes place.

yep. if we can't read each other or say what we mean in casual - having a conversation - ways and need to have a phone call to then clarify or formally establish interest or intent, then I want no part of it. so not natural for me.

What next an engraved invitation when sex is desired?

There was a guy I was messing around with in college. It was heading toward sex and he kept asking me over and over and over if I was sure and really sure and did I want to do this and eventually I had enough and walked away, cause either he wasn't sure or was too mamby pamby for me.

I can't remember the last time I went on a date that I knew was a date.

So, again, I guess, the more "framed" way of things can help here, at least to minimize the bitter.

However, it prevents in way more cases than not the possibility of anything other than a blind-date, which is by definition awkward, uncomfortable and an artificial way to meet a new person. Ups and downs to everything, I guess.

So how common is it for people to say "meh, why bother?" to the whole looking-for-somebody thing?

Again, I'm probably looking at this whole subject through different glasses than almost every other person who posts here (well, yeah, my actual glasses are right on my nose and not across the ocean), but since the society I live in puts such an emphasis on finding an SO (and later having a family), it's considered nearly not-an-option to not bother.

However, I've seen friends of mine, who are just tired of the whole process, take breaks, long breaks, from looking. I've never dared to (of course, I had been forced to have breaks, when I was dateless, but I didn't actively choose not to date).

The fun came in once the pressure was off.

I'm not sure that was it. I think he wanted to check the truth behind some of the "myths about girls" that he's heard over the years. It was funny. Also, trying to see him find nice and polite ways to tell me that I'm complicated and difficult. He ended up saying things like "a high soul", whatever that means. I just liked seeing things through the "other side"'s eyes, I guess.

I'm fine with the guy going away and thinking about the first date and deciding maybe not and telling me so. Just like I'm fine with the idea of me doing that too.

I really don't like the idea of ignoring e-mails, ever. Perhaps that's because I only do it when I'm askeered of dealing, or too het up.

The two times I've met people from an online dating site, it wasn't a date, and it was clear that afterwards there wasn't going to be a date. One guy I became friends with, the other I never contacted again. They were just meetups. So I have no context there.

What is this "dating" thing you speak of?

I haven't been on a date in so long I have no idea how they work, anymore.

I haven't been on a date in so long I have no idea how they work, anymore.

They generally don't from what I am reading here. Best to avoid them.

What do you do after the second date? Or the fourth?

I don't think I've ever had a second date that didn't turn into a Thing. I've had very few second dates.

I'm fine with the guy going away and thinking about the first date and deciding maybe not and telling me so. Just like I'm fine with the idea of me doing that too.

Once again, I'm ita.

I really don't like the idea of ignoring e-mails, ever.

And again.

The two times I've met people from an online dating site, it wasn't a date

And then I'm not.

I haven't been on a date in so long I have no idea how they work, anymore.

I'm trying to keep being on them, and still I have absolutely no idea how they work.