Well, look who just popped open a fresh can of venom.

Xander ,'Empty Places'


Natter 58: Let's call Venezuela!  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Nora Deirdre - Apr 11, 2008 8:10:39 am PDT #1146 of 10001
I’m responsible for my own happiness? I can’t even be responsible for my own breakfast! (Bojack Horseman)

Weekend- working on an annotated bibliography. Hanging out with Tom and Taz. Not going to Columbus.


msbelle - Apr 11, 2008 8:32:10 am PDT #1147 of 10001
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

I did not and do not plan on reading the MARRY HIM article, but I have read the snippets here and the comments.

I often say how the idea of having to share decision making for my life with another adult does not interest me at all, but this..

I decided to have a child on my own and now I wish I had a partner to share the brute labor of child care, so I am all sour grapes.

has been my mindset more than once in the past year.

Despite what I said above, I think I would like being in a relationship, but I don't want to have to go looking for one and I kinda hate meeting new people, so I also realistically know it is not on the horizon. I also do not mind being single. If space were not such an issue in New York, I would seriously consider looking for a room & board for childcare assistance person.


DavidS - Apr 11, 2008 8:39:04 am PDT #1148 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Little League this weekend. Practice on Saturday, game on Sunday. Emmett's arriving after midnight on Saturday so he should be a limp puddle of protoplasm behind the plate.


bon bon - Apr 11, 2008 8:41:44 am PDT #1149 of 10001
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.

And although I don't think anyone should "settle," you gotta be careful of lists and ideals, especially the first few weeks.

This. The part in the article about living with someone you don't like just in order to share chores is kind of ridiculous. But I think it's a good point that when you find someone who is good for you, you will worry that you're settling. The person you love is not going to be someone you will want to proudly introduce to the 17-year-old you, because 17-year-old you thought you were going to marry Prince William. It makes me kind of crazy when real-life single friends dismiss guys because they are different from the romantic ideal. So to the extent the article is trying to urge not doing that, I agree.

On the other hand, I think most women easily get over the settling thing, and if you're single and looking it's probably not because you're crazy or unrealistic.


§ ita § - Apr 11, 2008 8:56:30 am PDT #1150 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

There aren't just pre-electronic, they're pre-electric, calculators.

Isn't that an abacus?

Didja look? It's all about the gears, baby--steampunk all the way.

The last guy I turned down was months and months ago, and I demurred because he wasn't interesting. I don't consider that to be something to settle on--the only thing that separated him from the pack was that he found me interesting. Was the converse too much to ask? I have been told that, yes, it is too much to ask. But I'd like to keep my self respect. It could come in handy down the road sometime.

I can't remember the last time I even thought about a romantic ideal as being applicable to my life.

So to the extent the article is trying to urge not doing that, I agree.

Very little extent, though. Mostly it's about sleeping with your childcare provider.


Jessica - Apr 11, 2008 9:01:58 am PDT #1151 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

And although I don't think anyone should "settle," you gotta be careful of lists and ideals, especially the first few weeks.

I think it depends on what the red flag is, and how much it matters to you to be a part of a couple. Unreasonably high standards are only unreasonable to the point where they're making you more miserable than the alternative.


lisah - Apr 11, 2008 9:02:17 am PDT #1152 of 10001
Punishingly Intricate

Was the converse too much to ask?

SERIOUSLY!! It really shouldn't be!!! ugh


msbelle - Apr 11, 2008 9:05:20 am PDT #1153 of 10001
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

when I had an eharmony account, anyone that I agreed to an initial date with would get at least 3 dates if:

- they asked for at least every other date - they did not make me feel physically unsafe - they did not offend me

lowest standards ever and I only had a third date with 1 guy.


sumi - Apr 11, 2008 9:09:28 am PDT #1154 of 10001
Art Crawl!!!

Man, the temperature has dropped more than 10 degrees since this morning.


bon bon - Apr 11, 2008 9:10:06 am PDT #1155 of 10001
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.

I think potentially misleading red flags could be looks, or other physical characteristics; job and income; interests; beliefs; sophistication and education. I think wanting to spend time with the other person is a non-negotiable, real red flag. Most of the other stuff you will get over if the latter is there.