There are many lonesome people who yearn to meet someone with whom they are compatible and establish either a short-term or long-term relationship. Why? To have fun, start a family, experience good sex, have stimulating verbal intercourse and so on.
However, wannabe lovebirds are often hampered by their location, the nature of their jobs, shyness and low self-esteem. This week, I will unravel the mystery of dating and provide you with the tools for building successful relationships.
Dating is any social activity, undertaken by two or more persons with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as their partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse.
Exclusive dating (going steady): The partners in the relationship are committed to each other and date no one else.Organising dates
Dates are classified as online, speed, group, virtual or singles events.
Internet dating, or online dating, is an activity in which you go to a site on the Internet that's specifically for finding a mate.
Speed dating is a quick way to find a suitable date. Here is how it works:
A group of like-minded individuals meet and arrange to interview each other at a specific location. At the end of the session, every one would have met each other, shared thoughts and exchanged addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and so on. You, as a participant, would then mull over all the persons you have met, then contact the one who piqued your curiosity and make a date.
Cellphone dating
In this instance, text messages are sent by cellphone to the party you are interested in and a date can be arranged subsequently.
Virtual dating
This is a combination of video-game playing and dating. The participants use avatars (a computer user's representation of himself/herself) to interact with each other. This creates a kind of virtual experience, where you meet potential dates.
Singles events
In this instance, singles are brought together to take part in various events such as parties, games, workshops, voluntary activities, etc. for the purpose of meeting new people.
Finding a date
You can find a potential date anywhere if you're friendly, warm and engaging. While strolling down the street, at school, church functions, on the job, at social occasions, fairs, libraries, on the beach, the bus, plane or train, at airports, parks, while shopping, etc.
No-go places for potential dates
Even though this is quite challenging, avoid making dates on the job, at bars, funerals and clubs.
Warning signs of wrong dates
Watch your potential dates' verbal and non-verbal clues, to determine if the attraction is mutual. If you sense that the chemistry is wrong, move on.
Date rape
Regretfully, some dates go sour and I must tell you about the phenomenon called date rape, which is coerced sex between dates, friends or general acquaintances. Rape can be coerced, either physically or emotionally.
In some cases, date-rape drugs are used. These drugs have sedative, hypnotic, and amnesic effects and, when used to facilitate rape, are usually added to a food or drink without the victim's knowledge.
The drugs most often used in date rapes are: Alcohol, the benzodiazepines such as flunizatrazepam called rohypnol or roofies and ruffies, temazepam (restoril), midazolam (Versed), clonazepam (Klonopin), GHB - Gamma hydroxybutric acid and chloral hydrate.
Alcohol is the most commonly used date-rape drug as victims are encouraged to imbibe large amounts to loosen inhibitions.
Rophypnol is the benzodiazepine most commonly used for date rape because it is readily soluble in alcohol. It can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault and produce anterograde amnesia, which means that the individual may not remember events they experienced while under the influence of the drug. The effects appear in 15-20 minutes and may last four to eight hours.
Chloral hydrate produces a sedative hypnotic effect similar to benzodiazepines. A drink that has been spiked with chloral hydrate is called a 'Mickey Flinn'.
Enjoy your dates but use intuition and common sense when choosing.
Source: dating.about.com/od/rulesetiquette/Dating_Rules_and_Etiquette.htm.
Have you been on a blind-date nightmare? Tell us about it. Email comments to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com.
Rules of dating
