Girls Rule, Boys Drool (but evidently have rules of their own?)
I’ve always been a rule follower. The most daring moment of my high school career was the time I excused myself from class to use the restroom without a pass. How was I supposed to know you needed a pass to go to the bathroom? I didn’t go to high school—I was simply there to take the SATs— and we were on a break between sections so I just got up and left. (And was promptly reprimanded for “wandering about” with a pass.)
But aside from that brief flirtation with hall pass anarchism, I’ve usually done what I’m told. And if I’m not told to do anything, I make up my own rules.
Granted, sometimes I break my own rules, and I wrote about this very topic in my latest piece for Skirt! magazine, “Adventures of a (M)anthropologist.” I thought I’d pretty much exhausted the subject (or at the very least my personal code of conduct for successful, quasi-ethical serial dating) but thanks to a comment from fellow blogger Zak of Slow Down, Son, in response to Emilie of Miley Writes, I’ve since realized that I only gave the female perspective.
Granted, I’m not entirely privy to the male perspective but according to Zak, it goes something like this:
I had a rule of – when I was doing online dating – attempting to hold hands or kiss or something “clear” by the second or third date. I figured if it took longer, she wasn’t interested.
Just remember that guys are playing by a whole different set of rules, and while you may view that as he’s trying to get in my pants, we view it as she’s obviously NOT interested unless…
Hmmm… a whole different set of rules? Pray tell, men.
In the meantime, I do recall having once heard something along the lines of “Guys think that if a woman doesn’t sleep with him by a third date, she’s not interested.”
Is this true?
Suddenly the fact that Date #17 bought me flowers on our third date, then took me to dinner and treated me to a modern dance concert makes a lot more sense. He was hoping to get laid!
(Shock, gasp, horror.)
Now I know why he got all prickly when I inquired as to the provenance of the scented candle I discovered in his bedroom a few dates later; he’d bought the candle at the very same flower shop where he’d purchased my bouquet, on the very same night, with the very same intentions.
And, evil genius that I am, I cunningly thwarted his plans.
It would appear that we have yet another case in which men and women are clearly not on the same wavelength. (And while we’re on the subject, I’m starting to realize that I present—and inadvertently perpetuate— a very heteronormative view in the writing of this blog. I am sorry; I simply write what I know and what I know is heterosexual relationships. But now I’m curious… how do the “rules” play out with same-sex couples?)
Rules are such a funny thing, and they differ based on all sorts of factors. Maybe I should stop trying to figure them out… at least as far as Date #7 is concerned.
So are your rules for dating and relationships of the romantic variety as wacky as mine? Take a look at my piece in Skirt and let me know!
PS: Don’t forget to click to cast your vote for Philadelphia’s Most Valuable Blogger. The polls close in four days!
PPS: I start teaching again tomorrow, my show opens Thursday and I have rehearsal every day between now and then. Expect copious amounts of typos and even more spelling mistakes than usual.
Kat Echevarría Richter 
7 Responses to “Girls Rule, Boys Drool (but evidently have rules of their own?)”
Wow, thanks for the callout!
I’ll have to work up some rules for you. I think that the biggest complaint I have about “rules” is that no one is effectively communicating them. If I see a girl I like, my goal is to kiss, sleep or otherwise be with her, but I go about it a different way than a woman (presumably) would. And yet, her goals are (arguably) the same, right? But the rules we follow to get to that ultimate goal: totally wacked out and different.
Here are my five basic rules for dating:
#1 Never date a woman because you don’t want to go somewhere alone; date her because you want to go with her.
#2 Approach each date as a wonderful adventure; if you’re too comfortable you are taking her for granted and it will be your last date.
#3 A kiss, regardless of when, where, or how deep, is something special; if you just want to feel something nice against your lips, mint chocolate chip ice cream or a cold beer is far better than lying to her.
#4 Don’t try to understand a woman’s mind; if you are wrong she will tell you (if not, she’s saying goodby).
#5 You’re usually going to be wrong.
*like* 😉
Good luck tomorrow and Thursday!
I think that when you meet the right person, all the rules immediately fly out the window!
As has been pointed out the problem with dating rules are that both party have their own set. And they are not the same.
Now it would of course be much simpler is, like at the pool, there was a set on the wall of all bars, and other dating spots.
No running
no bombing
no petting
no pushing
no diving
no smoking
In fact may be these should be the rules for a date, well first date at least.
*like* this one too!