How not to date: a lesson from our parents

By Kate Muska
February 24, 2016

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The millennial generation has trouble with dating techniques. Creative Commons

Remember the good old days when a young gentleman would properly court a young lady? He would be kind to her and show some interest. He would ask her out on a date—he may even ask her father’s permission to go on said date, if he is feeling extra respectful. He would show up at the house, get out of the car and knock on the door.

He would come in and greet the parents before escorting his date to the car, where he would then open the door for her. He would get her home not a minute later than 10 p.m. on a school night, and no later than 12 a.m. on a Friday or Saturday. After a few dates, he would ask her to be his. It was so simple, remember?

Actually, if you are my age, you do not remember— because chances are, if you are a millennial, you have never experienced dating like this.

As the millennial generation, we tend to think we have it all together and that our parents are wrong most of the time because they just “don’t get it.” However, I think dating was one of the things our parents may have admittedly gotten right.

The millennial generation does not typically “date.” We meet—probably at a party, possibly online. We hook up, we “talk” (or we do not actually talk) and then at least one person in this “relationship” stays up at night, wondering what they are and what their title is- if there even is one. We screenshot messages and send them to our friends so we can all analyze and reanalyze and over-analyze what a particular text meant. We over-think tweets and frantically search through Instragram photos. We are disappointed when the guy we are “talking to” does not notice the not-

so-subtle tweet about him. And then, one day, we hear that so-and-so is “talking” to someone else, and we have been forgotten.

I do not know about you, but all I have ever received from this so-called dating system is drama and heartache. Take it from someone who dated a guy for about three years without actually earning the title of girlfriend—it is frustrating and quite frankly, it is dumb. Why do we do this to ourselves and to others? I would hate to think that somewhere down the line, someone was upset because I led them on or I did not give them the attention that they deserved. I know this because I have had it done to me, and it makes a person feel worthless; like they were not even worthy of a text back.

There is a general lack of disrespect for each other in our dating culture, and that saddens me because love is a wonderful thing that everyone should experience at least once. Maybe we should all take a lesson from our parents or our grandparents and put down the phones and show each other the love we deserve.

1 thought on “How not to date: a lesson from our parents”

  1. are you shittin me….the dating couple you describe were probably part of your great great grandparents generation…………

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Kate Muska

A sophomore communications major with a minor in English, Katie is very dedicated to her writing. Katie is an assistant editor to the Lifestyles section of the Loquitur and is looking to go into the field of publishing.

1 thought on “How not to date: a lesson from our parents”

  1. are you shittin me….the dating couple you describe were probably part of your great great grandparents generation…………

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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