The Dating Game? Is it all a game?

Growing up I was taught that when I ‘grew up’ I would meet someone, fall in love, get married and have kids. No one ever mentioned how to get there, it just happens. Well maybe it just happened to some, but dating is not that simple, it seems to have become a game, sometimes even a sport. If you’re actively dating in Toronto I recommend getting some serious protective equipment, because when you crash it will take a lot more then a helmet and a mouth guard to get you through it. It’s going to take good friends, good wine, and often a good eraser ;-)

What is The Game? Well if we knew what it was we might have been able to figure out how to play it. Unfortunately, there are no rules – except that there are no rules. No one keeps score, but you always know when you’re loosing. And no matter how often you play, you can, and will get caught off guard.

The original game, yes the one our mothers taught us, playing hard to get. This has to be my favourite game… by favourite, I mean the game I like the least. If I like someone I want to tell them, ideally I want them to tell me they like me and go on from there. But NO, before The Game of dating can even start you have to have a pre-game, this is when you act aloof, hint that you like them, but never let them know for sure and wait for them to pursue you. How often does this actually work? I don’t think it does, because women don’t do it. Notice that the guys who are into you are the ones you dislike, ignore and push away. Well, that’s because they think you are playing hard to get.

Beware of the man who doesn’t want to play games. He is the ultimate player. This is the guy who says I don’t want to play games. Again giving women a false sense of hope, because what he means is “I don’t want YOU to play games”. I will be aloof, not tell you how I feel, give you mixed messages, all the while, know exactly how you feel and use it to play you like a marionette. This guy has to be the ultimate asshole. At least the other game players let you put up a good fight… this guy wants to kick you when you are down.

All that said I know there are good guys out there just keep your eyes open and guard up, ‘cause the bad ones will find you when you least expect it.