Don't Ask

It's inevitable, really. When you choose to share a story with a friend about a dating endeavor gone wrong, they want to make you feel better. And it's in these moments, when they want nothing more to be supportive, that they often end up doing the opposite. Dear readers, I give you the Platitudes.

Blessed are the singles who endure horrible dates, for they shall eventually learn a valuable lesson from them, and the person of their dreams will come to them any day now. Because "everything happens for a reason."

Blessed are the singles who tough it out through one disaster after another, for they are stronger than they know. Because "God/the Universe never gives anyone more than they can handle."

Blessed are the singles who can't figure out why seemingly dim/unattractive/irritating people have significant others when they don't, for they are just holding their dates to appropriately high standards. Because "of course" they have a hard time finding someone to date, because they are "a strong person who knows what they want", and most men/women "can't handle that".

And finally, blessed are the singles who meet their dates in the "right" places, for if they do, nothing will go wrong. Because if you meet your date in one of the "wrong" places, you can't be upset when he/she turns out to be a loser.

Where are the wrong places? Why, that all depends on the person asking the question! And this may be the worst of the Platitudes, because at least for me personally, it creates a feeling that I have somehow invited poor treatment, even when I know that if someone treats me poorly, the only reason they have done so is because they decided to.

So next time, dear readers, when you're presented with a tale of dating woe...please don't ask, "Well, where did you meet him?"