hmm, going out with guys every night of the month in exchange for goods and services... isn't that just called "being a whore?"

Not really...it's just a concept. Lots of people play the field successfully without ever being a whore. Just like how it's possible to have a healthy relationship with food and not be a glutton.

I don't think you'd be able to rely on single, straight, Youngstown men to feed you. I have a coupla close girlfriends in town...and I've seen the guys they date...and they don't have any money.

Whores aren't necessarily paid or given goods in exchange for sex either. Prostitute is the word you're searching for, I think.

But it's just a concept for an article, and yeah, you can date without having sex, as Alicia says.

But unfortunately, as Rob says, the single, straight guys of Youngstown--well, really, let's just say the people of Youngstown--don't have a lot of money to even be out dating 30 days in a row. That'd be at the *very* least around a 900 dollar bill in a month, and we have people that can't pay 300 dollars for their rent.

So, perhaps if we adjusted the traditional notion of what a date is, and made it less about the money spending aspect that goes into dinner and something entertaining to do afterwards, and though about non-traditional ways to spend time with someone you're getting to know, you could potentially raise the bar and get 30 dates in 30 days. But it does sound tiring and possibly annoying before you get to date 4. Unless you really like spending intimate getting-to-know-you time with that many mostly strangers in that many days.

i just don't like the tacit agreeement that the man is naturally going to pay for everything.

Wow! Thirty dates in thirty days???...(checking wallet). "Ummm...think I'll have the bread, Mr. Waiter. Does that include butter?"

Seriously, just the thought of trying to go out thirty evenings in a row would be taxing enough. Couldn't go to the same places cause you know the hired help would gossip. Is there even thirty different, fun places to go in a town like ours? Someday….maybe.

I really should say thank you for this article. Situations like these make me feel lucky for being in love. Dating can be fun, adventurous, and now I’ve learned it is a lot of work!!!

But I do have interest in knowing one thing. What happens if date number 17 is awesome? There’s…….(pulling calculator out of drawer for intense math problem)…..13 more to go!!!! Oh my, is number 17 gonna wait around ‘til the end of the month for ‘ya? What about date number 24? It just so happens to be date number 17’s younger brother??? Oh God! Now you’re dating an entire family! What will Mom say now!.....(laughing).

burke

ahhh that is true -- boys shouldn't always be the ones who pay (and, in my experiences, they usually don't). modern dating etuquette pretty much demands splitting bills. i kinda tried to reference both ways, but in the rush of posting without re-reading, i suppose i did portray dating as a predominantly male-funded activity.

bonus question: if the cost of a date is equally divided between both partners, does that make them both whores if the date results in hanky panky? or does the element of whoredom remove itself when equal funding is involved? what if the chick pays -- does that require the guy to put out as resitution?

I like Chris's suggestion: date doesn't have to be dinner-plus. Could just be coffee and muffins or walking through Mill Creek or, well, I don't go on many dates any more, so you probably shouldn't ask me.

I think it is the responsibility of the person who does the asking to pay. Unfortunatly for the guys I date, I never do the asking. However, I am intrigued by your question and I absolutely believe that if the chick pays on the date, the guy is officially the whore. I ask you this, when equal funding is involved, is it even actually a date, or is it two friends, who may or may not be attracted to each other or possibly sleeping together, enjoying a nice meal, drinks, walk, etc?

most of the guys left in youngstown that havent been dated can use their golden buckeye cards to get superior dinner discounts. a walk through the park might prove to be too much for their pelvises.

dating is passe. abandoning ritual (ie: effing people you find reasonably attractive) is the new black.

"does that require the guy to put out as resitution?"

Fortunately, since we guys run this culture, us putting out 30 times in the week for food would be considered "dream job". If you could squeeze room and board and a few bucks for the STD drugs, you'd be one set guy.

Every girl is going to hate that statement, complain about double standards, and then they'll probably log off and go chase down some bad boy they're swooning for anyways. Meh.

WOMEN, am i right?

The guy that I am dating now doesn't like it I try to pay for something...Even if it's to a matinée movie. He prefers to drive, even if he just drove 1/2 an hour to get me. In other relationships I did make an effort to pay for dinner or drinks just as often as the other party did, but at the same time it's kinda nice to have a guy take on the "traditional" role in treating.

jessica -- i concur with your remarks. i am also used to paying for stuff, or at least splitting bills...and driving everywhere, but i recently started dating someone who pays for everything, and it's kind of refreshing. especially because i am broke.

northside girl -- maybe dating is passe, or maybe our definition of it has changed. is effing someone you are attracted to any different from dating, really? surely you spend time with said person outside of effing, so wouldn't that time count as "dating"?

mackey -- aren't you always right?

Bob, I think you bought me dinner once. You're such a slave to the patriarchy.

:)

hey, i have since learned my lesson!

also, i AM always right. that's why MY blog is first.

I'm glad you learned it after you paid for my food.