The bloggernacle likes to talk about dating. We already know that JL over at Celibate in the City provides the bloggernacle’s version of reality TV, with adventures in dating 24/7. Now, the (sane?) folk over at Let Your Mind Alone are tackling the subject too. Chris Potter wonders about the prevalence of non-committal dating practices and suggests that (gasp!) “Mormon dating practices, on average, aren’t as morally superior to the dating practices of the rest of the world as we would all like to think.” Chris Patton follows up with a comment guaranteed to endear him to Mormon women everywhere: “Why can’t the lonely-heart club girls of the church quit their whining and actually do something other than invent theories about why they aren’t going out with anyone?” (Ouch!) Finally, Doug Spencer caps it off by reminiscing about being told that dating was a priesthood responsibility, and suggesting that the church therefore establish a Perpetual Dating Fund: “Turn in all of your receipts to the bishop for remuneration up to $50 for each first date. If you ever end up marrying the girl, you both pay the church back that $50.”
$50 per date? Sounds like a plan to guarantee a lot of trips to the movies and the Olive Garden. Of course, it provides some clues to the women as well — if you’re going to the opera or to Le Bernadin, he must really like you, since it’s not all on the Lord’s dime.
It’s things like this that make me so glad I am not in the dating scene. :)
Of course, “Perpetual Dating Fund” lacks the “ation” ending. It needs a new title.
Perhaps the Perpetual Flirtation Fund?
Or the Perpetual Osculation Fund?
I’m very glad I’m out of the dating scene too. Not the least because I finally met my soulmate.
But I must confess that all these comments make me think that a lot of people still buy into the notion of some romantic fate where without effort someone comes and sweeps them off their feet or some powerful emotional attraction overtakes them unexpectedly. I think that’s the big lie of Mormon dating that leads to a lot of problems. It also is why I think many look down at those who go out and date a little more casually. We have this view that dating is only there to get married. I think that can have a detrimental impact on us socially, as well as lead us to miss a lot of enjoyable experiences – especially in college.
Speaking of Le Bernadine–some of the best food I’ve had in my life. I’m more a gourmand than a gourmet, but I thought it really stood out as something special. Thank heavens for a generous allowance when taking summer associates (read next year’s victims) out for lunch.