I mean, life in general is pretty exhausting. You know how birds fly away when you walk too close? It's not because they're jerks, it's because they're scared if they don't, they'll die. Life in a state of nature is praying you don't get hurt and thus get eaten and to constantly either be looking for food, trying not to get eaten and recovering. (Some animals, like whales have it a bit easier but still...)
Honestly, I thought Russia attacking NATO by 2030 was a little far fetched (a war against one smaller country is not going particularly well) but this legit raises my guess it'll happen by some 10% or so?
My guess is that he probably wants more short term casual relationships but also knows that most women want long term (and those who want short term have no end of possible suppliers.) So, if he wants to sleep around, he probably has to claim he that ultimately he is looking for a long term relationship. (Would you have gone on a date if his profile just said casual?)
I'm also striding through middle age and sorry to say, in a lot of senses, dating doesn't get easier. Honestly, I think a lot of people have coupled up and a higher proportion who haven't, haven't for a reason.
There's also an interesting phenomenon I've seen in early middle age where guys who seem dependable etc couple up with women who would seem "out of their league" as priorities shift to starting a family etc. Of course, the flip side is this also removes a lot of the nice but kind of unremarkable guys from the dating pool.
All that being said, I'd say there is still hope! The big advantage of dating later on in life is that you know who you are, what you want and hopefully, you're not afraid to ask/demand it! Meeting people in person, whether community groups, sports, hobbies, volunteering or anything else is tricky but deeply rewarding. The other folks around our age who also don't have families and kids are often pretty friendly and happy to make new friends as our old friends get busier with their new families etc.
I've booed heartily and will probably continue to do so.
But on a related anthem note, while we ought to be furious and trump and his enablers, I think it's important to remember that a lot of Americans are good, decent people.
This clip of the Buffalo Sabres fanbase heartily singing Oh Canada after the singer's mic cut, hits me hard in the feels.
It's the same issue with pretty much any interesting post in the fediverse. As I'm subscribed to a lot of different communities across different instances, I see the same thing over and over.
I imagine/fervently hope we'll sort it out eventually.
Next Generation is the closest my family got to a family TV show that wasn't the news but somehow, this moment is usually my first LeVar Burton thought.
Which lines up with the data pretty well, considering rates of sex have been dropping steadily since the 80s. Your assertion that that happened “in the last decade or two” is just you being wrong.
You might actually look at the data instead of just being wrong?
As far as books, you asked me a specific question: Do I read more than I game?
Do you read as much as you game? Do you really think most people find books and video games equally appealing?
For someone who claims to read a lot, you seem to miss a bunch. Aiming that books are as widely popular as video games is a pretty silly take. You could google for a couple of minutes to figure out the reality.
You are rejecting anything that doesn’t fit your worldview outright.
By bringing evidence and time lines? Like what, I should've agreed that endocrine disrupting chemics are to blame despite being around for decades before the fall in teenage sex?
Or I'm supposed to seriously believe that reading is as common among teens and youth as books? Seriously? If you have any teacher friends, you might bring forward this uhh, interesting idea. Just be ready for some laughter and to explain that yes,it was a serious question.
I mean, on books being as common as books, is that actually a serious thought? Maybe google for half a second?
so you just reject that I spend more time reading books than playing games.
That didn't happen? Believe it or not, you're not every or even average youth. Weird huh?
If you don't know what something like motivated reasoning means, maybe check before you start complaining about being accused of bad faith arguments?
I say desperate because your "arguments" have gotten progressively sillier. Maybe you really don't know about endocrine chemicals and how long they've been around but seriously comparing the addictive/time suck nature of video games to books is utterly nonsensical.
(And no, I haven't dated a gamer. I and the folks I date tend to spend our time outside. Though it would be a marvel for gender equality if I had to give some nice lady a video game ultimatum!)
now that we have endocrine disrupting chemicals being dumped into the environment.
The decline in teenage sex is very recent (last couple of decades) whereas endocrine disrupting chemicals have been dumped for decades and decades prior to that.
This seems like realllllllly motivated reasoning on your part.
Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?
I mean, life in general is pretty exhausting. You know how birds fly away when you walk too close? It's not because they're jerks, it's because they're scared if they don't, they'll die. Life in a state of nature is praying you don't get hurt and thus get eaten and to constantly either be looking for food, trying not to get eaten and recovering. (Some animals, like whales have it a bit easier but still...)
Honestly, I thought Russia attacking NATO by 2030 was a little far fetched (a war against one smaller country is not going particularly well) but this legit raises my guess it'll happen by some 10% or so?
Oh great idea, I'll check with my local print shop. Thanks!
If you walk down any street, most people are wearing clothes made by children in sweatshops.
In general, people don't really care about abstract ethical concerns even ones affecting them until it actually harms them or someone they know.
I remember when we thought things couldn't get dumber than George W...
As a guy, we can be real jerks.
My guess is that he probably wants more short term casual relationships but also knows that most women want long term (and those who want short term have no end of possible suppliers.) So, if he wants to sleep around, he probably has to claim he that ultimately he is looking for a long term relationship. (Would you have gone on a date if his profile just said casual?)
I'm also striding through middle age and sorry to say, in a lot of senses, dating doesn't get easier. Honestly, I think a lot of people have coupled up and a higher proportion who haven't, haven't for a reason.
There's also an interesting phenomenon I've seen in early middle age where guys who seem dependable etc couple up with women who would seem "out of their league" as priorities shift to starting a family etc. Of course, the flip side is this also removes a lot of the nice but kind of unremarkable guys from the dating pool.
All that being said, I'd say there is still hope! The big advantage of dating later on in life is that you know who you are, what you want and hopefully, you're not afraid to ask/demand it! Meeting people in person, whether community groups, sports, hobbies, volunteering or anything else is tricky but deeply rewarding. The other folks around our age who also don't have families and kids are often pretty friendly and happy to make new friends as our old friends get busier with their new families etc.
Good luck out there!
The best joke is always in the comments.
I've booed heartily and will probably continue to do so.
But on a related anthem note, while we ought to be furious and trump and his enablers, I think it's important to remember that a lot of Americans are good, decent people.
This clip of the Buffalo Sabres fanbase heartily singing Oh Canada after the singer's mic cut, hits me hard in the feels.
https://youtube.com/shorts/OgICDc1ibZ4
This was really well put, thanks!
It's the same issue with pretty much any interesting post in the fediverse. As I'm subscribed to a lot of different communities across different instances, I see the same thing over and over.
I imagine/fervently hope we'll sort it out eventually.
I am so lucky my teenage drinking years were before smartphones were ubiquitous.
Next Generation is the closest my family got to a family TV show that wasn't the news but somehow, this moment is usually my first LeVar Burton thought.
As a Canadian, driving or biking on American roads is wild, it's like you're rolling a couple of years after an apocalyptic event.
"I kick ass for the Lord!"
You might actually look at the data instead of just being wrong?
https://ifstudies.org/blog/sexless-america-young-adults-are-having-less-sex
For someone who claims to read a lot, you seem to miss a bunch. Aiming that books are as widely popular as video games is a pretty silly take. You could google for a couple of minutes to figure out the reality.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/8926/reading-time-fundamental-most-parents.aspx
By bringing evidence and time lines? Like what, I should've agreed that endocrine disrupting chemics are to blame despite being around for decades before the fall in teenage sex?
Or I'm supposed to seriously believe that reading is as common among teens and youth as books? Seriously? If you have any teacher friends, you might bring forward this uhh, interesting idea. Just be ready for some laughter and to explain that yes,it was a serious question.
I mean, on books being as common as books, is that actually a serious thought? Maybe google for half a second?
That didn't happen? Believe it or not, you're not every or even average youth. Weird huh?
If you don't know what something like motivated reasoning means, maybe check before you start complaining about being accused of bad faith arguments?
I say desperate because your "arguments" have gotten progressively sillier. Maybe you really don't know about endocrine chemicals and how long they've been around but seriously comparing the addictive/time suck nature of video games to books is utterly nonsensical.
(And no, I haven't dated a gamer. I and the folks I date tend to spend our time outside. Though it would be a marvel for gender equality if I had to give some nice lady a video game ultimatum!)
Do you read as much as you game? Do you really think most people find books and video games equally appealing?
You're conflating fertility and teens having sex.
The drop off in teen sex is way more recent than either of those, started in the last decade or two.
This really seems like ever more frantic motivated reasoning.
The decline in teenage sex is very recent (last couple of decades) whereas endocrine disrupting chemicals have been dumped for decades and decades prior to that.
This seems like realllllllly motivated reasoning on your part.