Relationships

How It's Become The Norm To Date Around In This Generation

by Grace Ridnour

Something that never ceases to frazzle me is seeing an article pop up on my Facebook News Feed about how relationships these days are all a sham. These kinds of articles proclaim that today’s generation is doomed to have meaningless sex and that we will never find a deep connection in love.

One of the first things blamed is our dependence on technology. In one Elite Daily article, writer Paul Hudson lists 49 reasons why our generation isn’t really dating anymore. While I understand there are issues within Millennial dating culture, I don’t think Dating Doomsday is upon us.

The age-old argument that technology distances us from making any real connections is just that: old. It isn’t a new idea at all.

People have been shaking their fists at new technological developments for centuries. Adults used to think rock and roll would ruin their kids. And when books rose to popularity, people thought it would bring an end to face-to-face conversation.

So, for all of you who have lost faith in this generation's quest for love, listen up:

Technology is not going to bring the downfall of relationships.

Tinder tends to take the blame the most when it comes to technology ruining relationships. While Tinder is mostly known as a hook-up app, is that really such a bad thing?

Relieving sexual tension can help relieve a lot of stress in one's life, and because Tinder is hooked up through Facebook, it's actually one of the safer ways of finding a partner (especially for females).

And what's the alternative to finding someone on Tinder? Hoping a nice, attractive person will strike up a conversation with you at a bar or the grocery store and not lie about his or her personal information?

No matter what, there will always be creeps out there -- both online and off -- so you just have to be safe about it.

Technology is not a barrier to communication. It is a helpful resource and helps us communicate and reach out to people all around the world. And for some people with social anxiety, technology can be a safe haven because it's a comfortable way to express themselves.

Dating around isn't a bad thing.

The phrase, "There are plenty of fish in the sea," is almost always used to encourage a recently dumped friend to go back out into the dating world. So why do we so often scorn people who date around?

It's true: Courting people isn't really what's popular right now, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. As long as you're happy, go ahead and have fun playing the game.

If you enjoy the company of others in more romantic settings than your friends can provide, then get out there and find someone. It baffles me that some people look down on others who are just taking advantage of all their possibilities.

Being picky usually leads to not eating gross food; the same goes for dating.

Generation-Y seems to get a lot of flak for being picky about who they date. There are so many dating apps that are incredibly specific to one's lifestyle, I can understand where that judgment comes from.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who scoffs every time the jingle, "You don't have to be lonely, at farmersonly.com." plays. (Maybe it's just a Midwest thing?) But, honestly, sites like that make sense; being picky makes sense.

No one wants to be with someone and constantly have to weigh the negatives and the positives.

If you absolutely can't deal with how big that guy's nose is, then you have the right to break up with him. Will people call you shallow? Probably. But if there's something that bugs you, and you know you can't get over it, be choosy and find someone who doesn't make you question how you'll be able to have a future with him/her.

Just do what makes you happy.

I know I sound kind of harsh, but really, just do what makes you happy.

If finding The One and sticking with him/her for the rest of your life is your goal and what will make you happy, then go for it. If you want to date around, then go ahead. Use Tinder as often as you want.

Date yourself if you don't feel like dating anyone else. Just don't do something that could hurt someone (including you) and life will be good.