I’d put this forth for all the guys in their early 20’s talking about how they’d be totally willing to get married “if I found the right one” - you may be due to revamp your approach to dating. If you were to imagine an outside consultant coming in and advising you on a career, what would he say about your approach to searching, sorting, and testing wife candidates?

Would he say “you don’t appear to be searching in any meaningful way whatsoever”? ‘Cause that’s kind of our default. We just go through our day to day grind with our passive wife-radar-array sweeping in the background, but never really actively hunting for targets.

When I got w/ current gf I did feel genuinely bad at the thought that I was diverting her from a dude in her own bracket, but the more I talked about her experiences the more it became apparent that all the guys she knew were apparently more invested in playing dark souls with their friends online than keeping a standing date with a woman. That’s for the special subset of guys she’d meet and know, which rarely advanced past the most basic texting level because she’s very passive and shy….and so are they.

RT: https://poa.st/objects/bbd86096-aa2e-47d5-ae52-f7277af45685

We don’t talk about it much because nobody likes to admit it, but the majority of guys really, REALLY have little idea how to handle a woman, and they end up making very costly mistakes when they have to catch up on 10 years of dating experience when get their first gf at 23.

Lots of them want a dude-fren they can creampie, that’s pretty much the overarching issue. They want to be able to have a “low maintenance” girl who just comes over to sit around and do nothing with them on a friday night….kind of hard to make her think too highly of you when that’s all you offer.

You don’t need to be in the impressive courtship phase for long, but you DO need to find a target worthy of your investment and knock her socks off with a few good dates. Doing something cool and romantic gains you the approval and support of her extended friend network. Treating her like a blasé booty call leads them to chip away at your relationship. Taking her out on cool things means that they’ll passively support you as good guy she can’t let go.

Thinking about what you have to do to get a chick makes a man act fake and gay. Seen it too many times. Relationships that start fake and gay will always be fake and gay. Simple as.

@Humpleupagus Then you’re doing it wrong. The courtship phase is meant to give you memories. It’s a time to really dig in and savor the excitement for each other, to create a well you can draw upon when things get tough that reminds you of how badly you wanted each other.

You shouldn’t be doing fake stuff, but authentic things tailored for her presence. You can blend your hobbies together. Early on I had some free airtime in a friend’s DA40, surprised her with a day trip to the next state over, some good food, and a tour through some vintage clothing shop I thought she’d love. Combined a little bit of everything for both of us.

@WashedOutGundamPilot @Humpleupagus
And then, women are surprised, that "the guy changed"...

Ok, thanks for advice. So, my choices are to lie, or die alone. Why didn't you begin with that?

@LukeAlmighty @Humpleupagus If that’s your takeaway you’re not experienced or observant enough to be reading what I’m putting out. You need to do those things to check the box and experience them, once you move into the domestic phase, with those high-effort experiences under your belt, then you can relax and be homebodies as a couple because you both know the ‘activation energy’ needed for them.

You need to work on your testosterone if you go from seeing the most vital existential challenge of your life and immediately shrink back with “OH FUGG GUESS I’LL DIE ALONE!”. They’re just women, man. If you can train a dog, you can tame a lady. The toughest part is sourcing the right stock. The actual relationship is not all that tough, as long as you’re smart.

When you get your blood chemistry right then you get that necessary gumption to tackle these challenges. Microplastics, estrogen, being raised by women, whatever the source, the outcome is the same when you shrink from a necessary, vital challenge.

Centuries of survival, struggle, and love - all undone by the gayest conflux of enemies the world’s ever seen. I hope you can fix it, man. It’s something we all have to tackle at some point. The future won’t be here for quitters.

@WashedOutGundamPilot @Humpleupagus
Man, Of course my post above was a hyperbole.

But this line:
You need to work on your testosterone if you go from seeing the most vital existential challenge of your life and immediately shrink back with “OH FUGG GUESS I’LL DIE ALONE!”.

Is fucking delusional. I have been trying my entire life, and I am 27 already. I am not saying "OH FUGG GUESS I’LL DIE ALONE", I am asking: How much of my fucking life do I have to waste on this, and what shit am I even going to get at this point?

I am fucking trying man, but the fact, that no woman wants to speak with me ever is not a fucking blood chemistry problem.