Want to meet someone? Leave the house.

By Samantha Scholfield


A total “duh” answer, I know, so bear with me: this is one that crops up again and again even among those of us who swear we go out ALL THE TIME. Lethargy, feeling disenchanted with the whole dating scene and being just plain tired of trying, all sit securely in the “there’s no point, so why try” cheering camp. Before we know it, we’ve spent both weekend days inside our apartments — reorganizing the closet and/or spice rack, playing video games or just chilling in our own company. And the days? The days are when it happens. People are more low-key and relaxed during the day and so it’s much easier to have those awesome, random conversations that can turn into more than just “that fun guy/girl I met in the coffee shop/bookstore/park.”

Don’t get me wrong — there’s nothing wrong with a little self-imposed hibernation now and again. If anything, it’s needed and healthy to take a staycation from our lives and put aside some time to do that weird stuff that occupies our time when we live alone (or at least have our own room in a shared house). However, staying in ALL the time is bad news for our love lives because unfortunately, rarely is the pizza or sushi delivery guy or gal as sexy (and willing and available) as we dream them to be (or as they always seem to be in porn). 

The excuses for not leaving the house are plentiful and easy to come by, largely because it’s must easier to chill at home in our Snuggies or Slankets than it is to get dressed, find a reason to leave and go out. The next time they try to seduce you into yet another Project Runway marathon, give these excuses the finger. Weekend morning coffee drinker? Bring a book or your favorite newspaper and go sit at your local coffee shop for a couple hours on Sunday. Bored? Peruse a bookstore or check out that new art gallery down the street. It’s not necessary to have a point every time we go out — we can simply be out for the sake of being out, and for the sake of interacting with other breathing, warm-bodied (hopefully attractive and cool) fellow humans. And if the peeps aren’t available? Go without them. Being out by yourself is a fantastic way to make new friends, and who knows — you might just meet your next date.

Yours in avoiding spice-rack organization, S

Credits: Images by Infrogmation

Want More Sex? Don’t Sleep With Every Body

By Damon Brown

Single people, we have a problem. The assumption is that every nice, attractive person we meet must, eventually, come to our bed, or any built relationship becomes an empty fallacy, a farce, based on the ecstasy that might have been.

Let me put aside the journalism degrees for a second. Real talk: You shouldn’t fuck every attractive person you feel a connection with. 

Why? It’s not for chivalry, as you can be a chivalrous Lothario or Lolita, nor for physical protection, as two (or more) smart adults can have an open relationship and practice safer sex. No, it’s more selfish than that. 

Simply put, you need quality coconspirators in creating a great single life. Create a great single life and your sex quotient will go up dramatically. 

True story: Most of my friends are women. Some I went out with at one time, more I met through my travels and many are interested in the same nerdy, pop cultural goodness that rules my world. As Samantha pointed out earlier this week, “the friend zone” can be a gift and a curse (See: Escaping the “friend” zone). For me, it’s usually been a gift when I consciously created different types of relationships in my life.  

There are three big benefits to having beautiful, platonic relationships with beautiful people. We can call them the 3 Ps: 

• perspective
•  patience
•  persistence

First, perspective. Here’s where the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trysexual among us have the advantage, as you personally know the equipment! For every one else, I’ve heard countless brothers say that the coochie has magical properties, just as women have confided to me that they can’t think rationally post-dick. Hang out will cool, attractive friends - that you AREN’T trying to bed - and you realize that even [insert fantasy sex slave here] is human, flawed and interesting. You’ll be less intimidated the next time you meet someone you really want to sleep with - increasing your chance of actually getting some.

Second, patience. A friend of mine once told me that she would be slower to jump in the sack if she had some way of getting regular human contact, like a hug, a platonic kiss or a hand to hold. Friends can provide you with human touch. It will help you not push too hard on a first date, set appropriate boundaries for lovers and be less desperate to get naked.

Finally, persistence. If you’re like most of us, meet someone new and attractive and your first instinct is to figure out their stats: What’s their orientation, are they available and are you their type. Next time you read from this script, just stop for a moment (go to the bathroom if you have to!) and think about what function this person could have in your life aside from being your love toy. You may suddenly see all these dimensions to this person that go beyond sex. However, chances are high that THEY are checking YOU out, too, which is why it requires discipline and patience to steer the relationship how you like. You may both be surprised where your relationship ends up.

The misconception is that thoughtful romance takes the fun out of hooking up. It is actually the opposite, as you know that you’re not hooking up with someone just because they own a warm body. And when you find someone you REALLY want, the message will be loud and clear.

(Credits: Image by egor.gribanov)