Navigating the dating world is a whole different ballgame for young women today than it was for the generations that came before us. We've replaced landline phones and dates at the Peach Pit with dating apps like Tinder and find it socially acceptable to watch shows like 'Next' and 'The Bachelor' (side note: petition to bring back 'Next'?) without shame, as though this is a totally normal way of meeting people. With more ways of finding our soulmates than ever before, it can be difficult to navigate the dating scene in order to find *the* one. Luckily, there's a fool-proof checklist you can use before deciding to get serious with your special someone -- Just in time for Valentine's Day! Keep calm and right-swipe on ~
1. Does he like dogs?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F6362235779270047671483173356_source.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=932&h=36aa48bbb002f57b5df07ed3422a7786532ab14774b6ff436d2d19c12df603f1&size=980x&c=4287796384 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F6362235779270047671483173356_source.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D932%26h%3D36aa48bbb002f57b5df07ed3422a7786532ab14774b6ff436d2d19c12df603f1%26size%3D980x%26c%3D4287796384%22%7D" expand=1]
If the answer is no, he's probably definitely got a body in his freezer or likes to catfish people on Fb for fun. Stay clear, unless you're into that sorta thing.
2. Is he now, or has he ever been, on a reality dating show?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F636223579326843284-1937092680_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=123&h=439ceefea1d59250fcb73d5c99c6bf13e43fc1b05c27ba4b16aa5001b693965d&size=980x&c=3003581954 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F636223579326843284-1937092680_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D123%26h%3D439ceefea1d59250fcb73d5c99c6bf13e43fc1b05c27ba4b16aa5001b693965d%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3003581954%22%7D" expand=1]
He might not be hubby material, but you could use his D-list fame to launch your own reality TV career since American Idol and Real World didn't work out for you.
3. Is he emotionally unavailable?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F636223580329060807-1474809214_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=619&h=dd8b54459854451b4aaea045f30bfb413ed4cad6ee8fe7a068094189dac36435&size=980x&c=4101311952 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F636223580329060807-1474809214_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D619%26h%3Ddd8b54459854451b4aaea045f30bfb413ed4cad6ee8fe7a068094189dac36435%26size%3D980x%26c%3D4101311952%22%7D" expand=1]
Every girl loves the thrill of the chase and a man who's got enough emotional baggage to sink a ship. Who wants their boyfriend to actually call when they say they're going to? Sad.
4. What are his thoughts on Donald Trump?
Follow-up question: is he wearing that "Make America Great Again" hat in a serious or ironic way?
5. Does he text you first?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F636223585137192143-36740751_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=1&h=a17f838410d69c8987fcf248a028b646ccb63e7044fcc17ec3fd511773eff666&size=980x&c=1047679245 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F636223585137192143-36740751_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D1%26h%3Da17f838410d69c8987fcf248a028b646ccb63e7044fcc17ec3fd511773eff666%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1047679245%22%7D" expand=1]
If he waits 3 days to text you back, then says, "Sorry, I was in the shower," he's a keeper. You like your men *mysterious* after all.
6. Are you related?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F636223585137660868696288168_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=339&h=60fd303773eba83f923fc2e079dff53fa486855c1e3b091820c7fac112c2fd95&size=980x&c=3143457184 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F636223585137660868696288168_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D339%26h%3D60fd303773eba83f923fc2e079dff53fa486855c1e3b091820c7fac112c2fd95%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3143457184%22%7D" expand=1]
Better to find out now than at the family reunion or worse, the wedding... Yikes.
7. Can he cook?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F6362235869456000462091448760_2totinos-01-61d927a43168c5df523ecd4fae94a15d.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=214&h=407f6410b7c6b1ce89651e6e92e445a253044c0f57403cffebfa94074ccd06ae&size=980x&c=601910100 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F6362235869456000462091448760_2totinos-01-61d927a43168c5df523ecd4fae94a15d.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D214%26h%3D407f6410b7c6b1ce89651e6e92e445a253044c0f57403cffebfa94074ccd06ae%26size%3D980x%26c%3D601910100%22%7D" expand=1]
If you offer to cook instead, it might bring out his underlying misogynistic tendencies and soon enough he'll be asking you for Totino's pizza rolls while he's watching the game all. season. long.
8. Is he an electric blanket?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F636223588592938995-572417420_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=530&h=5f29dca9445c68842b48965baa1f59115916d9ab2c48cf43faa234a872952b11&size=980x&c=534265761 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F636223588592938995-572417420_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D530%26h%3D5f29dca9445c68842b48965baa1f59115916d9ab2c48cf43faa234a872952b11%26size%3D980x%26c%3D534265761%22%7D" expand=1]
No? Move on. You can find warmth that's close enough to actual human touch without having to listen to someone talk about cars and GoT all day.
9. Is he your Uber driver?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F636223589520890411554740995_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=566&h=7c0ed6fdfce605c3242f07191a5a24ad73b9849cda7a935daaf9cfc39577e118&size=980x&c=840493424 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F636223589520890411554740995_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D566%26h%3D7c0ed6fdfce605c3242f07191a5a24ad73b9849cda7a935daaf9cfc39577e118%26size%3D980x%26c%3D840493424%22%7D" expand=1]
You thought it was weird that he was picking you up for a date at 1 a.m. but it turns out he was just responding to the Uber XL request you made at the bar. Whoops.
10. Is he just "okay"?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2017%2F02%2F10%2F636223590058996530570872503_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=733&h=59f13b79b9e87d75155766c3f45a6d5768c9dd57600aeb8d31613b852d66ab05&size=980x&c=3951401716 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2017%252F02%252F10%252F636223590058996530570872503_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D733%26h%3D59f13b79b9e87d75155766c3f45a6d5768c9dd57600aeb8d31613b852d66ab05%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3951401716%22%7D" expand=1]
If the answer is yes, congrats! He may not be your soulmate, but he'll do for now.
Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
Change Your Mindset, Your Mind Needs It
Poetry on Odyssey: Just Be You
Promoting Self-Love is not all it’s Made Out To Be
