Where did this term go? Dating. Dating is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as, “A social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character.” Okay, we all understand that, right? You get the hots for some one so you take them out on a date. Then scroll down on this dictionaries website (because that’s how we look definitions up now…on the online dictionary) and you will find that the Webster Dictionary lists under related topics “old fashioned.” When did this idea to get to know another human being on a personal level become outdated?

The term dating, has seemed to lost all inhibitions in today’s time. More specifically speaking among our generation, the generation of feminists, creatives and millionaires at the age of 25. We have innovated, created and exceeded on so many levels. Yet, we are oh so failing. When did it become so hard to look someone in the eyes, pick them up at their home and eat a simple meal with them? I may add, a meal where the only interruption is the waiter asking if you would like more water. No snapchat, no Twitter or checking that Instagram, boo. I am just talking a simple meal where a check is set on the table at the completion of both plates and drumroll please… the guy takes care of it.

So, say you go out on this date and it goes seemingly well. Dinner was served, the conversation flowed and the drive home lacked awkward silence. We may all observe that these are good signs, some may say even great signs. Then what happens? What are the expectations? What happens next in this new phase of dating among our new society?

We see it time and time again: Nothing. Soon to follow, a few texts may have been sent, a correspondence through some form of social media and then what? Utter silence.

We don’t follow up. We qualify this as we “talked,” seemingly meaning that we didn’t quite date, we may have gotten down but no nothing really “happened.” We just so happen to spend the previous three weeks communicating through our phones to end up at one dinner where we had our shot, but did that happen? No, because no one wants to be the one to show that they may actually care.

The thing is, no matter who it is, we act in restraint because we don’t want to be labeled “the crazy girl” or “the overbearing guy.” F*ck that shit. How do we get the “one” this “one” that we are all supposed to have out there, if we do not show what we truly feel or how about this, if we aren’t even trying.

Let me clarify that, this thing we call “feeling” is a built-in human emotion. This is not an add-on feature. So, are we all over the phase yet where we are all trying to pretend that we don’t feel or could care less? The ultimate party song IDFWU doesn’t apply in this case. That shit is lit and may I say the perfect ice breaker for any house party.

However, this idea that the person we just had sex with the night before didn’t somehow impact our lives is inhumane and may I add immature. Literally, that is denying every natural human instinct. I mean honestly y'all, it is human. We are here to feel. That is living. So that is when I ask myself, do I text him? When they ask me do we text her? Do we tell this person that we may have had some undefined future with that we want to do breakfast, take the trip, watch the movie you're going to fall asleep to.

Because the thing is, it’s not just “talking”, it’s not just sex, it’s not just a person, it could be the person: your person.