Black and white films. Sweet tea on the porch. Strolls in the park. Doesn't that sound simple? It should, especially in this day and age. It sounds so peaceful and quiet and... old-fashioned. I wish more than anything I could have experienced this type of dating, at least once. Instead, my generation has to be satisfied with views on Snapchat and smartphone dating. I'm 19 years old, and I am not ok with that.
Relationships are much more complicated than they need to be nowadays. I think this is simply because we solely communicate via texting and smartphone apps. So much communication is lost through such virtual, artificial forms of talking. We take things the wrong way and because texting and Snapchats are such poor imitations of genuine communication, problems occur. People misinterpret tones. Things become complicated and miscommunicated and just plain confusing. Instead of actually picking up the phone and calling or heaven forbid — actually paying them a visit in person — we rely on emojis and smiley faces to convey our moods.
I know it's difficult to minimize time on our cell phones. I'm as guilty as anybody. There is something to be said about decency and politeness. Whenever I'm out on dates or I'm spending time with my best friends, I try to spend less time on my phone. We are forsaking the authentic, interpersonal relationships for poor imitations of them... when the person is right there!
I hate modern dating not only because it seems to be centered around technology, but because it seems to be so much less fulfilling than traditional dating. Too many girls are relying on their boyfriends for their happiness. Some of my girlfriends have texted me or called me upset because some guy failed to text them back; or he opened a Snapchat and didn't respond; or he didn't like their latest Instagram selfie; or he even posted a picture on his Snapchat story with some other girl. I am tired of this nonsense. We don't know how to communicate anymore and therefore girls and guys alike have lower self-esteem. Relationships suffer. The real ones are becoming obsolete.
It has almost come down to a science, you know? I have to wait so many hours before texting a guy back or else I appear "clingy" and "desperate." I can't have too many guy friends or else I look like a "slut." If a guy opens my Snapchat and doesn't respond, it's okay, but if I ignore his, he tells all his friends how terrible I am. Oh, and if I wear too much makeup, I look "fake," but if I don't wear enough, I'm "ugly."
There are simply too many standards to live up to. Like so many other girls, I am tired of relying on social media to try and have a relationship with a boy. There are times when technology is all you have to communicate with (shout out to the long-distance couples). When you have the person right next to you, and you're too engrossed in modern dating to pay them any mind, that's a problem.
Not only does this make me weep for the future of romantic relationships, but for the professional and business ones, as well. How will we build a better future if we don't know how to cooperate and talk to one another? How will we be innovative and successful? It sure won't be through a cell phone.
