Event Hosted By CharAnn Alison Link To Event Start slideshow Dating the Modern Woman Written By CharAnn 10/17/2008 click for full size Dating in 2008, has changed a little. Based on the poll of the guys who attended, men are still paying for the first date. Women are offering to contribute, but they are okay if the guy pays. The location of the first date depends on how they met. For the guys, if they met online, it some place simple and inexpensive like for coffee/tea, drinks, or appetizers. The guys who came seem to prefer to do an activity rather than dinner and a movie. But it's hard to get to know some one during an activity since you both are busy doing something. From dating 101, we digressed to many topics. One of which was the club scene. The majority of the modern women at the event still want and wait for the guy to ask them out. Guys, if you see the girl at the club and she is sending you signals that she is interested just go for it. What are those signals? It varied, but basically there is definite eye contact. No, not just a mere glance. There is definite eye contact and maybe a smile and there tends to be more than one. Since it is still the men who initiate the first contact, the women tried to give them some advice. Try to look at as a job interview. You will be successful at some and turned down by others, but do not take it personally. You just didn't meet the criteria for that "employer." Online dating is very complicated. Our adjectives mean different things to different people. Let's take adventurous. For some that means, taking a new route home from work. For others that means, jumping out of an airplane. This is the fun and mysterious and sometimes annoying part of dating: trying to find out what those online descriptions mean to each person. Most of the modern women in the room were still looking for a "protector." Maybe it was the teacher in me or the modern woman in me but I had serious issues with that term. I do not need for anyone to protect me. I think by the end of the night I had most of the woman replacing "protector" with a partner. A partner, in my mind, is someone who will be there for me when I need him the most to help me through whatever and I will do the same for him. I see it as being a tag team wrestling relationship. When we are at our weakest, our team mate jumps in and takes over until we are able to do so again. It was indeed from this brief summary another great discussion. I continue to learn more about men as well as about myself. Alison is the best cohost ever! Thanks for the yummy spinach dip recipe and the other tasty appetizers. Many thanks to Christine and Anastasia for trekking out to MD for this event. Until the next one?? enjoy the photos! More Photos

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Comments
MING!!!	Very nice! Sounds like a very good session! I will have to agree with everything Char wrote, including the "protector" part but I think it's a more emotional thing (an emotional sheltor). Personally I don't like big and tall guys, and don't need that sort of physical protection. I will have to say that since my hubby did everything "by the book" as Char described (asking out for first date and all), there must be certain truth to it. :)
kev dawg	Wayneman Wayneman Wayneman I totally disagree. Women don't always know.
Anastasia	Merci! CharAnn for hosting, and Alison for opening up your home for this event.
David	Thanks to the hostesses Thanks to Alison and ChaAnn for hosting this event. It was a fun discussion and interesting to hear what the other is thinking on the first date and beyond. Everyone got a chance to voice their opinion and it was a good event to get to know the participants.
Thomas	Thanks, Alison & CharAnn for hosting another stimulating discussion! Great food, too, Alison & everyone!
WayneMan	I love open communication! Based on what Char wrote...this should not be a surprise to anyone! I've never met anyone online, but the rules to meeting women haven't changed. Unless you believe you can club 'em and drag 'em by the hair to your cave - you need to pay attention to signals. As Chris Rock mentioned..."A woman knows if she wants you when she shakes your hand. If you say something stupid...there going back up! (Watch the DVD if you don't get the joke). W-
Christine	But Char, you'll need a protector when the big scary monster jumps out of the closet :) lol Had a great time, although I completely misunderstood the description of the event. Ahhh, the memories...
Lenny	Fun! Thanks to hosts for organizing and to everybody for a fun discussion
Eric	Enlightening! I finally made it to my first discussion. Very informative and fun. Thanks to Allison and CharAnn and everyone who attended.
CharAnn	thanks thanks for coming and having another great conversation