Man Dating...?

I was reading the New York Times webpage while I ate lunch today, and stumbled upon a story entitled The Man Date. The Times webpage has a list of the top five stories e-mailed for the past twenty four hours or so, and this story ranked number two behind an open editorial about the amount of coverage death is getting in the media and perhaps our unhealthy addiction to it. So of course being, young and available I check it out to see what they have to say.

The story begins with Matthew Speiser, 25, and John Putman, 28 telling their tale of meeting in New York and their time spent together; better yet describing their Man Date. The story goes on to describe what types of situations would be classified as a man date and situations that wouldn’t. One of the scenarios that came up was going to the movies to see Friday Night Lights and the other situation going to a Jets game. The former being considered a man date while the latter would not be considered one. Further more it gave the impression that it would be okay for two men to sit next to each other at a sporting event, but requiring a seat buffer in the theater.

I chuckled to myself when I started reading the story because I see nothing wrong with me going to eat with a male friend of mine. I started to laugh outright when the movie chair issue came up because this very issue came up when I went to see Sin City on Friday. I went with my best friend, and I settled on a seat, and prior to him sitting down he asked if I was one of those people who required a buffer zone. I kind of just chuckled to myself and told him “no, you don’t have to skip a seat – unless you insist on doing so.” I have no problem with it.

In the article they mention that it would be ok for two men to sit next to each other at a sporting event without the fear of being labeled as homosexuals, but sitting in a theater would qualify. Why is this, the seats at sporting events actually put two bodies closer together, the movie chairs are quite plush and roomy now as opposed to arena seats. Furthermore in an arena you have to either take your knees to your chest, or stand up for some one to pass thanks to the eight inches they give you to put your feet down before the next row of seats begin. *Shrug* it doesn’t make sense to me either (or maybe it makes perfect sense to you – who knows).

Anyhow, after reading the article I will continue to go do things with my friends, regardless if they are classified as man dates or not. It may work out to my advantage because while I was out this past weekend the comment was made by a friend of mine, she said “my husband gets hit on more now than when he was single.” This particular scenario was brought up in an episode of Seinfeld where George reads that men who wear wedding bands have an easier time picking up women. I have also heard women lament about how “it’s a shame he is gay”.

So if being not as obtainable attracts more women, and there is a stigma that doing certain things with a friend of the same sex portrays a certain lifestyle - it would benefit me in the end to go on more of these alleged man dates.

Blahh – all gibberish I tell you; it hasn’t helped me out thus far and I don’t see a radical change either.