I thought this article about "man-dating" was interesting. Kudos to the author for coming up with the term. It is both accurate and disturbing at the same time. It makes me feel like I'm watching Michael Meyers playing Dieter on a very special episode of "Sprockets" on Saturday Night Live.
I confess. I have "man dated."
My most recent case does include a sporting event (a Denver Nuggets game), but, if the trip includes dinner at a fancy restaurant, and the unspeakable act of splitting a bottle of wine (see article!), it must be considered a man-date. Now, I must say in my own defense, we split the tab equally. No one picked it up, dammit! We men pay for ourselves.
(I must confess picking up the tab for some less well-off male friends when on trips together, but that doesn't count! I was paying because I could do so easily, when my friend couldn't. Is that so wrong?!)
I'm reminded of passages in books (Anne Rice's vampire books come to mind, and Lestat's "conversations" with another man). I think the article is right. Male companionships, friendships, did used to be more intimate, and closer. Male relationships are more complicated, more difficult today. I don't think it is the stigma of homosexuality, either, which is what the article proposes. I think it has more to do with the male desire to succeed on his own, to do it independently, at least in America.
What do you think? Have you man dated? Do you care?
Posted by Mike at April 12, 2005 11:38 PM