|
Why We Date
As human beings we have what can be considered some of the
strangest mating rituals in the animal kingdom. Most species hook up
with members of the opposite sex to procreate and nothing else.
There is no emotional bond that ties them together for the rest of
their lives other than the need to continue the species. Now that's
not to say that all animals are like this, there are some species
out there that do mate for life, but the overall percentage of those
types are small.
Sure, you can say that many animals have mating rituals that rival
ours. There are male birds that flaunt their colorful plumage trying
to attract a female, but is that really dating or just a type of
seduction? And in the end isn't that what going on dates is all
about, seducing that someone we've had our eye on.
Dating is a form of seduction, only for us humans it can sometimes
take a much longer time for the desired results to be had. In the
animal world there is a specific time of the year when seduction and
mating can take place, and with the exception of humans, dolphins
and some primates, animals mate to continue their species and not
for the pure pleasure of it. For most animals it is the drive to
survive as a species.
We humans have taken the whole dating/seduction ritual to unforeseen
heights. Just think of all the things we do to try and impress that
special someone. And why do we want to impress them? Because we
think we like them and if we don't do our best to seduce them using
all sorts of dating tricks and techniques then someone else will and
that's just not acceptable.
So why do we date?
To impress someone we are interested in? I would say yes on that
one. I can't think of any other reason to spend that kind of time
and money other then to do just that.
To continue the human species? This is a far more subjective
question. Do we really need more humans on the world? That's
debatable. I think for the majority of humans it's for a little more
selfish reasons and that's to have someone come after us who carries
the family name onward into the future.
Just for the fun of it? Now here's whole another way to look at it.
Meeting new people is fun. Particularly if you are attracted to
them. Dating is fun and it introduces us to whole new ways of
thinking and approaching people.
The why do we date question is a hard one to answer, but whatever
your reasons may be it's a part of what makes us human. | 
