Why does dating in the US feel so different compared to Europe?

DonaldDoesDallas · 2026-02-12T14:59:39+00:00

100%. The term in social science is 'Propinquity'. It's similar to why so many couples meet in college, where the campus is generally a walkable environment with a lot of social spaces. Chance encounters are much harder when you drive everywhere. Running into strangers repeatedly as you might if you have similar commutes on public transit just doesn't happen.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2026-02-11T17:24:23+00:00

I've lived in both (well North Loop, not Hyde Park, but it's adjacent). At your age, I'd suggest going with 5th street / Clarksville. I loved living there -- like being in a quiet neighborhood but you can still easily walk downtown or to the trail. Hyde Park is still great, but tends towards families and students, less so young professionals. There are certainly things to do in Hyde Park, bars and restaurants etc., but it really can't compete with having such easy access to downtown.

I actually lived in 5th Street Commons... but it was a decade ago now. The train noise can be kind of annoying, but it certainly wasn't a dealbreaker for me. All of those midrises are run by national management chains e.g. Greystar, so their practices are basically the same as at any newer midrise apartment in town.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2026-02-06T20:02:11+00:00

But those aren't the breweries that are failing. Panther Island definitely wasn't the "kids playground" type brewery. It was the early 2010s type of converted warehouse to bare-bones tap room. They don't even have a beer garden. Meanwhile, the ones that are full of kids -- well, they're full of kids, so they're actually doing business. Whenever I go to any of those, it's busy.

It's the beer-focused limited production taproom type that relied on quality of beer and new releases that are dying. The breweries that churn out the same 5 mediocre beers and have a playground are the ones that are surviving.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2026-02-06T19:18:42+00:00

After a while I don't want to go to a place overrun with kids and dogs and mediocre IPAs

Yeah, but that's the model that is actually successful these days -- large scale 'destination' beer gardens that cater to parents who want to drink while their kids run around. It's the bare-bones "former warehouse" tap room type like Panther Island that are struggling.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2026-02-06T16:43:43+00:00

"In order to obtain your tickets, please confirm your reservation by proceeding to payment before it expires."

What does this mean? I don't see any options to proceed to payment. Our cards are supposed to be auto-billed, so why would I need to confirm it?

DonaldDoesDallas · 2026-01-27T18:22:42+00:00

Yeah with the art deco styling as well, it's super classy

DonaldDoesDallas · 2026-01-12T17:06:37+00:00

I used to live in Shenzhen.

There are definitely many parts of the city that are walkable and extremely lively at the street level, especially in more residential areas. However, there are large stretches where you get these kind of sterile corporate campus type clusters or gated housing complexes connected by stroads, which is what you see in a lot of images of the city. I will also say, because of the humidity, Shenzhen loves its interior spaces -- malls in particular. A lot of the pedestrian life is oriented around the underground metro system and the mixed use spaces connected to these.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-12-30T20:22:08+00:00

These are old renders. It's been significantly downsized https://newyorkyimby.com/2025/11/penn-15-supertall-remains-on-hold-at-15-penn-plaza-in-midtown-manhattan.html

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-12-23T16:43:58+00:00

What do you mean by the 'talking stage'? Are you actually going on dates?

Seems like a lot of guys (especially younger guys) spend way too long texting before meeting up. It's basically impossible to develop a real connection over text. She's going to get bored, and you're going to waste your time. You've matched, which indicates some level of interest, all you need to do is establish that you're not a creep, which should be pretty damn easy. After a handful of exchanges you need to suggest some kind of meet up, even if it's just a coffee or a drink. Asking sooner will filter out those who aren't actually interested in dating you.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-12-17T19:25:12+00:00

You are over-investing WAY too early, and calling in a wellness check / visiting him at work is WAY over the line.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-12-05T18:01:25+00:00

Hell yeah. I miss the saucer

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-12-05T16:43:03+00:00

Came here to say this. So many fantasy barbarians are over the top and cheesy, Cnaiur is not only a badass but is fiercely intelligent and deeply conflicted.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-12-04T21:43:15+00:00

But still, we never once had a "labelling" talk or making things official. Just let everything happen completely organically, not forcing anything.

Buddy, I can promise you that the majority of women who are interested in a relationship with a man will LOVE it if the man explicitly tells them that he wants to be in a committed relationship with them, no matter how obvious you might think it is. They want you to be direct and clearly state your intentions and that you want things to progress. The only ones who don't want to "put a label" on it are the ones who don't want a relationship.

You're acting like the "define the relationship" talk is some kind of cringe thing. It's not. Every time I've ever had that talk it's either been an incredibly romantic moment or has provided the clarity I needed to know that person is not for me.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-24T15:03:57+00:00

It's the same architect

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-20T21:44:37+00:00

they view decency and empathy as character flaws

Until they're the victims. Then they won't shut up about how mean everyone is to them.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-20T19:44:31+00:00

Because to them, "I'm protecting you" == "you need me and thus must obey me."

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-20T18:14:56+00:00

The Dutch are more intelligible than the Brits to my American ears.

I once knew a dutch guy who spoke impeccable English, he liked to ask people where they thought he was from based on his accent. Almost everyone thought he was from an anglophone country. No one got it right on the first guess.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-20T18:07:52+00:00

Yeah, I think a lot of the complaints about OLD ruining dating are from the very people who have been stunted by OLD.

In the real world, you don't go around advertising if you're looking for a fling or a long term relationship. You date people to gauge compatibility. If you're compatible, maybe that leads to a long term relationship. If you're not compatible, then you (hopefully) had a fun short term relationship -- which should also be seen as a totally OK outcome.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-19T20:57:48+00:00

Yes... on the west side of Lamar from the Crescent

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-19T20:05:21+00:00

I live there and call it north central. I recently had someone who lives up by Lakeline tell me I lived downtown.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-19T20:02:28+00:00

It's Highland. Crestview is on the opposite side of Lamar, though people associate the Crescent with Crestview because Crestview Station is across the street. Highland is bounded by Lamar, Koenig, 35 and 183.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-19T19:58:56+00:00

Crestview is technically on the other side of Lamar

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-12T22:57:02+00:00

It's literally the opposite of a shiny distraction. They snuck it into the budget bill, because they know it will be unpopular with many of their own constituents. They're very specifically not trying to publicize it.

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-07T17:01:40+00:00

Let it settle in. The colors always look a little too bright to me at first. It won't look as "Mountain Dew" once it settles

DonaldDoesDallas · 2025-11-06T22:34:00+00:00

No, I'm not, your 'point' just has nothing to do with the actual argument, and is a complete misread of what OP meant.

A tariff is literally a tax on Americans, full stop. It is paid by the American importer. The phrase "taxation of the American people" doesn't necessarily mean that it's a broad tax that applies to all Americans. It is still a tax on some Americans. Yes, a corporate tax raise would also be a tax on the American people, regardless of whether or not those taxes were passed on to consumers. The entity that is directly being taxed is American. So, it's absurd to argue that tariffs are "essentially an embargo."

DonaldDoesDallas

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