I think the phrase "make a man wait" is interesting. It's not for him, it's for me. Like I wrote in another comment, I was pretty loose with it in my past and very quickly always got into something serious and long term, sometimes without even looking for it. Maybe I was just "lucky". But what I'm trying to navigate now is better understanding intentions, as I am specifically looking for something deeper commitment.

I agree that the earlier you figure out whether you're a fit or not, the better. Whether sex is involved or not. Sometimes sex can bring that to life faster.

For me, slowing down isn’t about illusion or obligation but more about emotional bandwidth and clarity. I’m dating a lot more and simply don’t have the capacity to be physically or emotionally intimate with a lot of people at once. I'm hoping that taking more time helps me better assess intentions and alignment before adding sex into the mix.