Dating Advice: Who's in Your Expert Panel?

I've been really sick for over week now with that nasty flu that is going around (thrilling stuff to read about, I know, but I promise this IS going somewhere). On Friday, I decided I needed to consult someone about my health because I was getting concerned and WebMD had already convinced me that, not only was I a hypochondriac, but I was also dying of tuberculosis. So anyways, I headed up the street to the local coffee shop so that I could ask my favorite barista whether he thought I had developed TB. He whipped up a non-fat-half-sweet-mochachino-latte for me, said he thought I’d make a full recovery, and I went on my merry way.

Okay...I lied...

I did not go to my barista with my health-related questions

Why? Well even though he makes a mean caffeinated drink, is funny as hell, and loves to tell me all of the details of his latest Grindr encounter, he does not have a medical background.

I know that you’re all on the edges of your seats now, wondering who I went and saw so I’ll tell you: I went and saw my doctor. He checked my throat, ears, and lungs and told me that I was TB-free and going to live

HALLELUJAH!

Anyways, I’ll get to my point now: If you want advice or information about a certain topic then go to someone who has some expertise on that subject! This advice is very relevant and applicable when it comes to dating and relationships.

If, for example, you are a female attempting to decipher the “hidden messages” and “true meaning” of a text sent from some dude you met on Tinder…don’t screenshot it and send it to all of your girlfriends. Ask someone with greater insight into the male psyche…

Ask a man!

Or, alternatively, your matchmaker or therapist, but DON’T ask your female friends because, odds are, they are going to heighten your anxiety and give you incorrect information.

“Girl…he only put one kiss emoticon after you put three. NOT a good sign!”

When I was first dating again, after my last relationship, I did not live according to this advice and I think this lead to lots of unnecessary stress. Don’t get me wrong—I appreciate my girlfriends and their overwhelming support buuuuuut sometimes we women have a tendency to collude with one another and we can be absolute pro’s at making mountains out of molehills. Men don’t do this. On the contrary, they often don’t read into women’s hidden messages enough (which is why they can benefit from the female perspective when dating).

So here are the takeaways messages:

1. If you have questions about men, ask a man.
2. If you have questions about women, ask a woman.
3. Get your flu shots.

And also, if you’re doing online dating, consider applying this advice when creating/editing/updating your profile. Have a friend, of the gender you are trying to attract, review your photos and bios and give you honest feedback.

Happy Thursday!