Technology and dating — a happy couple?
“What’s wrong?” I asked The Kid as he sat on the couch staring at his cell phone for what seemed like an eternity. “Isn’t it working?”

“It’s fine.”

“Then what are you doing?” I asked, which is a ridiculous question to ask a teenage boy, first because they generally act before the even know what they’re doing (and later often realize, “Wow, I could have gotten killed!”) and second, because teens live a world shrouded in more secrecy than than the CIA.

“I’m trying to decide if I should go to the prom with Natalie.”

“And, does your cell phone have a Magic Ball app?” I joked.

“No, I’m going to text her back.” He rolled his eyes.

“She asked you to the prom … by texting?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Nothing,” I sighed.

I didn’t see any point in trying to explain why you shouldn’t ask someone to the prom by texting when I — a middle-aged women — have been guilty of accepting a date by texting (but never sexting! I’d rather see a guy’s naked parts up close and personal, thank you very much).

I like technology as much as the next person, but something seems to be missing — courtesy and romance. Or maybe I’m just old fashioned, or getting old and nostalgic. I understand that those things happen once you hit midlife and grouse about “kids nowadays.”

All of us have been using technology to make dating fast and easy: Asking someone on a date? Just text, “Wanna hang?” (but first Google his name, check out his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter and text back and forth for weeks finagling a date and time). The date’s boring? Constantly look at your cell phone/PDA to enteratin yourself (he’s probably doing it, too). Need to dump him after all? Shoot off an e-mail! Realize he’s at least OK for a booty call? Just text, “Wanna hang?” (no need to finagle a date and time).

The days of being courted — slowly, sweetly, innocently — and seduced — slowly, but hopefully not so sweetly and innocently — are gone, and I think that’s sad. Technology has changed that. Maybe they’ll come back, like the Slow Food movement is trying to reclaim mealtime as a time to slow down, savor life, surrounded by real people and real food. But I doubt it.

I think we need a Slow Romance movement, too!

Some times demand that, like getting asked to the prom. It should be in person. It’s almost like a marriage proposal — you tend to remember who asked, when and how.

Of course, now my kid can save that text forever — so there’s an upside, too.

And you can’t beat technology for busting liars — just ask Mrs. Tiger Woods.

How has technology changed your love life, or the search for one?

<a href="https://jump2.bdimg.com/mo/q/checkurl?ID=TEo50k&amp;url=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Bdimg Black Singles</a>

<a href="http://www.justjared.com/flagcomment.php?ID=TEo50k&amp;el=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Justjared Black Dating</a>

<a href="http://jbbs.m.shitaraba.net/b/alink.cgi?ID=TEo50k&amp;l=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Shitaraba Blacks</a>

<a href="https://www.ahewar.org/links/dform.asp?ID=TEo50k&amp;url=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Ahewar Canadian</a>

<a href="https://www.cheapassgamer.com/redirect.php?ID=TEo50k&amp;url=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Cheapassgamer Loveawake</a>

<a href="http://www.bshare.cn/share?ID=TEo50k&amp;url=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Bshare Black</a>

<a href="https://www.adminer.org/redirect/?ID=TEo50k&amp;url=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Adminer NIgger Dating</a>

<a href="https://lcu.hlcommission.org/lcu/pages/auth/forgotPassword.aspx?ID=TEo50k&amp;Returnurl=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Hlcommission Canadian Blacks</a>

<a href="https://brivium.com/proxy.php?ID=TEo50k&amp;link=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Meetme Canadian Black SIngles</a>

<a href="https://brivium.com/proxy.php?ID=TEo50k&amp;link=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Brivium Singles</a>

<a href="http://nou-rau.uem.br/nou-rau/zeus/register.php?ID=TEo50k&amp;back=https://www.loveawake.com/free-online-dating/Canada-dating-service.html?page=33">Nou Rau Black Daters</a>

&nbsp;