Perhaps the romanticised version of a gentleman from chick-flicks is to blame, but whatever the reason… women are picky when it comes to choosing a man. This has enabled men to try extremely hard to figure out what they want. But Nick (NRF2345), in his article, “What do Men Look for in Women,” is right, it’s almost impossible to understand women.

For this reason I have decided to counter Nick’s discussion and show him what some women look for in men.

Wealth & Status                           

• Shocked? I don’t presume you are. But there’s a reason I started with that one. No, I am not saying that all women are gold-diggers, in fact their attraction to a man who is successful is only because they realize that their offspring and family will have a better chance of surviving and a better chance at life. It’s been a natural feeling for women for years. 

Intelligence

• Surprisingly one of the biggest turn on for women isn’t knowing how much the man can bench-press, but instead, having an incredibly stimulating conversation.

Well-toned Arms

• Well-toned arms denotes strength which of course is a great attribute, but one of the biggest reasons that women are attracted to men who seem strong is because they know that they will be well protected and held tight throughout the night. Women want to know that someone will be there to care for them and protect them.

Guys that Take Care of Themselves

• Surprisingly (or not) girls notice a lot of things that guys do not. They observe what guys are wearing, what they smell like, and as we can’t forget due to the many Axe commercials, a guys’ hairstyle.

A Good Listener

• If you are going to listen – here’s the time – Women want a man who can listen to them, and care about the things that they care about. Plus, you’ll get bonus points if you have a good memory.

Sensitive:

• Don’t get me wrong… women dream about a time when her macho man will come rescuing her in the middle of the night, that being the case, however, women also love the sensitive and caring man as well. If you block out tears while watching the Notebook or get all cuddly and playful with children, expect the woman in your life to fall more and more in love with you.

Challenging:

• Women want a challenge (that’s where all the fun is, right?). Women need uncertainty, teasing, and game playing. Remember, women operate on emotion. The more their emotions go up and down, the more female they feel and the more they will want you. Warning: Do not be too challenging, however, as women may also give up as well!

Funny and Witty

• Ah ha! Looking at Nick’s blog, I now see another common interest. Women love to feel relaxed and comfortable with their man and being able to share laughter are one of the best ways to do so! (In fact, being funny is an aphrodisiac!). Also keep in mind that humour has the ability to turn awful situations into wonderful environments and calm women down when they are getting frustrated or furious, which evidently is not an easy task!

Chocolate

• As Melissa pointed out , this may not be a male quality, but it is definitely one thing we like if males have it!

Best Wishes Everyone!

So an army guy walks into a bar – wait, I know what you’re thinking! This is not a joke; it’s the story of my life. If there was only one military man in the crowd, we would find each other, I kid you not. It’s like an invisible magnetic force I cannot stop, no matter how often I’ve tried.

Despite the fact that both of my parents are civilians, I grew up in a very large military community. As a result, I’ve dated and been friends with my fair share (or more) of men in the military. These experiences have left me with a predominantly negative opinion of those who put on combats every day before they head out the door.

I need to start off by saying not all military/service men are bad romantic partners. Some of my friends are married to perfect, awesome, handsome, NICE military men. Not many, but a few. And this blog does not discuss their capabilities as associated with their jobs, simply their dating habits as I’ve experienced them.

What is it that makes the military man (or firefighter or police officer or sports player) so desirable? I blame the media. With movies like “Dear John” portraying young hotties as romantic heroes, it is no wonder that we come to expect the same of their real life counter-parts. Men in uniform are the grown up girl’s version of Prince Charming.

But ladies, I am here to tell you that he will not ride in on a white horse and save the day. If anything, he will be the reason your day sucked so bad. Although the notion of dating a soldier is a romantic one, my experience has been filled with cheating, lying, not keeping promises, rude/hurtful comments, etc. etc. etc. I could write a thesis based on my own experiences in this field.

I believe that because the military is such a male dominated profession, the men develop a mob mentality/life style as they go through courses and day to day living together. With that much testosterone in one place, it is no wonder that competition arises and they try to one-up each other on the dating scene. Their egos become inflated because many girls swoon at the notion of a soldier, and as a result, they have all the power in the relationship.

Now, I know I sound like a bitter and scorned woman, and maybe I am a little bit. But after sitting down and thinking about all the relationships I’ve had since high school, I realized the common denominator in the bad ones was that they were all men who wear uniforms. Either I am a really terrible judge of character, or I am onto something here. Men in uniform know what to say, when to say it, how to say it, etc. to make you believe whatever they are saying to you.

Despite having been “screwed over” numerous times, I seem to fall for it again and again. No amount of lecturing or begging from friends and family can convince me that this guy is no different than the rest. Even after swearing off military men, I still seem to find myself thinking I’ve found one who “isn’t like the others”.

But this time, I am swearing them off for good…I think?

Men in uniform are good for a party, good for a fling, good to look at, but I would slap the majority of them with an “unsuitable for dating” sticker. At the very least, they should be forced to wear a “Proceed with Caution” sign around their neck.

Don’t play innocent, we’ve all been there.  You met up with that cute guy or gal who you’ve been eyeing in class for a quick bite and everything’s going great.  The conversation is flowing and there’s smiles all around until that awkward lull when he or she pulls out their cellphone to read or answer a text message.  At this point you’re red in the face, fumbling to finish your sentence hoping that they’re still listening to you. Then you ask yourself things like, “Who are they texting?”, “Am I boring him/her?” and of course “Is he/she into me?”

Text messaging is a huge cultural phenomenon among teenagers and young adults, in which peers can keep in constant communication, anywhere at any time with the touch of a few buttons. It’s cheap. It’s convenient. It’s perfect.

With these points in mind, texting seems to be a great and inexpensive way to keep in touch with your pals. What you might not have considered though is the strain it can put on your personal relationships with others.

Texting allows couples and dates to keep in touch by connecting, flirting and of course “sexting”, many young adults seeing it as a necessary form of additional communcation aside from e-mails and phone calls.  It also provides singles the opportunity to feel out a potential match and can provide a quick getaway during a bad or awkward date (“My sister’s car broke down/is in the hospital/is in prison/etc.” Anything to get you out of there!).

As amazing as text messaging is, there are potential issues when texting and dating are combined. In an era where electronic forms of communication like e-mail, text and instant messaging are considered the norm, everyone is expected to be in constant contact with one another. It is because of this, a person’s texting habits can be translated into their persona and feelings, whether they’re glued to their QWERTY board or whether T9 is uncharted territory to them.

On the negative side of things, texting can be toxic for relationships and when pursuing potential romantic partners. Many second dates have been ruled out with the constant use of text messaging with friends or ex-partners during dates. For many, texting on a date is annoying and unnattractive. If you’re texting at a restaurant, your date will get the vibe you’re not interested in them and would rather communicate electronically with someone else than talking to you. A problem I have often encounted is the ambiguity of messages. What one perceives as sarcasm, another might take literally.

Now, you don’t have to chuck your cellphone into the garbage to assure a healthy romantic relationship. Simple little things can help, like, I don’t know, dialing their phone number? Just because texting is a norm doesn’t mean that you have to absolve all other more personal forms of communication. And besides, it makes people feel special, and you want to feel special, don’t you?