Dating today is a minefield of political correctness, social and cultural expectations, and a supposed freedom to date who you want regardless of age, race, gender or religion. Mixed with this is a society where single people are often working more hours than they've ever worked in the past, and are not able to get out and meet as many potential dates as they'd like.

Younger people tend to be more free and easy with dating nowadays. The formalities of meeting parents, and only going to places where they are known are relics of a bygone age, as is the certainty that the man will both pick up the tab for the date, and make sure that his girl is brought safely home to her door. These things, once thought to be the sign of a true gentleman, are now deemed to be the sign of a male chauvinist who disrespects a woman's right to be thoughtful as his equal!

Dating has never been an easy experience, but in this free-to-choose culture, the structure of the old fashioned dates has disappeared and in its place is an uncertainty. Are you supposed to offer this? Should you do that on a first date? What is your date expecting from you? What are you going to do if they assume more than you're willing to give? Are you certain that they are only dating you? What if they're married and haven't told you? What if you're the only person that doesn't know that they've slept with half of the office personnel?

In the past these questions wouldn't have been common because guys didn't do that kind of thing, there was a certain unspoken contract about dating and what happened and when it happened. You would be unlikely to date a married person unless you knew about it, and workplace promiscuity was not quite on the level that it is today; oh sure they would have been the office Romeo, but generally his reputation would have been more talk than action, whereas today his known action is unfortunately only likely to be the tip of the iceberg!

The one shining point about dating today is this supposed freedom to date who we are attracted too. This however falls down when it's clashed against social and cultural prejudice. It's all very well to date the people you want, but only in so far as the other people around don't find the relationship objectionable.

When you enter today's dating scene, proceed with caution. Keep your instincts sharp at all times and really listen to what people have to say. They may not be accurate in what they say, their opinions may not count for much with you, but by listening to the voices, you learn what external factors to the relationship that you may need to confront in due course.