Commentary: Evolution Of The Dating Game

Bentley Claudon
December 14, 2008

"Check yes or no." If only the dating game was that easy. Once girls and boys realize that no one actually has cooties, the quirky, exciting and spontaneous process of falling in love begins.

Dating and 'the game' involved changes dramatically depending on age and even though love does not, boys and girls definitely do. And it shows.

As young children, it's what the other one has which is most important (although maybe that does not change with age).

Little Sally is interested in little Johnny because Johnny has the new interactive Tickle Me Elmo and she only has the old stuffed Elmo toy.

Daddies tell their little girls, "Marry a rich man," perhaps it is then the search for true love, or at least a significant other, really begins. My, that seems early

Crucial pick-up lines in this stage of the dating game: "Hey baby, I'll give you half of my giraffe animal cracker" or "You can use the good crayons today, babe." Love is all material in this stage of the game.

Teenagers are funny in the dating game. Unbelievably, love can start with just the pass of a note. "Do you like me? Check yes or no," the note reads. That kind of superficial dating is dangerous in grade school.

A young boy really puts himself at risk with the teacher to get his note passed across the room to the girl he's got his eyes on that week. However, he really wants this girl to go to the middle school dance with him, so it's worth the risk.

Not only does he have a quiet dinner at home with the family planned beforehand, he's also washing the family mini-van so his mother can drive them to the dance in style. That's so chivalrous. 


As the dating game progresses, college students find themselves surrounded by a new crowd of possible rendezvous.

However, as strapped for cash as college students usually are, a dinner date is probably planned at the college's dining hall. Meal plan dates are cheap; usually parents have already paid for the plan, and all it takes is the swipe of a card. Crucial pick-up line: "I'll swipe for you, babe."

Another date idea for people this age is going to the bar. Hey, everyone's more social with a little alcohol in them; it's kind of like an ice breaker. However, this situation has the potential to get pretty ugly by the end of the night. Crucial pick-up line: "Hey baby, I'll buy you a drink." Let's hope true love doesn't solely rest on an alcoholic pedestal in this stage of the dating game.

Graduates, moving on to the next phase of their lives, are looking for their miss or mister right. This is a critical stage in the dating game. The pressure is on.

Each comes up with certain qualities, characteristics or credentials that will work to create ideal genes for their perfect spawn. The dating game becomes serious: intimate sit-down dinners, meeting parents, vital life chats and money matters.

Crucial pick up line: "Hey baby, I've got a stable, high paying job with sweet benefits, a good outlook on life, parents that would make great in-laws or grandparents and a house."

Seems like a winner.

Middle-aged daters have more restrictions in the dating game than other groups. Not only are their kids depleting the money in their wallets, they also require critical planning around them.

You have to call the babysitter. You have to make sure that little Timmy doesn't have a soccer game. And you have to be home early enough to get up to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids' lunches and still make it to work on time and fairly well rested.

Plus, you have to make sure the kids like the man or woman you're dating and vice versa. Your kids are your pride and joy; you think the sun rises and sets on them, and you love them.

If your date says otherwise, it's probably not going to end happily ever after. Crucial pick up line: "Hey baby, I think your kids are wonderful, smart and well-behaved."

Lastly, we have the old geezer daters. Old geezers might not have game, but that doesn't matter. What they do have is money. They might not be able to hang as loose as the young college lads, but they have money to put on some pretty elaborate and expensive dates.

Old geezers also have more time. Most are retired and living the dream: traveling, spending and relaxing. It's sad that it takes that long to get to the dream, but hey, they've worked for it and they deserve it.

They also have a benefit that no other dating group has: the senior citizen discount. You can't beat that.

The dating game changes over time, but love remains ageless. It might not be as easy as checking yes or no, and your significant other might not let you use the good crayons, but it's all about the game, baby.