It goes without saying

Robert:
Immersed in cyber land dating, I find myself sharing every detail with friends: the dates gone awry, the guy with a crazy “edge” teetering on manic disorder, the deceivers who use outdated photos and show up years older, inches shorter or crazier than any caption could capture. Partly, it’s because I’m the type to spill every thought and emotion in the hopes friends will extract some semblance of meaning. We also live in a self-confessional culture of reality TV that encourages reflection to the point of embarrassment. (Ironic then that I write this on a blog devoted to relaying every second of this dating experience.)

It’s on this note that I found myself wondering last night if my date and I had crossed a line when we began reflecting on our recent dating patterns. Questions abound: What does he mean when he says he made his profile private after I contacted him? If I describe other dates, will it neutralize the romance? Will I come off as finicky, disinterested or rude? And who pays once the line crosses and the potential dissipates? Is it a faux pas to talk about dating while dating?