Dating Do Not: 5 Signs You're a Tech Tool

With as much as we all depend on smartphones, laptops and tablets, it’s kind of hard to believe that the World Wide Web (do people even still call it that?!?) was made accessible in the early 90s.

But for those of us who happen to be a bit older…

• Remember leaving voice messages on landlines?

• Remember writing letters and (wow!) actually mailing them?

• Remember going on dates with nothing that needs a charger in tow?

In some ways, when it comes to dating, those were the good ole days. You were able to focus solely on your date which provides a great environment for communication, spending quality time and fostering the relationship.

The use of technology certainly has its benefits, but in order to help you to get the most out of your dating experience (and to gently expose you for the technology junkie that you might be), here are five signs that you rely on technology/electronics WAY TOO MUCH when it comes to dating.

You communicate mostly via text. Texting. Initially it was created as a “shorthand” for conversation. If there was something that you wanted/needed to say that was only a few words at max, you could text it. Now, a lot of us will put numbers before each text as a way to let people know which order they are coming in. Shoot, by the time you’re done doing all of that, you could’ve had a five-minute conversation and been off of the phone, right? Texting to give someone directions, texting to say “Good Morning” or “Goodnight”, texting to make sure someone got home safely (or to let them know that you did) is great. But when you’re dating, make sure to pick up the phone and actually call who you’re seeing more than you text them. It’s more personable, it shows that they are a priority to you and, because they can hear your tone of voice, it helps to keep signals from getting crossed as well.

The person you’re seeing get more “likes” than conversations from you. Social media is a popular way for people to make initial connections, especially if they are meeting one another for the first time online. But it’s not something that should be the sole or even main form of communication. Liking a status update on Facebook or a pic on Instagram is cool. But don’t let that be the end-all when it comes to connecting with someone. Engaging them on social media is pretty casual. If you want things to go to the next level, you need to do more than that.

It never crosses your mind to literally write a romantic letter. Ask any woman what she finds to be romantic and it’s pretty safe to say that one of the things she’s going to mention is receiving a letter from the object of her affection. And while it’s an awesome thing to receive in basically any form, try and avoid using a lot of email. The words are still the same, but there’s something about making the time to write it out on a piece of paper (and possibly even mail it), that makes it so much more meaningful. (Ladies, we’re willing to bet that there are a few fellas who feel this way too!)

You use electronics during dates. Although we’ve kind of already touched on this, it’s certainly worth repeating. Whoever is trying to reach you while you’re on a date, 9.5 times out of 10, can wait. In fact, this is one of the benefits that comes with texting because if something is an emergency, all you have to do is look at your phone and read about it. But when it comes to answering calls or paying attention to notifications while you’re on a date, there’s no way to get around the fact that it basically translates as being pretty rude. Put your phone of vibrate…or better yet, set it to “silent”. And by all means, leave the rest of the electronics at home! Those are meant for being at coffee shops when you’re alone; not on dates with other people.

Your date tells you so. And then there’s the really telling sign: when your date actually tells you that you are online way too much. In the age of technology, there are all kinds of information that we constantly have access to. But the awesome thing about the internet is that it will be there waiting for you…when you get home. Yes, one of the best chances you have of like growing into love is to…unplug. Literally.

No one feels special dating a tech tool, shape up!

Esther