Circle of Trust

Let's go to where the root of all dating begins.

It begins with how we relate to people outside of our families. These are the people that sustain us. They are also the people that sometimes help introduce us to other people. These are the people we call our friends. Now degrees of friendships vary. But the rules are the same, whether acquaintance or friend there are certain rules that apply.

Rule One: Don't date friends unless you are explicit in your intentions. Like I said, these are the people who sustain you. The more you jerk them around emotionally, the more you're going to lose them. Once a potential relationship arises. You have to either shoot it down, or make your intentions clear. Don't do that we can fool around business but I won't say anything about if you don't. If you want to have a friend with benefits, that situation needs to be clear. People think all these rules are unnecessary because we feel trapped by them. They make us seem a little juvenile. We can mess around but not be affectionate? That sounds crazy right? No. It's not. Affection and sex are two ends of the same park. One side being the emotional and the other being the purely animalistic urge to (pardon my lack of tact) splurge...Sounds so wrong.

Rule Two:
If you know that two friends are in a "situation" you do not engage on either side. Because then you have the potential to lose both friends and tarnish your reputation. If you're a slut, in all honesty nobody's really going to care as long as it doesn't interfere with the group dynamic. You can slut up and down the Boulevard as long as it isn't a friend's ex, or especially someone's current "situation." These rules also involve how much of a friend you are to the parties involved. If you're a totally bitch and decide you don't care about the other person's feelings, then be careful. Because even if that other person isn't offended, that doesn't mean that others aren't watching and totally Judging! Yes, that's right. You get judged. Face it. People don't just take things at face value anymore. You gotta put your morals where your mouth is. Don't be a skank. Because it's unbecoming and Karma always has a way of coming back to get you. ALWAYS. ( I know that sounds personal right? Karma is serious business. I know you don't believe in Karma because of how bad things happen to good people. Well sometimes, you catch other people's Karma, or just misunderstand your Karma as punishment when it's really a life lesson. Whatever, Karma, God's plan... basically you reap what you sew. So don't sew anything skanky. Karma can be instant and delayed.)

Rule Three:
If you tell someone you want to be friends. Don't go back on it. If you know you're an extremely flirtatious drunk...just try to avoid that person. Because they're always going to want to be nice to you and you're always gonna let them. And genuinely nice people bruise easily...But to those genuinely nice people need grow a spine.

It's nice that you're nice and it's nice that you think it can get you everything. But sometimes, setting boundaries is the best course of action. Because no matter how much drunk kissing you do, none of that translates into a relationship in the real world. So stand up for yourself.

We're going to leave off with three rules for today. Learn them well and prosper...Did I miss out on anything? Let me know.

Rule Four:(As added by an anonymous reader.)
Being "new" to a group or a "lifestyle" - i.e. being gay - is not an excuse for shady behavior that we all know is against universal norms. so for all of you freshmen and "youngins" out there, stop it with the excuses! at the end of the day, you know what you want and what you don't. be honest with yourself and be honest with others.

(I totally agree with this rule. Don't give bullshit excuses. You're old enough to know what is acceptable. You're not new to life...what happened to the past 18+ years?)