Well, I suppose I know what romance means to me. Apparently, you also have your own definition. However, your idea of romance is no better or worse than mine, so there's no need to take that condescending, unpleasant tone with me. I think she wanted to hear your idea of romance. I confess to wondering the same things that she does: your position seems so antiseptic at times. Indeed, that is what I really wanted.  I apoligise if you felt I was being rude. What is your idea of romance, Watermelon? Yours sincerely, Dianne

Sorry, PSU didn't offer a Women 101 class, and if I can never get a date, precisely how am I expected to understand their romantic side? Do you understand your own romantic side?  What do you want out of a romance?  If you do, then you understand women's romantic sides. Women aren't another species you must realise.  There is no code to decipher.   Just treat women like people, and people you like to be with. Also, you should probably stop trying to cut pie pieces in people's personalities.  Things overlap, things are related.  I don't go around thinking, today I will be a friend, tomorrow I will be a romantic, the next I will be a bitch. Yours sincerely, Dianne

We've gone from straw men to red herrings. What's next? Umm...burgundy sloths?

It depends on why you want a relationship in the first place. Are you in it to get laid, or to build a partnership that could last a lifetime? Priorities, priorities... I find it very fascinating how you treat the two different things as mutually exclusive. It's almost pathological. OK, there are people who want short-term sex, and people who want a long-term committment...how many relationships have you personally seen that don't lean strongly toward one side or the other? If you only feel so-so about a relationship of either kind, you're probably not motivated enough to be in one in the first place.

Please, just start thinking of having a wonderful life with your lovely wife and creating some children.  Enjoy THEIR childhoods. Again, why are you trying to silence me? I am going to have a wonderful but short life with my wife, and hopefully we'll have the 3 or 4 kids we want. But why should that stop me from posting my story here, and advising other decent men that they have better choices overseas. Why do you feel so threatened by this? DB

Sorry, PSU didn't offer a Women 101 class, and if I can never get a date, precisely how am I expected to understand their romantic side? Do you understand your own romantic side?  What do you want out of a romance?  If you do, then you understand women's romantic sides. Women aren't another species you must realise.  There is no code to decipher.   Just treat women like people, and people you like to be with. And unless you're an exciting man, they in turn will treat you like sh*t. DB