By what standard is your stock plummeting? Please give yourself some credit. There's more to you than money or a 22-yr-old tight bod. Your insecurity will do more damage to your relationship than either of the things you mention.

Yup. I'm on the other side of this, and got some flack when I started dating a shorter guy with some extra weight (even though the chemistry was always there) at 24. Now that we're hitting our late twenties, more of my friends are in/seeking long term relationships instead of fun flings, and attitudes are changing.…

I too find it really, really saddening that dating/marriage has to be reduced to a competition. This sucks all the fun and joy out of being in a relationship with a fellow-human in the first place.

It really kinda sorta is. For those certain types of guys, dating a woman hasn't got much to do with whether you really like her— it's more to do with whether your friends will want to fuck her, when you're seen in public with her.

"It frustrates me to no end when I see female friends dismiss guys because they don't make a ton of money, or they're not tall enough, or conventionally attractive enough. "

First of all,Clive Owens wife is a cutie. She's about on his level attractiveness wise. Not that that matters AT ALL because even if she wasn't, it sounds like he really loves and respects her. And it's okay if Clive cheats on her because some random blogger on the internet decided he didn't like her look? Really?

And then there's this.

Why ? Being single is awesome. I have been single for the last 2 years.

The commentary ("nailing", "laying pipe to the hottest redhead with the biggest tits") - jesus fucking christ. Barrrrrf. Barf all over everything.

My current beau was told by a mutual friend not to try anything with me because I would never go for someone "like him". Whatever ideas she has about dating up, I wish she'd just kept them to herself because she was wrong, not only about what kind of guy he was, but what kind of guy I was interested in. Thankfully he…

I totally was rude to my bf when he hit on because I thought he was a hot loser who hangs out at the gym all day with nothing else to talk about. I was sooo wrong and I'm glad I went out with out him and learned how awesome he is.

It's awesome that you found someone who you are attracted to, but I think we should be careful about criticizing other people's preferences. No matter how fantastic a guy is, if I don't find him physically attractive, I cannot make that up via compatibility-it just ain't there. I've had girlfriends who sharply…

I hate it too. One of my exes I was told I was too pretty for. This bf people say I'm dating up and too ugly to be with him. WTF? If you ask my bf he says we're equal. You cannot win that game and it's why I refuse to play. No one knows the dynamics of your relationships.

That slideshow

I like to think me and Dr. Mister Yoga Nerd are and have always been equals. When we met in med school, that was definitely the case. But now that we've graduated and picked our specialities, our earning potential is now RADICALLY different. And it honestly freaks me out. Especially because I'm now married to a…

I have actually been a little concerned at times that Jack Donaghy and Ron Swanson, while amazing characters, might give people a skewed idea of what Republicans are like and encourage them to associate with them.

Ugh, yes, just the whole idea of tallying up and comparing different people's human worth is revolting. Why can't we just say it was a mismatch and leave it at that? Why does "ambition" (or any other characteristic) make somebody objectively more valuable as a person? Just, ew.

I feel the same. My dad often belittles one of my exes for being a creative-type person that worked a service job which allowed him to pursue his creative hobby. It never bothered me that he hadn't finished his BA and had no desire for a "real" job, as long as he was happy and able to take care of himself. Every time…

In my single days, I think I purposely date down in looks because I wanted a smart man. I really sold myself short. I ended up with handsome, intelligent, kind, giving in bed, affectionate. Just look for someone who makes you happy and fuck all this dating up and down noise.

I really hate the notion of dating 'up' or 'down'. It bothered me — and still bothers me — when my mom says it about my now-ex; yes, we weren't made for each other — I'm far too ambitious compared to him, and we wouldn't have been happy in the long run — but we loved each other a lot, and the relationship worked for…