Just because you did not end up dating or in a relationship with anyone as a result of following someone's advice does not mean that the advice was terrible (unless, of course, the advice was to go to a men-only event or club if you are wanting to meet women, etc.). Joining volunteer groups is a great way to meet…

In what way is a book club considered to be volunteer work..?

Yeah - that can be the case a lot of times, unfortunately. I met a lot of single women while volunteering at an animal shelter (though, I either wasn't single or looking for a relationship from that if I was), and there were also plenty of single guys volunteering there as well (I led one of the "teams", so got to…

Have you tried joining a volunteer group?

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Socks + Okabashi.

This is one of the most important factors; it goes both ways. Don't expect something of your partner that you aren't willing to provide them yourself.

Not to mention, it goes both ways; the woman also needs to be willing to attend the "Paul Bunyan" man's events - dressed accordingly - as well. There should be just as many trips to whatever events the man enjoys as there are to fancy dress-up ones that the woman likes (that is if he is wanting his partner to attend…

Seems like they are doing plenty good with their lives, given all the rescue and advocacy work they do. The guy even changed careers to do this work - which includes taking his therapy dogs to area schools and hospitals, promoting autism awareness, and participating in charities that help children and dogs. Which is a…

She left (most of) her estate to Lee and Paula Strasberg. Lee left it to Anna, who was his second wife.

Trying to avoid racism is entirely possible. Lessening the amount of intolerance and racism one may be subjected to by moving to a more diverse and tolerant area is also entirely possible. Do you think they would all be better off staying in an all-white, conservative, intolerant community? Would that be better than…

"But her other issues have solutions. Towns like Berkeley, California or New York City have large populations of kids that look like Payton." - That's your "solution"? Just pick up and move from Ohio to NYC or Berkeley? And just how should they pay for the cost of the move, loss of income until they can find jobs…

Well, it seems the issue was important enough for you to initiate a comment thread about it in a comments section on a site designed specifically to encourage debate. And sarcasm isn't really helping your argument, either.

You seem awfully worked up (i.e. bitter) about a stranger doing something incredibly thoughtful and meaningful for their fiancee.

"My opening statement in my original post was, you will read above, "he sounds more like he's in love with the idea of romance than the woman."" - Exactly; the intent in your original comment was to criticize him (for everything I pointed out you were criticizing him for) based on your assumptions as to his reasoning…

So, you stand by your criticism of him based off assumptions you make of their relationship as you see it through the filter of your own preferences and experience? My point is that your most recent reasoning, which is fine (we all have our preferences), is not what you started with.

The intent in your original comment was to criticize him for putting time and exceptional effort into providing her a gift that is unique and meaningful that is intended to last a lifetime - framing it with your own preferences and experience, bolstered by assumptions that he does not spend time doing things with her…

Yes, some days he spent 14 - 15 hours. Not ALL days. "I reckon I spent 20 full days [over an 18-month period] getting enough gold for the ring." - that mounts to an average of about 6 hours per week.

Or, it was simply something he had always wanted to try doing - as stated in the original article - and this was the perfect opportunity and reason to do it. It doesn't sound like his spending an average of 6+/- hours per week (based on his estimate) pursuing a hobby in his own free time (to ultimately provide a…