On Bad Dates

Bad dates are better than mediocre ones. A mediocre date leads to hedging and excuses (he said that call was important) and uncomfortable self examination (do you really want to be the person who decides not to see someone again because of how they wear their socks?).

Bad dates are cut and dried and comforting. They are a reminder that while one may be forever alone, it's not (only?) because you are inherently unlovable, or have terrible taste in socks: it's by choice because nothing, nothing is as bad as spending another minute in the company of a person like that.