In an age of Snapchat and sneaky links, many wonder what happened to old-fashioned dating culture. Why aren’t people asking each other on dates anymore? We see stories in movies and hear from our parents about a time when it was normal to ask a girl to dinner and a movie, a picnic in the park, or even ice skating. But looking around today, it seems that casual dating has become the exception, replaced by the “talking stages” many teenagers feel trapped in. So what gives? Are the boys getting uglier? Date prices more expensive? Or have we finally reached a point where our phones have replaced the need to connect in person?

To get to the bottom of the issue, I decided to ask the Timpview boys themselves what is stopping them from setting up a date. Senior Tim Shumway, self-proclaimed woman avoider, sheds light on why he’s hesitant to make a move even though so many women are fawning over him. He stated that not only was there a fear of rejection, but also he didn’t “want the girl to get the wrong idea. I want to just go have a fun time hanging out with a girl, and asking them out might make them think I want something more serious.” It seems that at Timpview, when people hear you are going on a date, we automatically assume you’ve found your soulmate. This pressure is felt heavily by students trying to ask someone casually out on a date and often discourages setting up romantic rendezvous unless they are totally sure they want to seriously date someone.

In order to truly get the inside scoop on this topic, I had to venture into uncharted territory and do what most of you reading this story were too afraid to do. Talk to a woman. After interviewing my own sister Abby Russ, she emphasized that “any girl loves to be asked on dates, no matter the boy or what the date is. I wish guys felt more comfortable asking girls out for fun.” While it may come as a shock to many guys, girls actually do enjoy going on dates. Most girls are pleasantly surprised and delighted by a boy showing effort and interest in hanging out with them. Abby also believes that “a first date is always just fun, there’s not an expectation for a relationship,” so there’s no need to feel pressured to take things past a single casual outing together.

Offering a different perspective on the world of dating, I thought to consult Senior Fisher Ross, a foremost expert on the subject. He first asked his girlfriend out with an invitation to watch a movie at Cinemark and grab ice cream at Farr’s. Originally, he “was pretty nervous about the date, but after a while, it was super fun. It was just the first impression that was scary.” He believes once you get over the initial nerves of talking to a woman, they’re actually very enjoyable to be around. He left off with a word of advice to all the single boys out there. “If you really have your eye on a girl, take her out. You can’t live your life in fear. No regrets.”

In conclusion, it seems like students are worried dates are only meant for serious relationships and that by casually asking someone out, they might come off too forward. But the truth is, everyone likes to go on dates, and it doesn’t always have to lead to something big. So if there’s a pretty girl in your class, a cute boy, or anybody you’d like to get to know, you should ask them out. Dates are one of the best ways to have fun and spend time with our classmates, and it’s time we normalize going on dates at Timpview again. So with the question of what happened to the casual dating of the past answered, only one thing is left to be asked. Do you want to go on a date with me?