If you’re single and not going out a few times a week for random hookups, or have a few booty calls on speed dial, then by the laws of society you’re a fucking loser. It’s pretty dumb if you ask me, being single is hard enough without additional pressures. Like I’m sure the majority of single people don’t want to be alone, even if they bs on and on about how empowered they feel. Who wouldn’t want the intimacy and passion that you can only find consistently in an actual relationship?
For that very reason, I imagine a lot of people settle, more or less. I know that for myself, for as long as I can remember, every girl that I’ve had a mutual attraction had some kind of significant other already. Honestly, I hate it, but I get it. If you have people, probably every single day, blowing up your dms or whatever the kids say nowadays, why not just perpetually be in a relationship til you find someone you like more, break up with the first person, rinse and repeat. And then maybe you meet someone like me, and you’re like “you’re a really great guy, but I’m in a relationship”. Which is dangerous, because if you’re pretty certain the person really likes you, then what they’re really saying is “you have to prove your worth and dedication to me before I give up what I’ve already got going”, but if you’re wrong then you end up being some creepy harasser. I’ve literally had only one serious relationship, and surprise surprise she was dating one of my friends the night we met. A week later we hooked up, the next day she broke things off with my friend, and we had a multi year relationship after that. I still feel shitty to this day about how I betrayed him, but hey I would’ve never had a proper gf to this day if I hadn’t, and at least she didn’t have to even spend one hour being single. Since then I’ve tended to just drop it when I get the “I’m already in a relationship” line. But I’ve realized I will always be alone otherwise, as anyone I’m ever attracted to will always have been swooped up by someone who had the privilege of meeting them first, as though thats what all your bullshit Disney stories taught you.