Who doesn't love a game?

The Dating Game consists of many levels: The Hunt, The Bait and Hook 'em, The Mating Dance and Guesstimation. Guesstimation is the pinnacle point at which you are seeing someone and wonder if you're serious enough with the person to quit the Dating Game.

It's funny how some relationships work. For something as common and necessary for everyone, the rules of relationships are not universal. From what I've seen and from what I've experienced, most relationships begin with a LOT of mind games and guessing.

The problem is, noone is willing to talk and be honest at that point. They're afraid of what the other person is thinking and they're afraid that what they're thinking may not coincide with what the other person is thinking which would make the whole damn situation awkward. Why do you think there are so many women's magazines that seem to have the answers to decipher "What Men are Thinking" and "How to Let Him Know You Like Him Without Actually Saying It"?

I'm not saying that I'm the most outward person with enough self-confidence to say what I mean and mean what I say. In fact, you could me right up there with the people who do all the guessing and wondering (many friends can attest for this -_-). I'm willing to talk about my feelings to everyone else but the actual person, in fact. However, I do like to preach and live by the philosophy that honesty and communication is the key to avoiding the drama that comes with relationships.

Many problems arise from everyone having different perceptions on what an "exclusive relationship" and "casual dating" is. I've heard of odd ways of people hooking up and remaining in a serious relationship without so much as a word to each other about the matter. I don't know if I can speak for guys, but I personally know girls who will cling on to one sign a guy is interested in dating them as a key sign that they're officially in an exclusive relationship. I myself need a collection of signs plus a verbal agreement that we're exclusive. If there's none of that, I am free agent and noone has to know about the Others. Simple as that. See, I'm technical like that.

However, sometimes mind games and guessing are essential. The drama is what makes life interesting and worth learning more about. Not only do we eventually see the true side of a person, we learn when to avoid them when we 'see the signs'. The Dating Game is merely a means of a learning experience in the form of a game: your emotions are the game pieces that you risk jeopardizing on the board called Life. Sometimes you just don't get the numbers you hope to roll, and at times you may get kicked off the board. But the most important thing is that you go back to Start and try to make it to the End.