In early January, two members of the Asheville twitterati held a fascinating discussion about dating in town. Laura Hope-Gill, a local poet, started the conversation and Catherine Campbell, a local writer, joined in. It’s a fascinating discussion, one that I hope will spur more talk, more thought. I’ve done my best to recreate their public online discussion here, and look forward to your thoughts.

Laura: I believe in dating. #oldschool

Catherine: As do I. Just not very good at it.

Catherine: I had a hard time b/c ppl think women shouldn’t date multiple people at a time. Only men can do that. Ugh.

Laura: “How much I missed simply because I was afraid of missing” #Brida Retweeted by LauraHopeGill

Laura: I think I might offer a workshop. I was so not into it, and doing it all wrong and winding up with disasters. Now, I get it.

Laura: We can and we should. That’s how it used to be. We had suitors. They had to win us. It made them feel good and kept us safe.

Catherine: Yes, and now I look like a “slut” even if I’m not sleeping with my dates. What happened? Sometimes I just want a date.

Laura: Men and women are equally freaked out by relationships. Dating is a cool way to enjoy company w/o getting freaked out, bogged.

Catherine: Agreed.

Laura: I think the fashion has become Instimacy and Instant Relationships b/c we don’t have role models for dating, just sex.

Catherine: Yes, the whole sexting/”hanging out”/marry because the economy=bad has taken over the art of the date. Men don’t woo, either.

Laura: Men want to woo. Good men want to woo. It let’s them feel like men. I think we lost the art of dating.

Catherine: I know! Maybe it’s this town. I have met few men (and women) who are skilled at dating.

Laura: I’m discussing dating with @bookish_type. Is it a lost art? Do we begin relationships too soon?

Laura: A good friend says it takes three months for sociopathic tendencies to manifest. So, dating is the solution.

Catherine: I would absolutely agree with that.

Laura: This town, this generation. It’s tweet, fuck and move in.