Has anyone ever dated someone they never thought in a million years and it ended up working out?

[nuala]

How about this - dating increases in economic downturns:

"Economic woes, it seems, unleash something practically primal in many of us who find ourselves without a partner: a hard-wired desire for companionship.

Some singles are now hunting for dates with the same fervour others are showing hunting for jobs. On matchmaking website eHarmony.com, membership is up 20 per cent despite monthly fees of up to $60, and activity has soared 50 per cent since September at OkCupid.com.

It’s not just the frequency of our dates that’s changing — it’s also the people we’re choosing to spend time with.

"They’re looking for something that’s genuine in a world that isn’t very secure," said Bathsheba Birman, co-founder of the Chicago dating event Nerds at Heart. "With headlines full of why you can’t trust established institutions that you thought you could . . . people are re-examining their own values."

Downturn dating - Nova Scotia News - TheChronicleHerald.ca (http://thechronicleherald.ca/ArtsLife/1130948.html - broken link)

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by onegreatnurse

I used to be far less open minded about certain issues but as I matured, not so much...and we've had some threads on these topics, but I'll name a few examples of what I'm talking about, such as for example, have you ever thought you would never date any of the following: a short guy (for the women), someone overweight, not of the same race/religion, long distance, not college educated, older, younger, single parent (not just MOMS), smoker, etc.

And the question is twofold so.....did it work out and why or why not?

I want to hear about your experiences...thanks!!

I think it's good to have strict standards if they're based on experience. For example, if you tried dating outside of your race but it never worked out because of the racial difference, then I can understand why you'd be reluctant to ever try it again. But some people have their minds made up that certain differences can never be overcome so they don't even give it a try. As I've gotten older, I've learned to more flexible about certain things and more rigid about others. When I was in my 20s, I told myself I would never date someone who had kids, who was taller, who was older, or who lived in another city. But I ended up relaxing all of these requirements. Things never worked out, but it was always boiled down to personality issues. But I've also learned what to be more rigid about. When I was in my 20s, I dated a smoker, I dated someone who was very religious, and someone whose political views were the total opposite of mine. At the time, I could overlook those differences. But as I've gotten older, I've realized I can't be flexible about those things.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by onegreatnurse

I meant to say never thought they would date in a million years, lol!! Forgive me it's late and I'm tired, sunburned, mosquito-bitten and 4th of July'd out!!

I used to be far less open minded about certain issues but as I matured, not so much...and we've had some threads on these topics, but I'll name a few examples of what I'm talking about, such as for example, have you ever thought you would never date any of the following: a short guy (for the women), someone overweight, not of the same race/religion, long distance, not college educated, older, younger, single parent (not just MOMS), smoker, etc.

And the question is twofold so.....did it work out and why or why not?

I want to hear about your experiences...thanks!!

I've come around on this topic myself.
May I ask if anything spurred this thread recently? A friend of yours dating someone that is not their normal type etc?

[onegreatnurse]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

I've come around on this topic myself.
May I ask if anything spurred this thread recently? A friend of yours dating someone that is not their normal type etc?

Ummmm.....you could say that....