So, the other night DW and the wifey were sitting in a noodle shop near the Cal campus and at the next table over was a young fresh faced couple having an animated discussion about science versus religion. She was the pragmatic. He was the believer. "But science adapts. It gets better. It acknowledges past mistakes and gets smarter." "Tell me one way string theory is so smart it explains my existence more effectively than God." Etc. Etc.
Ah, youth. The DW sighed and recalled those long gone days when he was sure he could change someone's mind about their entire world view over Pad See Ew. Jesus to Darwin by dessert? Bring it on.
Nowadays the DW wouldn't have twelve bored seconds to talk someone into or out of their religion. Please. Believe what you want. Knock yourself out. We can even discuss that stuff in a show-and-tell kinda way and both learn a little something. But change your mind? As the skater kids on the DW's block say- whatevs, brah. Life is too short. (The kids also say- got a light, brah? but that's not as applicable.)
In online dating terms, this means that the DW encourages you not to engage unresolvable situations. Use the online dating profile for the incredible weeding tool it is. If you're an atheist, simply don't consider churchies. If you want a dude who's the life of the party, don't date a dude who says he's shy. If you want a dude to take home to mom, don't take on an Elvis impersonator. Unless, you know, your mom is super duper cool like that.
This seems simple, the DW knows, but judging from your mail it may be simpler in theory than practice. Look, smaller matters of taste are different. You can truly dislike football and learn to date a Raiders fan. You can, like the wifey, love New Order and learn to love a dude who is an avowed New Order hater. But things that get to a dude's core you're best to assume are somewhat static. A nerd will never stop imparting factoids, a politician will never stop shaking hands, a neat freak will never quit cleaning, a banker will never stop being an opportunistic as^hole. You don't have to read too far between the lines for this stuff. If you spot a dealbreaker in a dude's profile, don't try to talk yourself out of it just because you saw something else you did like. Sooner or later, the truth shakes out.
In other words, sure that fresh faced couple at the noodle shop probably went home and boned like caffeinated squirrels. Maybe it was even extra good and edgy naked sauciness because there was a little animosity just below the surface. But you know what? When the semester's over and they don't have classes together anymore because She declares a physics major and He's searching for a niche in faith based community service, that couple's toast.
