Do you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
I’ll go have a little dinner with my wife, but not much more than that. Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife, but sometimes the juice isn’t worth the squeeze because Valentine’s Day is sorta forced.
Valentine’s Day reminds me of this study done on monkeys. It might be a little off but bare with me because I’m paraphrasing something my friend told me.
Researchers took a monkey and gave him a treat every 8th time he pulled a lever. After a while the monkey stopped pulling the lever because he got bored. They did the same thing with another monkey but randomized when he got the treat (it wasn’t every 8th time). That monkey kept pulling the lever for way longer because he didn’t know when it was coming next (kind of sounds like slot machines haha).
Basically, when it’ predictable, it is not as enjoyable. I’ve never liked Valentine’s Day for that reason.
This guest post is from Chris Schonberger, Editor-in-Chief of Gradspot.com. He has never actually hooked up with a co-worker, but he once received unprompted relationship advice from three middle-age women during his days as an intern.
A Practical Guide to Office Romance
So, you’ve managed to buck the odds and land yourself a new job in this tanking economy. Excited to hook up with all your officemates? You should be. But you need to tread carefully—no matter how “progressive” companies claim to be, some HR departments will still come down on you like a ton of bricks if they think you’re using the terms “spread” and “sheets” in a context that doesn’t involve Excel.
That said, the taboo of the office romance is fading to some extent. Yes, there was a time when a little cubicle copulation was considered anathema to a successful career. “Business and pleasure don’t mix,” said the conventional wisdom. “Sex in the office is harassment, even if it’s consensual.” But while many people profess a “don’t deuce where you eat” philosophy with regards to getting it cracking in the workplace, the stats show that at least 40% of workers have tried it.
Young people are working longer hours, and as the work-life balance shifts further toward the “work is life” end of the spectrum, the office has become the new bar (with the only difference being that you have to wear headphones when you listen to “Living on a Prayer”). Before you dive in head first, consider a few crucial questions: Will an “affair de cubicle” alienate you from the rest of the office? Will your suit accommodate a surreptitious Texas tuck when the CEO rounds the corner? Do you really have no other prospects?
If you do decide to play with fire, here are the different scenarios you might run into:
Dating an equal. If you are dating another newb, it’s mostly up to the two of you to decide if competing for the same promotions, raises, and projects will breed ill will. Most other people won’t care as long as there’s not too much repulsive canoodling in the break room. However, think about your work-life balance—at the end of the day the last thing you want is a reminder of work, even if that reminder has boobs.
Dating a superior. When the boardroom becomes the boudoir, you’d better make sure you’re not the one under the table on all fours (unless you’re plugging in the projector). Let’s be blunt: sexing your boss is almost always a bad idea. Even if you successfully pull off an unethical plan to get ahead through sexual favors, the rumor mill is quick to spot an unjust promotion. If you really “like” your boss, check your feelings to make sure they are genuine. Then check his or her hand for a wedding ring. Then quit the job and get it cracking.
A couple weeks ago, our very own Ploomy Girls Elle and Kat did a couple of quick interviews at some bars in Manhattan during the holidays.
In the first video, you’ll hear what some women think are the “Top 5 Things that Make a Guy Attractive” and also “How to Know When the Relationship is Over.”
In the second vid, watch as this guy explains what a “douchebag” is and how guys are only interested in one thing known as the prize.
And in the final video, once you get passed the bartender’s accent, you realize he just wants what all guys want…
The other night a girl friend of mine called complaining her boyfriend said he’d call at 9:30pm, but it’s half past 10 and he hadn’t called yet. A co-worker reports to me that her brother always forgets Mother’s Day, and he put his name on the present she bought. These are two very classic examples of behaviors that some guys do that drive women up the wall—not calling when they say they’ll call (according to Michelle K.) and forgetfulness (according to Jenny K.).
Every woman has different tolerance levels for obnoxiousness, cockiness and all things that drive them outright crazy! I asked roughly two dozen girls, “What are things that guys do that drive you nuts.” You may be surprised by some of the 15 things that made the list.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to bash on guys. Some of the thoughts and gripes are specific to the individual woman and are not meant to stereotype men (or women, for that matter).
This article is a Ploomy Writing Challenge Finalist.
To vote for this article, give it a rating at the end of the article.
By: John Salvatore
Everyone knows that one of the toughest parts of being a twenty-something living in the city is finding a good roommate. Roommate problems span from somebody never paying bills to mounds of dirty clothes piling up to dishes growing mold in the sink because somebody didn’t clean up after himself.
This article is a Ploomy Writing Challenge Finalist.
To vote for this article, give it a rating at the end of the article.
By: Sharon
Dating reminds me of the game MONOPOLY. Your main goal is to get Boardwalk. Everything is going well, and then all of a sudden you get a minor setback. You flip that Chance card over that says, “Go to Jail. Go directly to Jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200”. Next, you are blind-sighted by your opponent who takes over and gains possession of Boardwalk. After that, everything just goes downhill and you say f**k it! I’m done!
Let’s face it, it’s scientifically proven that women are more perceptive than men, thus the term “woman’s intuition” was coined—that gut feeling or that (suspicious) hunch. Moreover, women have an innate ability to pick up and decipher non-verbal cues and in addition, have an eye for detail. Having said that, it’s no wonder that women can usually sense when men are dishonest, insincere and moody, while men can’t pick up on such. Women know more than they let out about men’s behaviors, actions and quirks. Here are 10 things women know about men…some things men probably didn’t know women knew.
Setting: another Saturday night in Anytown, USA.
Mission: to go home by yourself.
Huh? Yes, tonight you’re taking a backseat and playing wingman. You might already be in a relationship, so your game is all bottled up. Or you might have been scoring like Wilt lately, so you just want to spread the wealth. Through the role of a wingman, who can ironically double as a breastman or assman, you can utilize your swagger vicariously through your homie. Having a happy ending for him is just as rewarding as it would be for you. While the amount of your single guy friends dwindle with age, there are those that just need an assist to score. Learning these tips on how to be a good wingman is easy. And here’s how to give your best John Stockton impersonation.
15 Songs to Show Her You Have a Soft Side (Even If You Really Don’t)
April 22, 2008 | jkingsbury | 4 CommentsMen are by their very nature prickly beasts. As cavemen we had to hunt for survival back in the day. We had to create the wheel to make pots for porridge and to hold our beers. So because we’ve been hardwired primarily for survival, we are sometimes hard-headed and stubborn as mules. There are times when you need to help set the mood or just express emotions that don’t come easily. We need music to help us reach our softer side which is buried deep in our DNA. Here are 15 songs to show her you have a soft side (even if you really don’t).
As a woman, I often wonder why we bother asking our male counterparts for their opinion on certain topics. Our views too often greatly differ; I mean, duh, men are from Mars and women are from Venus!
One of top things women shouldn’t ask men is “Do these jeans make me look fat?” (Am I right, guys?!) In case you guys get asked, here are 6 responses that hopefully won’t result in the evil eye or silent treatment.
photography by Lex in the City
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Since the dawn of mankind, men and women have boggled their minds trying to understand one another. Moreover, men have struggled to figure out what it takes to make the women in their lives happy.
Honestly guys, while women can be very complex, most don’t require much to keep them happy. I asked both single and attached women alike, “What does it take to keep you happy in a relationship?” In no particular order, here’s how they answered in the form of ten helpful tips.
photography by kalandrakas
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Let’s face it, first dates are tough. After you’ve finally figured out where you’re going to take her, what you’re going to wear, and what cologne to put on, you still have one tall order to fill: What are you going to talk about on the first date? This is where many women say most men come up short.
We asked 35 real women to tell us what men should know about first date conversation. This is what they said.
