Sex and Dating: You asked, we answered
How does one start dating? Like when is it time to let someone know you like them and would like to date them?
One of the worst things you can do is sit on your feelings, obsessing over someone and annoying all your friends with rants about how cute their hair looks. You can literally just tell them and either they 1) reject you, you listen to some Mitski, stop wasting your time and move on to someone else or 2) you have a whole summer to come up with a disgustingly cute Esperanza ask to win those #freetickies. But don’t do it through a missed encounter. They’re flattering to get but … anonymous. This isn’t a Netflix movie.
For those of us with the confidence to ask someone out but the perfectionist anxiety of doing it absolutely right, don’t wait too long. No one likes to be led on — even if you do eventually decide to go for it, they might’ve already given up on hope that you’ll finally do it. The thought that if you wait, they’ll catch feelings for you too is just a path to pain.
I went through a breakup recently, any suggestions for how to get over it?
Relationships take time. Lots and lots of time. Before your ex, you filled that time in other ways, whether it was working on a passion project, shooting hoops at the Rec or keeping up with the Kardashians. Now is the time to remember, or even redefine, who you are as an individual. You might have a hole in your heart right now, but you are a whole person on your own. The ability to do whatever you want whenever you want is a blessing of singledom so seize this time to do just that.
Another way to keep moving forward is to realize all the other romantic (or hookup) possibilities out there. Swiping on a dating app is a beautifully refreshing reminder that other people are into you and that, whenever you’re ready, you might just be into them too.
Lastly, don’t beat yourself for not moving on “fast enough.” None of us do. You’re sad because you experienced something meaningful. Even though it’s over, there are memories you will carry with you and lessons that will shape you, and that’s a beautiful thing.
Is it true that if you write for the Thresher, you’re a virgin?
According to a scientific poll, the average Thresher editorial staff purity score is 38.67 (n = 15). Do what you want with that information.
More from The Rice Thresher
The Wellbeing Center should be transparent about its true confidentiality policies
Before you attend a counseling session at the Rice counseling center, you will be told that “the RCC maintains strict standards regarding privacy.” You will find statements from the university that your mental health record will not be shared with anyone outside of extreme situations of imminent harm, and only then that your information will be shared with only the necessary officials. This sounds great, except that these assurances bear no teeth whatsoever — no enforcement agency ensures that Rice follows its public confidentiality promises, and there are no penalties for Rice if they break them. The Wellbeing and Counseling Centers should more directly communicate the limits of their confidentiality policies when compared to unaffiliated counseling centers, and students in sensitive situations should take the necessary precautions to protect their information.
We’re in student media to learn
This week marks the last issue of the Thresher for the year, and for the seniors like myself, our last issue ever. I have been a part of the Thresher since freshman year. And it would not be an exaggeration to say it has defined my Rice experience. As someone pursuing a career in journalism after graduation, there has been no better place to learn than at this paper.
Philanthropy doesn’t excuse slavery
In January, the Rice Board of Trustees announced plans to move the Founder’s memorial to another area of the academic quad as part of a whole redesign, adding additional context of his “entanglement” with slavery. This comes despite continual calls from the student body to not have the enslaver displayed in the quad regardless of the context provided. It would be just for these calls to action and the majority of the Task Force Committee who voted to not keep it there that the Board of Trustees decide to not keep the memorial prominently displayed in the quad at all.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.