The South is known for many things… suffocating humidity, great fried chicken, and our warm Southern hospitality, just to name a few. However, there’s also something else to be found in great numbers in the city of Atlanta: a discouraged community of single men and women. Within the last decade, dating in booming metropolitan areas has become more of a chore than a source of contentment, for more reasons than one. In a city such as Atlanta, thriving with culture and opportunity, there’s no limit to the things you can see and experience, just as long as finding a mate isn’t too high on your to-do list.
For singles in the ATL, there’s practically a laundry list of reasons why the cards aren’t in their favor. Aside from the fact that dating in big cities has been mathematically proven to be more difficult, ATL’s dating scene is plagued with a few more unfavorable odds:
- The female-to-male ratio:
Women outnumber men in a severe disproportion in Hotlanta. The pickings are slim for the ladies, and the guys have more options than they can shake a stick at.
- Atlanta’s established homosexual population:
The large number of LGBT residents in the city, which his skewed toward gay males on the higher end, only serves to remove even more otherwise eligible bachelors from the dating pool.
- Stigmata attached to men and women in Atlanta:
Women in Atlanta are often perceived as being very shallow and materialistic, while the men are either suspected to gay or seen as being less likely to commit based on their surrounding environment (the city is practically a vagina buffet).
As an Atlanta native, and based on the personal dating experiences of myself and many others I know, many of the issues and challenges of dating in this city have become quite painfully clear. It seems as though everyone is searching for that “ideal” mate, and very few are willing to compromise or deviate from that established blueprint. It’s become a futile battle between fantasy and reality. The likelihood of finding that “perfect” man or woman is very low, yet many of us are still reluctant to entertain those “close, but no cigar” candidates. You also encounter many singles that are hell-bent on painting a picture of who they hope to be seen as, rather than allowing themselves to be who they truly are. These illusions quickly fade and only result in an even further dejected individual returning to the single corral.
There’s a huge desire to rush things in this city, and little to no patience for the mundane (yet crucially important) beginning stages of dating someone. As a result, the turnover rate in Atlanta is unlike any I’ve ever seen. Many singles here honestly have NO CLUE how to date… the lack of knowledge of the fundamentals of “the game” is embarrassing to say the least. I could go on forever with horror stories that I’ve heard (and suffered through personally). Many singles in Atlanta, like a lot of singles everywhere, allow issues with trust and past pain to carry over from previous mates and relationships into potential situations. No one wants to feel like they have to pay for the mistakes of the last person, and especially not on the first few dates.
Then there’s the age-old syndrome that has beset young hearts everywhere for centuries: those guys or girls who, whether in or out of a relationship, always have an extra set of eyes peeled for someone or something better. Oftentimes it’s not even “better” that they’re after, but more of a security net in case things go south. This is an epidemic in Atlanta, one that even I have fallen victim to on several occasions. Attention spans are less than stellar, largely because the men have so many alternatives and are prone to losing interest both quickly and easily.
Atlanta is a complicated land, where the wayward thrive and commitment goes to die. It’s not impossible to find happiness, though I’m willing to bet it’ll be in Best Buy with a price tag and a warranty. The lucky few who do manage to find love here are probably Creole and have the power of hoodoo working on their behalf. For all the rest, I’d recommend a puppy and/or a Premier DirecTV package. Cinemax is so much more entertaining when you’re single.
