Is Dating Like a Cattle Field?

Do you know which is the male cow and which is the female cow? How can someone tell? The cow on the left is a female cow, but what about the ones in the bottom pictures? You can click on the pictures to enlarge.
That was my original thought, but my thoughts have since shifted to another subject we all can relate to. Humans, and how people compared the dating scene to a meat market, or a field of cattle.


I supposed it could be a similar in the way that there are a lot of different types of people and you don't know what you're going to get. But dating, or mate searching shouldn't be that way once you have settled on someone. I always believed it is how you present and yourself in the "open market", that yields what you end up with. Though this might not be true for some people, as there is such a thing as luck, and being in the right place at the right time. While I was dating, I didn't live by the same definition as many people. Dating to me was not hitting the fourth base after dinner, or even the first base if it was the first time you went out together. But "the act" was acceptable or expected by many people that were dating.

I met my SO on a Kung-Fu group campfire outing at New Brighton Beach, which I coordinated. Although we worked at the same company, same building, we were on different floors, different departments, and did not know each other.

My SO was invited by one of my KungFu group members. Even at the gathering, we were as far apart and as unfriendly as two people could be at a very close knit participated group. The majority of the group members were unattached, very single, including myself. It was what seemed as too brief of a moment in my life that I was really- really single. Although we all were on different levels of expectation and search mode, it didn't stop us from flirting like fools. But the great thing about this type of setting was being that we were part of a "sports" group, there is mutual respect among the members, and having worked at the same company just raises the bar a bit more as to how flirtatious one could be. So the result was a bunch of great single bachelors having a good time by the campfire.

Everyone was having a blast, including my unknown to be SO, until he blurted out a bold remark. It was so upsetting that I leaped up on the picnic table and was about to jump over the crowd to strangle him. One of the guys in my Kung-Fu group stopped me and pulled me back. I don't know why that guy stopped me, I mean, little old me, what could I have done to that 6'1 1/2" guy?

We should have left it at that...but of course things started being much more colorful in the months ahead...

You know, come to think of it, the selection period was a bit like a cattle field. Move them along if they didn't meet the standard requirements. All the candidates were all different, yet very much the same. What do you think of the term "meat market?" Is it because people try to bargain with each other? What was it like when you were dating?





The lovely pictures are courtesy from Michigan Grandma's farm. 

22 Comments

  1. Very interesting story! I used to work for my hubby and that's how I met him...Christine

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    1. Most people don't believe in dating in the same company, but I almost think that this is a great way to meet people. Since it gives you time to scope out their personality. I think if you don't work in the same department, or field- it should work fine.

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  2. oh wow, Amanda, I am so thrilled hearing your love story, funny in a way, I can just imagine you jumping to retaliate....who would know you two will end up with each other?

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    1. Weird things happen all the time don't they? They say, the love and hate are very close. I think it is one of those things, if the incident wasn't there, it wouldn't have drawn us closer.

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  3. They all look like cows to me, not a bull or steer in the bunch.
    I found you essay interesting, I never had much experience in dating, never really was part of the "meat market". I did observe it from a distance and found the process unapealing. I was fortunate, a family friend, 10 years older than I proposed on our 3rd date and we have been married 43 years.

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    1. No, I think your story is much more interesting! smiles. I would love to hear about it one day. Wow, 43 years! Congratulations.

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  4. I have often heard the dating scene referred to as a "feeding frenzy" and that's what the bar and club scene of forty years ago seemed like to me. Most of us back in nursing school dated medical students since Charity Hospital had Tulane and LSU med schools along with our nursing school. I guess that's why so many of my classmates marrried medical students or young docs. I met the father of my oldest son at
    the Air Force Officer's Club in Massachusetts. I was a military brat so I used to go to the base.

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    1. Interesting. This is true that most doctors will marry doctors. I can see why, they spend so much time with their classmates that some thing is bound to grow. Most of them- love.

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  5. I always thought it had something to do with the way men will stand at the butchers and look at the steaks to get a fine cut of meat, and some men when they look at a woman (never in the eye, but lower), you feel like a slab of meat in the butcher's case. That's my take. Love your story. I'm glad neither of you got hurt that night. :-)

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    1. haha. That is totally funny. I think the phrase - cattle field - refers to the vast amount of subjects, and everyone sort of doing the same thing. I agree that the men do tend to look at the woman's backside more, and yes, I could see that being why people call a woman a cattle, cow, steak, milk. I don't think the Kung Fu members would ever allow a fight, it would be against the culture.

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  6. Very interesting and it does seem that many a couple started out that way...hot under the collar :)

    Is it this way for boys, to tease women they like? hoping it will get them noticed?

    For me, I didn't date anyone really. I had a long distance friendship and eventually turned into a relationship and a world wind of migration to another country.

    I now want the dates.

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  7. Nice cows.

    I consider myself lucky. I met my husband when I was 12, and we got married when I was 21. We've now been married 24 years.

    There was some dating and flirting with various people in between there, but nothing I'd consider a 'meat market'- not something I'm upset over missing. I think that whole scene comes later when people start to get desperate to meet someone. So hard to find that right person.

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  8. Dating...no advice here. I haven't dated since 1961.

    I’ve enjoyed looking over your blog. I came across it through another blog I follow. I am now a follower of yours as well. Feel free to look over my blog and perhaps become a follower of it if you wish.

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  9. Oh a lovely story of romance - I met my hubby at a party and we were married just over a year later. I guess one cementing factor was me being away on a pre-planned holiday for 5 weeks. I realised then how much I missed him!

    Yes, a lovely tale. We live in a farming community - I have many cow/beast tales.

    My CC is rural and homegrown!

    Dx

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  10. Well I don't know much about dating these days as I have been married for 22 years. But, I can tell you my daughter often goes to gay bars to dance because the boys at the other bars are apparently too aggressive! Jeez!

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  11. I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come on over to my blog and check it out. God bless, Lloyd

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  12. well i know the cow is female when it has elongated nipples but all the cow that i saw have those. so now i am confused. hahaha

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  13. Interesting question to pose and a great read.

    I met my man working the local cinema together - working shifts together were our dates :)

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  14. Alright, so I am getting more tiny pic of your SO.. Interesting.. the whole pic is clearer now.. :)

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  15. Even more reasons why I haven’t started dating yet! I have so many ideas of what I want in a life mate and no ideas of where he is! I hope he is looking for me, because that is surely probably maybe the only way we are going to meet.


    Elizabeth T, Early Riser

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