Conversations I'd rather not have

Like ones about dating, when someone is looking for advice but I can't give any, because we disagree about first principles--I can't offer much that is constructive because they goals they are pursuing are goals that I don't think should be goals, and so I can't really find means that attain those goals. Well, even if they do attain those goals, they may not lead to "success" in the long run.
Next time I should say, "You should call Dr. Laura. 1-800-Dr-Laura."
But I can't really do that. So I can wait and see if they will change their desires and be more amenable to the advice I would give. I think the teeny-boppers and not a few of the young adults at soompi should be calling her.

(In case someone is wondering, this is not directed to anyone living in this house.)

Dr. Laura would be blunt and aim her questions at first principles -- "Why date if you don't want to get married?" I don't know if she's actually asked this question, just an example regarding means-end. I know she's taken some phone calls from people who are just looking for companionship and someone with whom they can have dinner or to go movies, but the last call that I remember didn't really end being resolved--for some reason it got cut short.

Eh, perhaps I should have more sympathy or patience... but I don't, at the moment.

I don't know if she's written a book about the beginnings of dating or courtship-- I don't think she has. However, there have been others who have, especially from a Christian point of view, such as Josh Harris, and there are resources at Family Life Center.

It's unfortunate that the communal structure that enabled courtship to work has disappeared. But, one can still look for a good spouse at church, as long as there are enough young people at the parish. Otherwise, one can try to network through church friends and older couples. All this talk about community at contemporary parishes is a mask for the lack of it. What the community should be doing is strengthening its bonds, for the sake of the children, so that they can have successful marriages.

I think I've finished venting... the frustration is gone for now.