8.06.1999

Dear Red,

I'm a 22 year old white christian male from PA and I happen to have a 18 year old white jewish female girlfriend from NJ. Now when we're together we have a wonderful time, and she also happens to be the most sexually pleasing partner I have ever had. The problem is sometimes I feel like we're too different to be together and I'm just prolonging a relationship that's destined to be doomed. Besides the religious thing, I feel we have a severe maturity difference. I'm dealing with graduating, bills, and finding a real job, and her major concerns are what shoes match her newest sorority sweatshirt. Also, I'm her first serious boyfriend so she is constantly hanging on me, and this can get annoying. I've tried to discuss this situation with her, but she just says that she likes me more then I like her. Also, whenever I leave her, she starts to cry. Even if she knows I'll be seeing her in a week, the tears just pour from her eyes like water through my Brita water filter. Also, I'm entering my final year of college, and I was planning on spreading my sperm all over my University's campus, and this could prove to be difficult if I have a girlfriend. Now, a major problem is, while I want to see other girls, I also couldn't imagine the idea of my girlfriend with another guy. As I said she really knows how to keep me happy, but I don't think I can continue a relationship that might become purely sexual (but it's so good I have to admit). Any advice would be appreciated but not necessarily taken.

Thanks,
Mr. X

Dear Mr. X,

You're experiencing the height of your sexual life right now, and obviously, such pleasures are hard to give up. But once you find someone who's right for you, you can show her how to please you, if you've been observing the techniques your current girlfriend uses to send you into orgasm orbit (phrase courtesy Cosmo).

However, you don't want a relationship right now. You want to "spread your sperm" around campus. That's good for the ego, but not certain to be so high in the pleasure factor - at least in the sense that empty sex can be kind of, uh, empty. And the thought of another guy getting the lovin' you've been getting is hard to handle. But don't think of your chick with another guy. Think of yourself, free from a girl who you portray as needy, insecure and superficial.

If you two have bonds other than sex, though, maybe you can work things out. Differences between people don't have to stifle a satisfying relationship. But if her response to your attempts to discuss your problems is something as silly as "I like you better than you like me," then it doesn't seem like you're going to be able to solve things as adults (unless, of course, you're able to make her realize how childish she's being).

Sometimes, when I think I don't know what I want, I flip a coin. If, when I look at the result, my stomach falls with disappointment, I realize that I knew what I wanted all along. I'm not saying your situation is something you can solve with a "heads I keep her/tails I don't" deal. Rather, you probably already know what you want to do about your situation. It's just a matter of realizing it to yourself, and ultimately acting upon that decision.


Write to beth@dorkist.com with your shameful secrets and anything else that's been tearing your pretty little head apart.