Dating Has Gone Full Capitalist: Is It Any Wonder We're So Tired?

Modern dating culture has become like a sales job, but instead of big commissions, we’re left with yearning hearts

Two musicians, who are a couple, came over for dinner. My other guest was a single man who works in advertising. I’ve also spent my career in marketing and sales. Shortly after I presented the vegan moussaka I’d made, the conversation turned to dating.

On that Saturday night, I was on a high. I’d had two good first dates that week and two second dates in the diary. I knew, correctly, that this was no guarantee of anything and that I had to keep filling the top of the funnel. I asked my male counterpart how his pipeline was looking. He said there were some app conversations happening that he’d be hoping to enter the pipeline shortly.

“Sorry,” interjected one of the musicians.

“What are you talking about? What is a ‘pipeline’?”