[Epaphras]

It totally depends on the person but in general, based on my observations, I would say most high school-age people are not mature enough for a lasting, committed, mature relationship.

[Katze]

I have REALLY good friends who are guys, but I'm not going to be dating until after I graduate from high-school. Unless, of course, God brings along the perfect guy before then, but then it would have to be the lord telling me to date, and not just my crush.

[Epaphras]

Originally Posted by Katze

Unless, of course, God brings along the perfect guy before then, but then it would have to be the lord telling me to date, and not just my crush.

I would really advise against this. By 'this' I mean putting so much weight on the voice of God about who/when to date.

I mean, this only leads to, "I feel that God wants us to break up." No he doesn't; if you want to break up, tell him you want to break up. In the same way, if you want to date him, tell him you want to date him and not that God told you you should be together. That puts a lot of pressure on both of you.

[Cruelty*free]

I think even if you break off the relationship, I say it's worth it anyways.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by heisouronlyhope

This is probily gonna get moved but I need advice, Do you think dating in highschool is useless? because I want to know, like I don't want to be in a relastion-ship if its just going to die at this age, and I know it depends who it is too, so I'm kind of lost.

i'm not going to vote because there is no option for before highschool.

Originally Posted by Vershal

That's the one regret?

When to date is not a question of acquiring a certain number of days, months and years, it's a question of maturity. Dating is fun, but it requires both personal maturity and responsibility -- the responsibility to behave in a manner that won't end up with your date arrested, pregnant or spiritually retarded. I'm not opposed to teens dating during high school, but franky, I don't know a lot of kids who actually realize just how much of a butterfly effect their actions have, and how one bad decision really can alter their lives, the life of their date, the lives of their parents, their siblings, etc.

i don't think anybody realizes how one bad decision can alter things until it actually happens.

Originally Posted by jael>rock<

i don't see any good reason for dating in highschool. there are very few situations where it doesn't end in pain and hurt.

that's not going to change as you get older. any intimate relationship that ends is going to hurt whether you're 16 or 60.

Originally Posted by Epaphras

It totally depends on the person but in general, based on my observations, I would say most high school-age people are not mature enough for a lasting, committed, mature relationship.

nobody is mature enough for a lasting, committed, mature relationship before it begins. It is the lasting, committed, relationship that brings about maturity. Maturity is something that you get from experience. Nobody is ready for a long term relationship when it begins.

Originally Posted by Katze

I have REALLY good friends who are guys, but I'm not going to be dating until after I graduate from high-school. Unless, of course, God brings along the perfect guy before then, but then it would have to be the lord telling me to date, and not just my crush.

God is not going to tell you who to date, when to start dating, when to get engaged, when to get married or when to break up. Do what you want to do and make sure that you are honoring God in all that you do.

Originally Posted by Simo

I know 16 year olds that are mature enough to date.

I know 26 year olds that are too immature to date.

It depends on the person.

i don't think anybody is mature enough to start dating when they start dating.

[Jenacen]

I've actually never dated anyone. Not cuz I couldn't find anyone, but I just chose not to. I'm not sure if that made me a geek, smart or both, but it saved me a lot of stress. I made very good grades and had time to excel at the things I wanted to. And those habits are carrying after me in college, where I just completed a 15-credit semester with 4 A's and one B (and wow, was it busy!!). I've also been able to do a lot of stuff on the side like practicing guitar 20+ hours a week and being enrolled in karate. So if you're like me, then staying away from dating during high school is DEFINITELY a good idea.

Really, it just depends on the person. Like, suppose it's a 17-year-old girl who doesn't really want to launch a career and would just rather stay home and raise her kids, and she's quite mature for her age, I'd probably say alright and okay, perhaps she can probably afford to get married a little bit younger than most. I'd push guys to focus a lot more on their education because traditionally the male is the breadwinner and today's job market demands a good education, or at least someone who knows what they're doing. Generally, I don't see high schoolers being ready.

Just really depends on the person. I don't really claim expertise on the subject, but I think my only advice would be to listen to your parents on whether or not you're ready. So far my mom has never been wrong on who's wrong and who's right for me whenever I've at least been interested, and I have a friend who knows someone who's never been wrong either and has matchmade several couples. My dad too. And since they're subtly suggesting that I start (as is the rest of my family), I'm thinking that maybe I should.

[Kenny C.]

I'm 17 and I haven't dated. It's not that I don't feel like I'm ready, it's just that with school, athletics, music, I have other things on my mind right now. A 4.0 GPA is more important to me than a month long fling that ends with hurt feelings.