The 24 Hour Rule

Just for Emma:

When attempting to chat up a girl, there are several unknown factors that come into play that dramatically affect your ability to succeed. Most guys have been affected by the 24 hour rule but haven't known of its existence. The 24 hour rule states that: After starting the tuning period, if without a good reason you fail to continue or have a lapse of enthusiasm for more than 24 hours you automatically lose all progress made and get moved back to the 'just friends' pile. The existence of the 24 hour rule is constantly being debated and some argue that 24 hours makes no difference. 24 hours is normally the minium time period before this rule comes into play but depending on the female in question, the figure can be much higher.

Lets take an example, guy is going after a girl. After 2 dates for lunch etc he figures all is going well and decides to take a day for himself where he doesn't message the girl. This girl who was previously into him, decides that maybe she doesn't really like him that much anymore. The next day he messages... unfortunately for him he doesn't know that any move from this point is irrelevant. After having not kept the process going and not provided adequate excuses for the absence the 24 hour rule came into play putting him into the 'friend zone'

And now we move on from the 24 hour rule and towards the root of the problem: female empowerment. Hippies in the 60s and 70s caused a massive social change across Western countries from the staid values of the pre- and post-war eras and empowered both the public, minority groups, and women in particular with the ability to choose and control the course of their lives. The right to vote, the right to free speech, the right to have different attitudes and beliefs than was expected and still be accepted for it.

Yet problems such as the 24 hour rule still exist. How is this relevant, you ask? I'm sorry, but WHY exactly, when you finally have the power to choose and decide yourself, must the MEN be the reason for the failure in the tuning process? If 24 hours rolls around and you haven't heard from him, maybe, I dunno, you could MESSAGE HIM and initiate contact? You don't have to sit around and wait for the next contact so you can discuss with the girls about how he asked you out. Is it that hard for you to set up the next date? Something along the lines of "I had a good time the other night, would you like to catch a movie on Friday?". Yes, we know those are some crazy concepts, but bear with us. Obviously there's a mutual attraction; admittedly some men don't get the hint that you're not interested, but most of us are pretty savvy and can recognise a reciprocation of interest. So if there's a mutual attraction...why can't there be a mutual effort at communication?

There's always the complaint that "I don't know what you're thinking" or "We don't talk anymore." The problem doesn't lie with the relationship at that point, the problem lies way back at the start of the relationship and that crucial 24 hours. If we're constantly making the effort to communicate and tune, can't you at least do us the decency of tuning back? It's only fair. The hippies fought for your rights and emancipation from generations of slavery in the deep dark South. The least you can do is stop hiding behind old world values and become the women of tomorrow that you're supposed to be.

Blendered Love and Gabe