Jezebel: Modern Love

Area Girlfriend Upset By Discovery of Boyfriend's Saved Relationship Trinkets

Erin Gloria Ryan — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EDT

It's difficult to feel cherished when we know that our partners are still carrying emotional baggage from previous romantic entanglements, but it's especially difficult when that emotional baggage manifests itself in the form of actual pieces of crap that used to belong to his ex-girlfriend. And what if he refuses to throw them away? Does that mean he's still in love with her? More »

Is it Ever OK to Leave Voicemail Anymore?

Sam Biddle — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:02:00 EST

Ever OK to Leave Voicemail Anymore?" alt="Click here to read Is it Ever OK to Leave Voicemail Anymore?" src="http://cache.jezebel.com/assets/images/4/2011/02/small_voicemail_01.jpg"/>

The ubiquity of voicemail made sense when our phones lived in the kitchen, not our pockets—before SMS and twitter and the dozens of other ways we now stay perma-connected. So when does it make sense to use voicemail? More »

Before OKCupid, There Was This

Sadie Stein — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:13:00 EST

In 1965, two rival dating programs were founded at Harvard. People found love, but — in a precursor of Facebook — things quickly degenerated into rivalry and backbiting. More »

Online Daters Go For The Lips

Katie Luscombe — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:25:00 EST

The most effective cyber pickup line to use on a woman? "You have beautiful lips." Or so says dating site Badoo. Also effective on American women? "You dress beautifully." Absent from the list was "hey sexy woww ur hot." More »

Ashton Kutcher Is Unfortunately The New Carrie Bradshaw

Sadie Stein — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:50:00 EST

Seriously. In this article on "romance in the digital age," the notorious cyber-Romeo can't help but wonder, "are we all becoming so in touch with one another that we are in danger of losing touch?" More »

New Dating Site Unites Music Geeks

Sadie Stein — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:23:00 EST

We're digging this new trend in online dating, in which you zero in on certain enthusiasms. First there was the bookworm meet-n-greet, ALikewise. And now, for the Rob Gordons amongst us: Tastebuds. (Get it?) More »

DNA-Compatability Dating Works, Kind Of

Sadie Stein — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:51:00 EST

Here's a feel-good for you! When this Cosmo writer tried a DNA-dating site, she thought it was a stunt. But it worked. More »

What Do You Buy The Man Who Has Everything? A Ballooning Companion!

Sadie Stein — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:10:00 EDT

Rent-A-Friend is like an escort service, except it's platonic and just for hanging out. And weirder. More »

A Gender Transition Sparks More Relationship Changes

Anna North — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:54:00 EDT

This week's Modern Love is a story of transition — changes in gender, relationship status, and potentially a woman's sexuality. More »

Compulsive Liars Find Love With One Another (Or So They Say)

Sadie Stein — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT

On today's Nerve, there's an interesting story - about a couple bonded together by their compulsive lying. More »

When Facebook Stalking Gets Dangerous

Sadie Stein — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:26:00 EDT

When one Elle writer went in search of an old flame, she fell prey to stalking his wife. And other risks of cyber-surveillance. More »

Which Online Dating Site Is Right For You?

Sadie Stein — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:02:00 EDT

Nowadays, an enormous percentage of people meet online, and the options for virtual Yentas are limitless. So: what does your ultimate choice tell the world? More »

The Distinct Challenges Of Love In The Time Of Tenure

Sadie Stein — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:15:00 EDT

Recently, a friend wrote me that he was moving: his wife, also an academic, had gotten a better tenure-track offer than had he, so he was following her to the Northwest. Romance in academia is hard. More »

The World's Most Chivalrous Boyfriend

Jessica Coen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:44:00 EDT

In his mad rush to catch a foul ball, this gentleman failed to notice that said ball squarely hit his girlfriend before it dropped to the ground. Swoon. More »

Is The Anonymous Sperm Donor The Modern Dream Man?

Sadie Stein — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EDT

Let's call him "the seductive sperm donor," and maybe even declare him our new romantic hero. The subject of two movies and a new novel, this sexy beast of a character is anything but anonymous. More »

Millionaire Matchmakers, Loneliness Thrive In Any Economy!

Sadie Stein — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:10:00 EDT

Call it the Patti Stanger effect: "millionaire matchmakers'" biz is booming, even as other, non-ridiculous businesses flail and founder. More »

On Finding — And Losing — The Perfect Woman

Sadie Stein — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:03:00 EDT

When we put out the call for "best pick-up lines," a number featured compliments invoking "the kind of woman people write songs about." Clearly, "muse" is a common fantasy. And, for the subject of this "Modern Love," a reality: More »

Modern Couples, Separate Beds

Sadie Stein — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:08:00 EDT

Apparently, people aren't sleeping together anymore. It's Leave It To Beaver, but with different rationales. More »

Online Dating Gets Either More Clever, Or More Lazy

Sadie Stein — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:26:00 EDT

"Users receive calling cards to dole out to alluring strangers they encounter in their everyday lives. Recipients of the cards can use the identification code printed on them to log onto Cheekd.com and send a message to their admirer." More »

A Pretty Egg Donor Sure Can Help Ensure Your Baby's Beauty

Sadie Stein — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:10:00 EDT

"Modern Love" contains a touching story of a sister who provides her eggs to her brother and his partner, resulting in beautiful twins. But before that, we get the ugly realities of considering beauty. More »

What To Do When A Kid Is Really Unlovable?

Sadie Stein — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:40:00 EDT

A lot of essays nowadays leave us thinking, "I really hope this writer's kids never grow up and read this on the Internet. And they will." Yesterday's NY Times "Modern Love" column is no exception... but there's a twist: More »

In Vino Veritas: Love, Wine And Insurance Premiums

Sadie Stein — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:20:47 EDT

"The Cune Imperial Rioja, we couldn't resist. I raised the glass to my nose, which wrinkled in disappointment; aromas were off. Something about the fruit's life had been snuffed." And so the question, is there a greater meaning in wine? More »

Feminist Craigslist Dating Experiment: Not All Bad

Alexandra Tweten — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:20:19 EDT

As a follow-up to my first post highlighting the "bad and ugly" anti-feminist responses I received to my Craigslist ad for feminist dating partners, I promised to feature some of the good. So here's one of the first replies received: More »

Feminist Craigslist Dating Experiment: The Trolls

Alexandra Tweten — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:00:39 EDT

The world of dating-while-feminist can be a challenge. What if I took it to Craigslist? More »

Your iPhone Is Killing Your Sex Life

Jessica Coen — Thu, 06 May 2010 15:20:36 EDT

Apparently more than a quarter of women surveyed are blaming the internet, particularly email and smartphones, for a decline in the quality of their bedroom action. Well, duh. More »

Thai Sex-Tourism Site Run By Cal State Professor

Irin Carmon — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:30:00 EDT

Sample entry on Cal State economics professor Kenneth Ng's BigBabyKenny.com: "Naysayers will say it's creepy to be hanging around the Muariti Shrine, hitting on the emotionally vulnerable girls...but I beg to differ." The university says it won't intervene. [LADN] More »

"Women Are Like Milk": Inside The Head Of A Sex Tourist

Irin Carmon — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EDT

Need a vacation, gentlemen? This website offers "introductions" to Czech women, proudly describing them as "NON-Feminist, very healthy and interested in the outdoors and most sports." Which reminds me of the time I accidentally hung out with a sex tourist. More »

When You Can't Shake the Heartbreak, It's Death Bear To The Rescue

Sadie Stein — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST

Meet Death Bear, the Brooklyn bear who heals broken hearts. Or, at least, takes your mind off the problem. More »

Modern Love: In Which A Little Boy Teaches Us About Mortality

Sadie Stein — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST

Enough with the bad divorces, sensational splits and bloody brawls: let's start 2010 with a story in which adults behave with kindness and maturity and think of the kids. For a change: More »

She Said/She Said: Joyce Maynard's Daughter Takes 'Modern Love' Revenge

Sadie Stein — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:20:00 EDT

Over the summer, professional sharer Joyce Maynard, well, shared an essay about her uncommunicative daughter. Ironically, now her daughter writes a rebuttal from her perspective. Because that's how families communicate, right? More »

Modern Love, The Movie: Or, Why Are People Such Assholes?

Jenna Sauers — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EDT

Columbia Pictures is investigating turning the Times' Modern Love column into a movie; a television pilot is already underway. Might we suggest steering clear of this one? Oh, and this one. And this one. And definitely this one. [The Wrap] More »

"I Am Fed Up With Feeling Like A Secondhand Citizen To Gadgets!"

Anna Holmes — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:20:00 EDT

"My boyfriend's an iPhone addict!" complains one letter-writer to Salon's Cary Tennis. Lady (or gent?): Join the club. [Salon] More »

"Guys" Versus "Men."

Sadie Stein — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:40:00 EDT

"I've never liked men. I like guys." So begins the latest "Modern Love": More »

Joyce Maynard Looks Back On Life?

Sadie Stein — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:20:00 EDT

In 1972, Joyce Maynard became instantly famous with the publication of theNew York Times Magazine essay "An Eighteen Year Old Looks Back On Life." This led to her infamous relationship with J.D. Salinger. Now she's written a "Modern Love." More »

Living Together Is Not "Trial Marriage"

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EDT

Why do unmarried couples choose to live together? A new study, presented yesterday at the "Smart Marriages/Happy Families" conference, found that most couples don't shack up as a "trial marriage." What researchers found may shock you: More »

Has Online Dating Really Lost Its Stigma?

Sadie Stein — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:40:00 EDT

Yesterday a tipster alerted us to the personal ad of a dude who'd winked, nudged or otherwise demonstrated casual electronic interest. "Lovemaking is physical, and so its its language. Suck, cock, fuck, and prick, are not bad words." Quoth he. More »

What Millionaire Matchmaker Says About Love In America

Anna North — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:40:00 EDT

Millionaire Matchmaker Says About Love In America" alt="Click here to read What Millionaire Matchmaker Says About Love In America" src="http://cache.jezebel.com/assets/images/39/2009/07/millionaire_matchmaker.jpg"/>

In a piece for n+1, Emily Gould shows us what you get when you take Millionaire Matchmaker as an exemplar of our culture's attitudes toward love and marriage. The results: kind of depressing. More »

New Book Ponders Western Male/Asian Female Erotic Obsession

Sadie Stein — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EDT

I used to know a dude who seemed to think having an "Asian fetish" was a badge of honor. It wasn't that he happened to date Asian women; he wouldn't date anyone else. And he talked about it. A lot. More »

The Many Faces Of Jezebel: Confessions Of A Prude

Sadie Stein — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:00:00 EDT

At the age of fourteen*, I had given zero blowjobs. By fifteen, I hadn't kissed anyone. By twenty, I'd slept with approximately zero men. And at 28, I'm a serial monogamist with an intact bedpost. More »

"Modern Love" May Lead To Rash Of Armchair Diagnoses

Sadie Stein — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 EDT

In a year when three of my friends have declared that their boyfriends have Asperger's Syndrome, I'm worried this heartfelt account may fan the flames. (Please don't let "Aspergers" be the new "Bipolar.") More »