Not what I meant. I meant people should not play weird mind games and lie to each other for the first several months or years of their relationship.
Honestly, you generalize too damn much. You’re starting to sound like a parody of yourself.
Isn’t the whole point of dating to trick someone into thinking you’re more likable than you actually are? I’m just being brutally honest, at least that’s how I see my comments.
Unless you’re telepathic, you’ll never know how anyone beyond yourself approaches dating.
People act differently when they’re on dates.
Maybe?
They make themselves look nicer than they usually look
Yes.
they act nicer than they usually act,
Maybe?
and it’s all a big game.
No. When you date someone, you’re trying to make friends. If some stranger doesn’t know you and you’re trying to become their friend, you should obviously try to be the kind of person whom they would like to be friends with. If one can’t help but be an annoying shit to anyone and everyone one meets, then it’s no surprise that the only people who would befriend such a person are people who like hanging around annoying shits.
Also, when you’re looking for a date, you’re also looking for a potential mate and parent to your children. If a person has certain values they want for their kids, they probably wouldn’t want someone who doesn’t have those values. But you have to get to know people to decide whether or not they have them.
The alternative to dating (besides not dating) is arranged marriage, where your family decides for you.