# How many have never had a relationship? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 12, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121 "2011-04-12T17:49:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tehanu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@Tehanu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tehanu)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/21 "2011-04-15T12:22:38Z")
37 yo old female. I had one boyfriend in my 20’s, just to see what why boyfriends were considered worthwhile (he was interested in me, and I thought he was good-looking). That was a disaster. I later tried marriage with a second guy, but quickly found out that it required work, compromise, patience, etc. We were married for five years, and once it was over I felt so liberated. I have occasionally felt I should go out and try dating, but each time I do I recoil from the idea that my full allotment of free time is no longer entirely mine to do with as I please. I’m not always in the mood to interact with people, and I prefer the flexibility to be alone whenever I want to be alone. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/22 "2011-04-15T12:47:17Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > 40 plus male with several relationships. However there does not seem to be that option in the poll. that might be because the question is “how many people have _never been in a relationship._” just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/23 "2011-04-15T13:09:43Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > This too. I don’t want to talk about how my day was. I want a good beer and silence. We should start a SDMB Happy Loners club, we could meet at a beer garden and sit at separate tables without talking to anyone 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/24 "2011-04-17T07:49:20Z")
Wow. If this poll is accurate, about 1 in 4 dopers have never been in a relationship. We need to start busting out DopeFests, pronto! ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/25 "2011-04-17T08:47:53Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Wow. If this poll is accurate, about 1 in 4 dopers have never been in a relationship. We need to start busting out DopeFests, pronto! I think there are WAY more than 168 dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/26 "2011-04-17T10:06:27Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Wow. If this poll is accurate, about 1 in 4 dopers have never been in a relationship. We need to start busting out DopeFests, pronto! I’ve been to Dopefests on two continents. Didn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/27 "2011-04-17T12:31:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’ve been to Dopefests on two continents. Didn’t help. Come to the next Japan Dopefest 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/28 "2011-04-17T14:12:05Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > 34 yo straight guy. never been, probably never will be. I’m not much to look at and no fun to be with. I’ve only been in what amounted to almost a relationship that was based on nothing tangible, and only lasted a few weeks. I’m now 41, and, like **jz78817** , I’m not much to look at and no fun to be with. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/29 "2011-04-17T17:15:21Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I’m a gay male and never had one. Not for lack of trying but I guess it’s just the luck of the draw in my case. > [@Shakes](#): > > I would have never guessed that about you. Same here. Why do you think that is Markxxx? You’ve got a smokin’ hot bod, seem like a decent guy. I’m very surprised you’ve never had a boyfriend. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/30 "2011-04-17T17:35:49Z")
I was with a girl for about two months, and spent most evenings with her. I consider that a relationship, though I honestly wasn’t that into her, and she apparently felt the same way by getting herself knocked up by another guy while we were still together. I’ve been with other people over the years, but that’s the closest I’ve come to an actual relationship, and I’ll be 30 in about eight months. ---
**Author:** ![turtledove\_river](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@turtledove\_river](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtledove_river)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/31 "2011-04-17T17:53:54Z")
I’m 28. I’m an aromantic asexual. So, obviously I’ve never been in a relationship, although I am not completly closed down on the posibility. Probably won’t happen though. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/32 "2011-04-17T23:44:48Z")
Can I project into the future? Should I (God forbid) become a widow, I predict I will never, ever be in another relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/33 "2011-04-18T01:19:28Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Come to the next Japan Dopefest 🆒 Asia, you think? It’s always in the last place you look, isn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/34 "2011-04-18T01:34:01Z")
Well, if this were around 1980, I would have ticked “male, 20-29, never”, but things have picked up a bit since then. I was very socially maladapted and had some trouble interacting with people until sometime in my mid-20’s. Since then I’ve had one highly rewarding long-term relationship and a bunch of shorter flings, and have a few solid female friends. I’ve been on my own since 1998 or so, but that’s really by personal choice. ---
**Author:** ![FelicityS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d2c977/32.png) [@FelicityS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FelicityS)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/35 "2011-06-15T12:29:06Z")
does having accepted a number of short (two weeks to six months) involvements with very sick and abusive individuals who would want to use me for sex and other things count as relationships? sometimes I hope yes, and sometimes I hope not… please someone define relationship - a “good” relationship, or just any? ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/36 "2011-06-15T12:46:22Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I would have never guessed that about you. Me either, Mark seems like the type to charm the pants off of anybody. In a good way, I mean. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/37 "2011-06-15T12:51:50Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > Me either, Mark seems like the type to charm the pants off of anybody. In a good way, I mean. 🙂 Welcome to the Internet, where societal pressures don’t apply and people take on personas. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/38 "2011-06-15T12:55:17Z")
Well, LOUNE, it just seems that if he can be so charming on line then what’s stopping him from being so charming in meatspace? Like you and me, right? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/39 "2011-06-15T14:01:49Z")
Sometimes I wish I’ve never been in any relationships… ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121/40 "2011-06-15T16:42:05Z")
Male, 47. I’ve been in two short relationships, each about 4 months long. No further prospects at the moment; I gotta fix a few things first, like getting more work… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-have-never-had-a-relationship/578121.md?page=3)