时间：2022-04-28 05:59:22
Now it’s time to approach a subject that some of us might want to ignore:
dating.1 In today’s modern world, TV and media are spreading the idea that it’s no big deal2, and even
encouraging it at times. Children as young as five years old are starting to “date”. In high school it is accepted as the social norm3. In fact, if you don’t date, then suddenly you’re the odd one out.4
Dating is often when a boy and a girl go somewhere together, wanting to be more than friends. However, in many situations of dating in high school, couples never actually go anywhere, nor do they really do anything. In many cases, the “relationship”might just mean they are good friends. There are occasional displays of affection, but often nothing too serious. Overall, the terms “girlfriend” or “boyfriend” hardly mean anything any more. Some boys I know change girlfriends every other week. A girl I know once changed boyfriends three times in one day.
Despite this, teens are still drawn to the idea of dating. Once I asked a friend of mine, “What’s the point of dating?” Without missing a beat he replied, “It’s being able to spend time with someone you care about and enjoying yourselves.” Another responded with “Sometimes you just have the overwhelming urge to be with someone. Just being near them can make you happy, just seeing them smile can give you a warm feeling inside.” Other friends replied in a similar fashion5. But I still say that at this age, it might as well be the same thing as friendship.
Dating can ruin a friendship. A “relationship” might last a few months, but a friendship can last a lifetime. In some cases, after a couple breaks up, they scarcely even speak to each other anymore. Things are never the same again. So just ask yourself, “Is a few months of dating worth possibly ruining a friendship?” To a small population of American teenagers, it’s not. However, for the majority, they are sucked in by what they think dating should be. In popular TV shows and books, they paint the image of a “perfect”relationship. It could show a happy couple walking around holding hands in blissful happiness. They might even exchange a kiss or two. Many teens want that, thinking that it will make them happy. To me, I don’t think high school is a good time for this. Speaking for myself, I barely have time to breathe between school, homework, and extracurricular activities. I know that I have no time for dating.
Of course, I’m just offering my opinions. The idea doesn’t appeal to me, but some couples really do seem to enjoy themselves. Teen dating in America seems to be a culturally accepted thing. American parents often shrug it off6, trusting their kids to make the right choices. Many believe that it’s a harmless thing, and that kids should be allowed the freedom to date. Either way, no matter where you stand on the subject, it’s a personal choice.
现在是时候来探讨我们有些人或许想要忽视的一个话题了：约会。在当今的现代社会中，电视和媒体都在宣传的理念是：约会没什么可大惊小怪的，甚至有时还怂恿这种行为。就连那些五岁的小孩子们都开始“约会”了。在中学里，约会被视为一种得到普遍认同的社交准则。甚至，如果你不约会的话，你反倒就成了彻头彻尾的怪人。
约会往往是一个男孩和一个女孩一起出去玩，想要发展比普通朋友更近的关系。然而，中学约会的大多数情况是：情侣们其实哪儿都不去，他们也不会真的去做什么。在很多情况下，这种“浪漫关系”也许仅仅意味着他们是很好的朋友而已。偶尔会有爱慕的表现，但通常都没什么太当真的。总的说来，“女友”或“男友”这样的字眼几乎不再有任何意义了。我认识的一些男孩每隔一周就会换女朋友。我还认识一个女孩，竟然曾一天之内换了三次男友。
尽管如此，青少年们依然会被约会的想法所吸引。有一次，我问自己的一个朋友：“约会的意义何在？”他毫不迟疑地答道：“意义在于能与你在意的人一起共度时光并且两人乐在其中。”另一位朋友的回答则是：“有时，你只是有一种想跟某人在一起的强烈冲动。仅仅是在他们身旁就能让你感到幸福快乐，仅仅是看到他们的微笑就能让你内心有种温暖的感觉。”其他朋友也都做出了类似的回答。而我却依然认为，在这个年纪，约会或许跟友情其实是同一回事儿吧。
但约会能断送友情。一段“浪漫关系”或许会持续几个月，而友情却能延续一生。在有些情况下，一对情侣分手后，他们几乎不再与对方说话。物是人非。所以你且自问一下：“究竟值不值得为了几个月的约会而断送一场友情？”对 一小部分美国青少年来说，那不值。然而，对大多数来说，他们被自己对约会的理解所吸引。林林总总的热播电视剧和畅销书勾画出了“完美”恋情的图景：一对幸福的情侣手握着手非常快乐地四处闲逛着。他们甚或会亲吻对方一两下。很多青少年都渴望这样，认为那会令他们幸福快乐。但对我来说，我认为中学时代还不是做这些事情的好时候。说说我自己吧，夹在学校、作业和课外活动之间，我几乎没什么时间歇口气。我知道自己是没时间约会的。
当然了，我只是在分享自己的观点而已。约会这个想法并不吸引我，但的确有些情侣似乎是乐在其中。在美国，青少年约会好像已成为一种从文化上被接受认可的现象。美国的父母们常常对此一笑置之，相信自己的孩子会作出正确的选择。很多人认为这无伤大雅，而且孩子们也应该被允许享有约会的自由。无论怎样，也不管你在这个问题上站在哪一方，这都是个人的一种选择。
单词卡片
1. approach: 探讨（问题等）；ignore: 无视，对……置之不理。
2. no big deal: 没什么大不了的，不要紧。
3. norm: 准则，标准。
4. the odd one out: 〈英〉与众不同的人或物。
5. fashion: 方式。
6. shrug off: 对……满不在乎，对……一笑置之，不理会。