~BigotedSJW

I must admit, to date I have never dated. I am just too shy.

Even further than that, outside of the occasional teasing compliment, no one has directly expressed romantic interest in me to date. I am not all that embarrassed by it. In fact, I am somewhat proud. One of my life goals is to never exchange bodily fluids, spit or otherwise, with someone I cannot confidently support enough, or at least support myself enough, to avoid both of us needing to work full time.

Per the headline, I have felt compelled to add a further caveat: I will not reciprocate interest in such a relationship, not even to engage in romantic RP, from anyone less than two-thirds my age. I am presently 31. After the age of 33 I might entertain making exceptions for people as young as 22, under very exceptional circumstances, but no younger.

To enforce this, should anything of such an amorous nature comes to pass, I will insist that a trusted third party have photos -- not scans, actual photos -- of picture IDs held in hand with indication of age from both of us. Said third party will be someone tech savvy enough to recognize if anything's been doctored, which is easier to spot in a photo rather than in a scan. I do not need to see whoever's, and until whoever wishes to meet me physically, they do not need to see my picture ID. But said third party will still be in a position respond appropriately should anything go awry.

The reasoning behind adding this caveat to my covenant ring is intensely personal, but it is a personal thing I have become more and more comfortable with the idea of sharing as days pass, unflattering as it is even in light of the first sentence and the first full paragraph of this journal. We shall see.