The one where the Russian almost dies

I bet I've never told you this story. I think I've written about elsewhere, but it happened so long before I started this blog, I don't think it ever made its way into GGS dating lore.

I met this guy online, and we started chatting via IM (on Yahoo; I like to keep my dates there until I know if they deserve gmail status). He'd said more than once that he really wanted to take me out to dinner.

He seemed nice enough; he was Russian, and had a really cool name. But - he lived with his parents, and was a bit younger than me. Having just returned to the US after school (when I say he was Russian - he was Russian), he was unemployed. Which doesn't really help his case, but does serve to explain the living situation.

I turned him down several times, until my housemate suggested I give him a real chance. So, I told him we could meet later that week, and asked if he'd like to chat for a bit that night, since I was home. He did.

Him: What should we talk about?
Me: The usual; movies, TV, same-sex marriage.

In hindsight, I'm sure I was trying to bait him into a conversation that would give me a valid reason to cancel the date. Quite passive-aggressive of me, and really wasn't a concious decision - even if it was effective.

Him: I'm opposed to it.
Me: Mind if I ask why?
Him: You should be, too. Same-sex marriage will deteriorate the importance our society places on marriage. Eventually, that means that spouses won't be given things like health benefits. As a woman, that should worry you, because the wife needs those benefits.
Me: Are you saying the wife is always dependent on the husband?
Him: Yes, because women are the weaker sex.
Me: So now you're telling me I'm weak?
Him: It doesn't surprise me that you would look at it that way. Most women can't have this conversation, because they are irrational.

I cancelled the date, and I never did meet him for ice cream. I thought it best for everyone involved if I was never given the chance to react to his statements in person.