I was in a bar a few years ago and there were six guys and six girls at a table, and every girl was on her phone. I walked up to them and said something like they were destroying the breeding potential if the planet. Even now, people, including me, are on their phones instead of *there*. Relationships are born partially of relief from boredom, but if you have a game or web page or email or whatsapp, you're scratching that itch, however poorly. Go to a cafe now, and few strangers talk to each other.

There was something about Henry James a hundred or more years ago going to Europe to practice insincere flirting. I don't think we properly flirt anymore either - we're all wonkish about serious stuff, but not "my, you look lovely" stuff except perhaps the real sleazeballs. Going from 0 to 80 in 2.3 secs may be great for a Tesla, but not for human relationships. And then to be told you can't hit on someone from work? Where else do you meet people with any consistency or quality in a 70 hour workweek? And yes, elevator matchups become less likely the more condemned. No, I don't really blame porn much.