I've never been a club-goer, but the other night I went with some friends, thought I'd try some things out.

I have to say, I just don't get it. For one thing, they (we went to three or four places) are quite dark. Worse, they are loud as fuck. Seriously, it was like being under a jet approach-way.

It's hard (for me at least) to be charming or funny or interesting if you just can't hear me. I tried chatting with several women -- including this tiny Chinese honey who couldn't have weighed 90lbs soaking wet, which by coincidence was exactly how I was picturing her -- but yelling things into a women's ear really doesn't establish much in the way of intimacy.

But people hook up in clubs all the time (don't they?), so what am I missing?