I (M22) have been in a two year relationship in high school and a one year relationship in college. In between those relationships I went on many dates and fooled around a lot, and that is still what I was doing until a month or so ago when I decided that I was open to relationship. But I don’t understand what’s wrong with me—all of the women I talk to I just can’t find an emotional click with them. I try, but I can’t look past them as some sort of transaction. Even with my college ex who I dated for a year and a half, I never felt a strong emotional connection.

Everything just feels so…transactional to me. I provide them this date or take these specific steps and in return I’m given sex, compliments, etc. I feel like I’m open-minded and don’t mind being vulnerable with those I’m talking to, but I still feel little. My dating perspective just seems so corrupted and I think it would be really nice to feel what I did with my first girl friend.