What if you dont think your dating down but your friends think you are?

for a relationship to work it should really have a 50 50 balance. It might be hard to see if things are balance because you both will have your strengths in some areas, but over all if someone has the so called upper hand in the relationship, it will lessen the quality of your relationship.

David - If your friends think you're dating down you probably are and don't realize it yet because the great sex, good times or comfort zone cloud your vision. I believe good friends make really good judges of your relationship. They know you well enough to know what's good for you and want the best for you, plus they add the all important objectivity. Also, a lot of times people know they're dating down, but they settle anyway because they're afraid they won't find anything better.

How disgusting.

Pardon me if I choose to not buy into this. Though, I must agree that it makes things a lot easier if people who are constantly worried about their 'position' and 'status' in regard to each other and their traits go through the motions of sorting themselves with each other and thus get out of my way.

Just like the spiritual interpretation of TRUE Karma, the purpose of a relationship is not to fall into these crazy ideal scenarios of who has traits that balance the other's out in a neverending cycle, but instead to escape the cycle altogether. Worrying about who brings what to the table and keeping a tally of marks for each 'side' is a waste of time and energy that will only result in the aforemetioned jealousy, resentment and insecurity growing at an even greater rate, to predictable results.

If you're happy and are enjoying the relationship along with your significant other--and can admit this to yourselves in perfect honesty--that is what truly matters. That is the only thing that will truly keep it going. If you reach this point, then you have escaped the stupid wheel of Karma in which everyone else is imprisoned to achieve your own mutual Nirvana.

So blow-up dolls -- is that dating up, down, or what? What about if she's one of those really expensive numbers? You're still going to probably be the wittier half of the couple. Well, I am. On my good days at least.