Dating in Your Industry

Oh - I’m sure all of my IRL friends will laugh at this. I have been dating people in similar industries (while I’ve toggled through a few.) And while if I were to start a dating section of this blog - know that that would be total bologna considering how many happily married people there are on technologyTwitter, I can confidently say that I can hold to my stance on dating from ages seventeen to twenty-five.

Why it’s a Bad Idea

Dating in your industry is a bad idea (it only felt suited to write this part here, first) because:

“If you break up, you still have to deal with them.”
“They can kinda slander you to co-workers.”
“It just looks messy to other people.”

Ironically.

Ironically, the social institution of tech requires one to give up their whole being, existence, an non-exaggerated soul to “the mission” of not just your company, but the company owned by probably someone else (with typically unsatisfactiual upside for yourself.)

I could make this a gendered argument, but I wont. Simply put, two souls willing to make such an all-encompassing promise to not-eachother, but the industry, company, and what it stands for, are the kinds of people that we should invite.

It’s hardcore. It’s one of those so-totally-awful-ideas-to-everyone-else that when it works, it’s a totally genius idea.

My Recommendation

Only do what you feel comfortable doing. If it is right for both people: go ahead. I’ve had wonderful experiences and so many shared awesome memories doing this. If you hate relationships driven by driven people and enjoy non-driven drivers driving the bus, then by all means: judge it.