What's your type?

When asked this question, most people will either respond with their blood type (AB+), shrug mysteriously, or (most commonly) rattle off a generalized list of characteristics that describe the group of people they have either dated or been interested in. For example, if Cedric had dated several individuals that were all tall, rebellious, and cunning, some would say that this was his "type."

Have you ever heard someone vocally disapprove of a relationship (one that they heard about on Facebook of course) because one dating partner didn't match the other's "type?" For example, if Cedric liked a short girl, one might say, "I can't believe he's dating her, she is so not his type." Perhaps you've even used this generalized list of characteristics as an excuse not to date someone, claiming, for example, "He's so not my type, I usually like rebellious guys."

Since the characteristics of the people you have liked comprise your "type," I would thus argue that when you like someone that isn't your type, their characteristics become a part of your "type." For example, when Cedric likes the short girl, he'll have to find another characteristic besides tall that describes all of the women he's been with. Instead of tall, rebellious, and cunning, his new type may be funny, rebellious and cunning. When you date someone that isn't your "type," they then become your type. Thus, the argument "I can't date him because he's not my type" doesn't really work.

Since "types" can't be used as an excuse not to date someone, what are they good for? Well, they can be used as an excuse to date someone. In order to develop a "type," we look at one's previous failed romantic interests. For example, one characteristic that all of Cedric's failed romantic partner's share is "rebellious." Dating rebellious girls obviously hasn't worked for him, so maybe he ought to reevaluate serially dating rebellious girls. All along it has been implied that we should date someone that matches our "type," (shares characteristics with people we have had failed relationships with in the past) when in fact we ought to try not to date our "type" since those failed relationships, well, failed.