This is funny to me. I typically am attracted to women to whom I would instantly propose. When I met my ex-wife, for example, I was willing and ready to propose to her that very moment. I knew how special she was. The reason I didn't propose at the time was because it didn't seem appropriate, but I bet, as I am prone to do with the women I am crazy about, that I at least hinted at the idea of marriage. My ex was not willing to wait around. She said, after six months: "Are you going to marry me?" To which I immediately replied: "Of course." I find the idea of being scared and running away from women I am really in love with to be ridiculous and frankly a non-issue.

I don't know why you even bothered to reply to his text. It was like you needed to make sure he knew he was wrong. You needed to assert your disinterest, which meant that you were interested in yourself. He was being his immature self and you needed to make sure he was aware of that, but you established that he was not capable.

Men do not expect to be chased. Most of us have no idea whether we are liked or not. I had to ask my teacher, if my ex, a fellow teacher of my teacher's, if my ex-wife liked me. I had no idea. I did not expect her to chase me. I knew I had to make the move, but making that move was like entering a cage with a lion. My ex-wife, then 23 was absolutely beautiful. She was brilliantly and uniquely dressed. She had Master's degrees in both Spanish Literature and Economics, was Vice-President of a Business Club, and ran her father's business.

I didn't have a problem with my ex being confident, strong-willed, and ambitious. What, and I will agree with your hidden point, made me immature is that I had not become what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was at the University, but I had no idea what I wanted to do. At this point, at age 61, I still have no idea. So, what I did was work most-often as a server and did creative projects in my spare time.

This, of course, has nothing to do with a romantic maturity. I think this whole idea of chasing someone is rather ridiculous. I want someone, who sees what I see. My joy, for example, is to meet you here, in this place, and try to have a conversation.

Why, would any woman waste her time with a man, she thought was immature? And what is immaturity? Who is immature in this case? You dated this guy. And frankly, you are listening to me or at least, if you have gotten this far, I may have demonstrated my own immaturity. If you are planning a retort, why would you waste your time?

I don't understand the point of feminism, for example. No one should ever need to criticize another person to justify themselves, which I am doing here.

I think underneath it all, I am attracted to you (as the persona in this piece). But, I realize at 61, that this is a waste of time in every sense. I embarrass myself.

But, as I read on, I completely agree with you. The same thing could be said for a man. I guess, this is really simply about people taking the initiative.

I agree that people need to find other people, who think similarly. I miss that about opportunities I have had in the past. Only now do I realize that I had the right women, who thought like I did, and who loved the same things. I have wasted so much time. A lifetime.

I understand your dislike of men who pretend they want to marry only to want casual relationships. That's lying/cheating.

I want all women to start taking the initiative. If you like someone, tell them. I have no idea how other men feel, but it was bad enough years ago, but now, even talking to a woman seems like a no-no. Yes, men shouldn't be the only one's who get to propose. Please, strike up conversations with us, there are studies that say that when a woman chooses her man, there is little chance of divorce vs. marriages started by men. And this is because women know what they need and want, whereas men tend to only want one thing.

Thank you for this piece Joanna. I had fun.