Should You Date A Guy Just Because He Can Do Brake Repair?

If your automobile has been screeching to the stop signs like a wild bird, it may be time for brake repair. Perhaps you already know this but haven't had the funds to get it taken care of. Maybe all sorts of automotive tasks have slid by the wayside and you know that there are gigantic repair bills looming in your future. What's a poor single girl to do? Well, one option is to date a mechanic. Here are some things to think about. Are His Automotive Skills The Only Thing You're Interested In? If you meet a man who you have no interest in until you find out that he is a certified mechanic, you may suddenly find yourself feeling more interested. This is especially true if your vehicle is sorely in need of a good set of automotive tools and diagnostic ability. But you have to question your motives. After he finishes changing out your belts, hoses, carburetor and what have you, are you going to drop him like a hot radiator cap? Then this is not an ethical thing to do. You are basically trading your social graces for auto repair. Will you respect yourself in the morning? Probably not. And how will the poor guy feel about being used for his expertise. Not so great. He may begin to harbor resentment for all women who come into his shop batting their eyelashes. But if you simply feel more interested and think you could develop a nice dating friendship with him, even after your car is tuned up and maintained within an inch of its life, then it's okay to get a bit of help from your friends. How Would You Feel? It's important to ask yourself two questions: 1) How would you feel if you were the one with auto repair tools and skills and he was the eyelash batter? If you would feel resentful that he was "using you" and drop him like a hot potato or do a shoddy job out of passive aggressive spite, this is a date you should probably not go on. "Do unto others as you want them to do unto you" - the Golden Rule always is a good touchstone for ethical behavior questions. 2) Can you be honest with him from the get-go about your need for auto maintenance tasks such as brake repair? If not, then you must feel like you're doing something wrong. Dishonesty is never a good foundation for a relationship. If you can be honest about it from the start, the pairing has potential. Dating a guy who has been well trained in the workings of automobile engines, brake repair, and a slew of other tasks can come in handy. If you like him already, and he like you, then this can be a win-win situation. If not, and you're using him, hands off. He is not the right man for you and vice versa. Save up the cash for repairs yourself and select your dates based on more ethical criteria.