He told me, very unenthusiastically, that he wasn't dating anyone special, just a few "hook-ups."

Hook-ups? I suddenly felt a little out of date.

He informed me that hook-ups were the noncommittal, no-frills, short-term sexual relationships that have replaced dating these days. I couldn't believe my ears.

His generation had reduced the mating ritual to basically the same thing you see on the Discovery Channel, with the local bar acting as the seasonal watering hole.

When I found out that he had never been on a real date, I flipped. He told me without remorse, that dating was in fact, dead.

I wasn't even aware that it was sick.

I bugged my parents to let me date from the time I was in seventh grade. Finally, they let me take Sandy Papillion to the movies when I turned 16.

Dating was such a big part of my teen years and early adulthood that I often didn't pay my bills on time. I was broke from spending money on dates.

Back then we blind-dated, double-dated, group-dated, prom-dated, movie-dated and did our homework with our girlfriends or boyfriends. We didn't even have sex. We were too busy going out.

We had good dates, bad dates, dinner dates, lunch dates, church dates and my personal favorite: the long drive date.

Whose idea was it to ditch dating anyway? Have we become so impatient that we just skip to the sex part and dump the courting altogether?

How do you find out whether you're compatible with someone else?

Lying in bed the following morning is not the best time to find out that the woman you just slept with used to play linebacker for Florida State before her sex change.

A few choice questions over dinner can help you avoid some guy whose major work experience consists of license plate fabrication.

Dating is not only fun, it's educational. Where else can you find out about another person's sexual history over a Cajun chicken salad?

I think we should resurrect the institution. When my daughter turns 16, I look forward to intimidating her nervous potential suitors.

Dating is more entertaining and safer than "hooking up." Dating is about the discovery of another person's soul. Hooking up is about anonymous, empty sex.

Instead of spending Saturday night searching for prey during last call at the Alaskan, call up someone you've had your eye on for a while. Ask them out.