I would say that I would never date someone and use them as practice. If it was one date or two dates and it didn’t work out then I would consider that all part of my experience or I guess practice???? If it turned into something more and it was multiple dates, sex, etc. then I would not knowingly do that just for practice. I saw the dr at the gym this morning and I was genuinely happy to see her even if it was only for 15 minutes. We walked out together, I gave her a kiss and told her I would call her later.
As far as physical attraction goes I don’t think that changes with meeting someone irl or old. If you see someone across the bar you notice their looks first before you talk to them. With old it is the same, you see some pictures and determine if you are attracted. In either case you get to know the person after that and determine if there is a connection.
I have never been a Don Juan, needing to date multiple women, string them along, have sex, and then dump them. If I find someone I like then I will date them only and explore the possibilities to see what happens. I would prefer to build something with one person vs dating around. If I find that person on the 15th date or the 30th date it doesn’t matter to me.
I am not over the top with gifts, dates, etc. I would consider myself slow and steady even with the girls that it didn’t work out with. There were many one and done dates, a few couple of dates, a month or so,and now the dr. I am very down to earth, am not a fancy restaurant or fancy gifts kind of person. It’s not because i am tight it’s just who I am. Laid back,easy going, and not pretentious.
If it bothers you then say something. Men stopping the courting process in ltr is very common. They stop doing the little things that helped to create the initial attraction and gradually over time it starts to fade with your wife or girlfriend. The get lazy, stop going to the gym, stop taking her out on dates, stop recognizing the holidays, stop listening to her problems, stop spending time together, etc. etc. etc.
I know from experience that’s what doomed my marriage.
