So glad I'm not single

I really am perplexed and baffled when I hear people talking about relationships these days. I'm not sure romance exists anymore. I'm not sure emotional engagement exists anymore. I'm not even sure love exists anymore, not in the way it used to. People seem to approach a new partner like they're recruiting for a position at work - wanting a list of previous encounters, looking up as much information as possible, and drawing up a list of positive and negative traits. What happened to accepting people as they are and letting love happen over time? And then working together to find a way to fulfil what's best for both of you?
It all seems so selfish now.
It's about what I WANT, not about what WE NEED.
Listening to people talk around me, the conclusion seems to be that the only way to survive the harsh world of dating is to be harsher and harder than everyone else. You navigate your way through the fields of selfishness by being selfish yourself. Once you've been hurt once you refuse to let anyone in. Take what you want, then have a go at the other person for not behaving caringly. Do unto others as you have had done unto you, then chastise them and reject them for behaving that same way.
Is this really the future society we are creating?

Maybe it's been heading this way for a while and I've just been sheltered from it. I've never really enjoyed talking to people about their relationships, and I've been with Philippa for a long time now, so maybe I haven't noticed the deterioration. But it's harder and harder to avoid now. Everyone seems to be single and 'care-free' but in turmoil. So I can't avoid it. I'm hearing about it all the time. There seems to have been a collective turning away from the sweet side of romance and now everyone is missing it, without realising it. People are so intent on fitting in with the trendy 'life by hook-up app' lifestyle that they are too scared to try something different, and they're not enjoying it. I may be old-fashioned with these things, but I also judge things based on what I see. And what I see right now is lots of people who criticise the old days while obviously wishing they were in them. Binning someone as soon as you disagree with them is a sure-fire way to long-term loneliness. And everyone's doing it, and everyone seems to be unhappy with it. But everyone's too scared to be different; to ask for something different; to be honest about wanting love rather than gratification.
It makes me very, very sad.

Or maybe I'm just feeling sad today and this is what I'm attaching it to.
Anyway, thanks for reading this mad-minded waffle...

RC 24-1-25