In Travels with Charley: In Search of America, John Steinbeck’s travelogue about crossing the country with his poodle, he wrote: "A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it."
But Reddit’s split-personality continues as the infamous message came through with a tonne of advice from married men for their single counterparts, on an /r/AskReddit post called “Married men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?” by user StrongestAmish.
Who are we to trust: one of modern literature’s most beloved writers or a bunch of married lads on Reddit? Well, in the interest of fairness, we gave the Reddit boys a chance and – luckily – they came good.
Here’s our pick of some of the best.
FINDING THE ONE
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
Besides the “my friend’s wife is a bitch” rhetoric, this feels like a solid one.
NEVER STOP DATING
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
OK, this one bangs: the little tease – “never stop dating...” – captures your attention and the pay-off – “your spouse” – captures your heart.
COMMUNICATION
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
Get to know your partner on every level possible, up-to, including, and especially the non-verbal. That’ll save you a whole lotta time and pain.
FIND SOMEONE WHO’LL LET YOU BE YOU
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
OK, maybe not the “guns” bit but the advice is sound.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
Nothing sadder than the fuckboi who dies alone.
BE HONEST
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
As hard as it can be, transparency will serve you well in the long run.
LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
How many times have you had a conversation with someone and it felt like they were just waiting for their turn to talk? Don’t be that guy.
BE AWESOME
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
Did you know that the Latin word for “actualisation” is “update”? We’re not sure what that proves, but it definitely feels like it means something.
DON’T BE COMPLACENT
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
This one’s a doozy, too. He who hesitates is lost, and he who goes through the motions and allows his relationship to coast along with minimal effort is lost too.
DON’T FUCK WITH THE JOB
CommentMarried men of Reddit, what advice would you give to single men?
No seriously, don’t fuck with it.
