I am 17, turning 18 in April. I have just landed my first job, and my plan before I began observing the dating scene was to find a girlfriend. However my observance has led me to think otherwise. Every relationship/marriage I have ever witnessed has ended in failure, everytime ending bad for the man. The worst of which led my cousin into a crippling opiate habit, and cost him his career.

So my question is: Although I have made the inference that dating is not something I should get into, should I still do it for the personal experience? Should I subject myself to it, so that I can personally understand what I have observed? Thank you for your time gentlemen.