Opinion: Nice guys may finish last, but at least they finish

Courtney Kerrigan

Courtney Kerrigan is a senior magazine journalism major and senior enterprise reporter for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact her at

[email protected].

If there’s any guy in the world who thinks it’s OK to hit on and then pursue a girl who already has a boyfriend, you are highly mistaken and need to be kicked repeatedly. ‘Nuff said.

There’s this misconception that young girls, mainly between the ages of 17 and 20-ish, stick with their respective boyfriends, though they are unhappy, miserable for fear of being alone. Really? Are girls that pathetic they can’t find their own independence in the world?

I don’t believe this for a second. Yes, there are girls in unhealthy relationships with boys who cheat on them or verbally abuse them or just tell them that, yes, they do look fat in that outfit (you know, honesty), but there are also guys who are in the same situations.

Clearly, I’m not acquainted with every girl categorized in that demographic, but I highly doubt they’re in unhealthy relationships because they’re afraid of their own independence. So to say that guys shouldn’t give up on unavailable girls because they’re probably unhappy anyway is bullshit. Don’t destroy someone’s relationship because you don’t have one.

I’m pretty sure I was a girl at 17, 18, 19 and yes, 20 years old and don’t recall ever being on the prowl for another guy when I was in a relationship. If a girl is unhappy in a relationship, she’ll get out of it eventually. It may take her some time, but she doesn’t need your help. Don’t think you’re her knight in shining armor saving her from the biggest mistake of her life.

Young girls stay in relationships for a number of reasons: because they’re still in that honeymoon stage and think the guy holding her hand will never let go; or because the sex is good; or because she doesn’t want any other girl to have him; OR (gasp!) because she’s actually happy and in love with the guy attached to her hip. Shocking!

And it’s not a matter of nice guys or assholes or weak guys or whatever. People are in the relationships they’re in for a reason — just let it be. They shape you as a person and offer some lesson in your life, good or bad.

Most of the time, young love doesn’t last, but until then, back off and go hit on the cougar at the bar. There are plenty of available girls out there who would be happy to do the nasty with you.

But then again, girls ARE like parking spots — all the good ones are taken and all the available ones are handicapped.