Dating and "Hooking Up"

The world would not exist without dating. Yes, the sun would keep shining, plants would keep growing, babies would be made but not out of love for one's partner. Dating allows us to practice for a long term relationship. It enables us to learn the amount of work needed to keep a relationship strong and loving. It teaches us what we like and dislike in a potential mate and lets us know what to do in a future relationship to prevent repeating mistakes. Without practice, how can we improve? If we never dated, how could we find the one we love and then keep them? We need dating otherwise the relationships with the people we love would crumble and marriages would break apart. I believe that many people feel the way that I do as I know people who date and have no intention of marrying their boyfriend/girlfriend. In my opinion, hooking up does not accomplish the same things as dating. Hook ups are often a once or twice thing and very rarely result in a relationship. Hooking up may teach us a little about ourselves, but it doesn't necessarily teach us what we look for in an ideal spouse.