I've been dating a wonderful person for six months. However, we have different upbringings and this causes arguments.

She's Asian, comes from an affluent family, went to private school, is late-teens, inexperienced about sex (virgin) and relationships.

I'm a Caucasian male, early 20s, with divorced parents, lived independently since 17. I was a party animal in my teens, have had a handful of relationships and/or one-night stands. I'm seeking a deeper connection.

We both have feelings and caring for each other and want it to work. She asked me to take it slow, I agreed. Is it possible to make this work?

Different Worlds

You raise the universal divide between a Valentine's Day romantic ideal vs. two people's personal realities. Short answer: Love can only conquer all IF both people commit to talking things out with mutual sensitivity, instead of arguing to win.

Specifically, she's young and innocent, while your sexual experience and past dating habits can easily overpower your new need for connection. But that will surely scare her away. Also, she may not have thought through her parents' reaction to this union. Try to meet the family while still just "friends," and assess whether it's possible for her to choose for herself, now, or in time.

You're pushing her a little... hence, her "go slow." Earn her trust.

On a job assignment, I met an interesting colleague with so many similar interests to mine (both mid-40s). We continued to go out, where he often insisted on paying, and I soon had an incredible crush.

I told him about my feelings and he said he was only interested in me as a friend, and he prefers tiny, petite women. We continued to date three or four times a week - concerts, expensive dinners, etc. He emailed me seductive songs.

He hadn't asked me out in a while so I went to his office (down the hall) and suggested going out after work, but he was busy. Several weeks later he asked me out for dinner. I'd previously given him several DVD's, so then asked to borrow one back to re-watch it. He said he didn't want to be friends with me anymore.

The next morning there were all the DVD's on my desk. I went to discuss the misunderstanding but he didn't want to speak to me, and hasn't for two months. When he sees me he turns red, turns around and heads the other way.

He told me he hasn't spoken with his parents or sister in several years, and a year ago, while buying a dress for his girlfriend she advised she was going to wear it on her date with another guy that night.

While we were seeing each other, there were a few rude situations/odd things so I'd love to hear your take on this and appreciate any advice.

Hurt and Confused

He's a jerk, something you should've known the minute he "preferred tiny petite women." That's when your self-respect is supposed to kick in, not go dormant in order to go places with a guy who drops close people like so many stones.

His rudeness, however and whenever, were other clear signals that he was bad news and would eventually turn on you.

Use Valentine's Day as a wake-up, that if things seem "odd," they're odd, and so is the relationship you may be trying to believe is a fit, when it's not.

You're lucky it's over. Avoid his office, too.

I'm 19, constantly crying. I liked this guy but made the mistake of bothering him - writing long messages on Facebook, constantly sending texts. We talked online for months, but sometimes argued. Then he said we never had a friendship, and he doesn't want to talk to me again.

I felt we did have a friendship. He was even my first kiss, which he admittedly rejected. Now everything reminds me of him. When I see him at college, it makes me so sad. How can I forget him, and how to deal with seeing him?

Too Many Tears

Get wise, smile coolly, stay distant. He WAS becoming your friend, but disliked too much contact. That's worth learning about the early phase of liking someone. Forgive yourself; it's natural to not have known this with your first crush. There are better guys out there, so don't waste your energy and spirit on crying.