Dating: What's the Point?

I do not agree with the assertion that dating is just "practice for divorce." I think quite the opposite, actually: if a person never dates, how will he or she know what is needed for a successful relationship or how to resolve conflicts with a loved one? Most of my friends who have been in relationships have benefited. They learn how to communicate better and they learn what they like in other people. If my sister had had an "anti-dater" mindset, she probably would not have given her husband a chance in the first place. At the same time, I don't think that dating and the hook-up culture should be placed on the same level. I do not think that random hook-ups are beneficial like dating is. Hooking up does not involve commitment and emotional attachment like dating usually does. Moreover, hooking up is one way for people to just be used, and it can deter the development of strong relationships, as hook-ups are void of substance. Overall, I think that the hook-up culture is damaging to relationships, but dating, for the most part, can be a useful tool to better know oneself and how to have good relationships.