Editor's note: This is a rejoinder to the September 23 article titled "Where have all the good men gone?" in which a woman argued there are no more good men. A good man replies.

I sympathize with reporter Michelle Zhang and her quest to find a good man. The dating game is a mine field of potential disasters. But it works both ways.

As a veteran of the dating scene, I have piled up many experiences and met some interesting people. Of course, there is a trail of disasters stashed away in my vault. Once I took a woman to a movie premiere. About 15 minutes into the film, she whispered in my ear, "Sorry, I've got to go now."

I was stunned. "What do you mean, we just got here," I said, annoyed, with a hint of anger.

"Oh, I just came to see the famous actors and actresses before the movie started. Don't get mad," she replied, as she squeezed past my legs and into the aisle. Just like that, she was gone.

On another occasion, I took an attractive woman out for dinner in the hopes of getting to know her better. In the middle of the meal, she pulled out her skin care firm's catalogue and a number of samples.

She proceeded to try and sell me every single item. I feigned a little interest at the beginning to be polite. That was stupid. It only encouraged her.

She even promised to come to my apartment and give me a massage if I purchased a bottle of outrageously priced exfoliating scrub. Thankfully, after that meal, I never saw her again.

Having plunged myself into Shanghai's deep dating pool, I have a sense that the vast majority of single woman are looking for a husband.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I feel in most cases the approach is destined to fail. If you are searching for a husband and happily ever after, that places an enormous amount of pressure on a first date.

You immediately start looking for negative traits — not an ideal way to learn about a person.

A good relationship needs time to breathe and time to flourish.

I could go on and tell you about the woman whose lips felt like wet noodles when we kissed, or about the woman who wanted me to lie to Canadian Consulate officials — after only meeting me 45 minutes earlier — and help her get a visa, but I think you get the point.

Dating is an adventure. You simply never know what you are going to get.

Instead of being discouraged by bad dates, I now consider these experiences worthwhile. In a way, it's a badge of honor.

Everyone can relate to a bad date and the difficulties of finding Mr Right or Miss Perfect. I have also learned that these encounters reflect on the quality of the other person and not on me.