Young Ladies, Look for the Precious
I'm a friendly guy, generally, and like to talk to people. I've noticed over the years that I freak some people out with my friendly approach, which always strikes me as odd. Apparently to some poor souls out there, me talking & smiling = "I'm going to kill you."
The fact that I'm married has greatly alleviated this social occurrence. People tend to treat me better when they discover I'm legally joined to a woman, and they're even more amenable when I have that beautiful woman by my side.
One of my favorite social benefits of being married, I call it my "Marriage Shield", is that I'm now freed up to talk to anyone I want. Guys don't automatically wonder if I'm gay and hitting on them (unless they happen to be gay themselves, in which case they assume I'm hitting on them). Women don't feel pressured by the fact that we're having a nice conversation to either blow me off or feel like they're leading me on.
The only time my Marriage Shield ever fails is when talking to women in their 20s. For some reason, a small percentage of women in that age group dig older guys. That's just fine with me. The downside is that they are blind to the Marriage Shield. Even when turned on to maximum power, they don't see it.
Like doe in the most wild regions of Canada that don't run from man because they've never seen one before, women in their 20s are completely unversed in the subtle social cues of the married man. They may see the ring as I casually pass it before their eyes, but its positioning carries no deeper meaning. Often, a conscientious married man will be forced to brutally wedge the "my wife" phrase into the conversation completely out of context, which [at best] results in mild embarrassment on the behalf of both parties. At worst, she'll flash a disgusted look and file you in her mental folder marked 'Creep'.
The only way to avoid this scenario with these nascent few is to accessorize your body with 'I'm married' paraphernalia: Belt buckles, t-shirts, buttons, trucker hats, etc. Or take the more built-in approach and just let your personal hygiene go to hell (I mean, you're already married, right?). Your choice.
PS: To those women who thought "Eric's not all that." while reading this entry: Jeez, I know!