the ring thing

Today's nightlife column is about my temporary venture into the world of fake engagement rings.

While hardly a flawless pickup line deterrent, the rings are a pretty effective way for non-confrontational types to tell guys they're taken. Even if it is a lie.

See a wedding-finger accessory and it's a pretty safe bet to assume that woman is taken.

Married guys, however, might be a different story.

This piece, "Seven ways to spot a married man," talks about the many guys who will remove their wedding rings prior to a night out on the town. In the absence of an actual ring, the author recommends looking for things like a ring-finger tan, or creepy qualities like overly excessive niceness.

If only it was that easy.

Even my savviest friends have had relationships interrupted by the m-bomb, and in all cases it happened way too belatedly.

At what point, if ever, do both partners in a relationship become obligated to policy of full disclosure? Has it gotten to the point where a girl is expected to ASK any guy she's dating if he's married?

The more comments the better on this one. I'm using it for a future column.