Elizabeth and Richard did it, Sienna and Jude did it, Carrie and Aidan did it, and thousands of people do it every year. No I’m not talking about having an affair, but rather getting back with an ex. Having witnessed the recent break-up of one of my most frequent on-off, on-off couple friends, I came to wondering about whether it is ever a good idea to revisit the past.

You can tell you've been single too long when you can't see the difference between an innocent come on and sexual harassment. For example, I was taking a taxi home from the cinema one night last week and was fully prepared for a silent ride home.

There are unwritten rules that every man is supposed to follow. Be chivalrous and courteous to the fairer sex. Drink a pint and not alcopop and leave the satchel to Indiana Jones. However, in recent years, the borders of men and women have become somewhat blurred. We have 'manscara' and 'guy-liner' make-up for men, which are proving more and more popular in America. Brandon Flowers, lead singer in 'The Killers' swears by them.

There's nothing quite as cringe inducing as watching someone try to chat someone up badly. I've seen some people using horribly cheesy chat up lines and awful dance moves in the hope they would woo a partner. More often than not, they fall flat on their faces.

Don't you just love the morale question of how far to go on the first date? Do you be a total prude and stick to mere conversation, stick to a peck on the cheek or do you go the whole way? Ask most guys this and you're sure to find the latter is in one of the main aims. But this isn't just speculation or stereotyping, this is fact.

Everyone has that one friend who just can't bear to be alone. The friend who has "such a great time" being single, but almost cries with relief when someone asks her to "go steady". Mine – let's call her Bridget – is almost painful in her predictability. She'll hook up with a guy who seems all but perfect. He might be into tropical fish and Tae Kwon Do, and hey presto, so is she! Or, if he's into rugby and Westlife, bam, there we go.

We've all seen those videos on youtube. The ones where someone does something ridiculously stupid and some other genius decides to put it up online for the world to see. They range from cruel, but hilarious pranks to drunken antics and everything in between. Most of the time, it leads to someone being injured or losing most, if not all of their dignity.

I once did something extremely shameful. It's a topic I don't like talking about and certainly one I wouldn't fully admit to. It's time to let it out though. I once tried to watch Twilight. I genuinely don't understand the unhealthy obsession that people have for the main character, pasty-faced vamp, Edward Cullen.

Modern society has progressed so that men and women have less defined roles. Pre-1950s, it wasn't usual for men and women to be just friends, while pre-marital sex, same sex and inter-racial relationships were frowned upon. A lot has changed. There are laws to protect against discrimination and society as a whole is more accepting. It can no longer be assumed that a woman will stay at home and mind the kids, nor can it be assumed that a man is the primary earner.

Everyone has been single at one point or another, and some handle it better than others. Most people take in their stride, hoping to eventually meet 'the one' but are not in any rush either. Others enjoy the freedom of a single life, and see it as a concious lifestyle choice. They relish their independence, coming and going as they please, not having to compromise or explain themselves to a partner.