Being Single in 2010

Why is it that being single is such a frowned upon life choice?  I swear there are more negative connotations with being single, than there are being in a loveless marriage or dare I say an abusive relationship. 

I think part of this stems back to the basic survival of humans.  Getting married forced humans to have sex, which greatly increased the likelihood of children, which increased the chances of their societies survival.  

However, in 2010 this desire is no longer mandatory.  With billions of people around the world, not every single person needs to have a kid;  meaning not every single person needs to get married.  Plus, even if someone did not get married, they could always adopt children or be artificially inseminated. 

So then what is still forcing this negative stigmatism towards being single?  Aside from the fear of dying alone in your apartment, I think it has to do with our culture's obsession with love.  It seems almost every book, movie, song or poem has to do with love.  Perhaps not with an actual individual, and more with an object or an abstract idea, but we as humans seem to love just about everything.   

It seems that most characters are trying to figure out love;  some succeed, others do not.  Yet all are somehow living their lives in love with something.  Those who don't love have the story centered around their inability to function as a regular human.  But if someone is single, there is the general notion they are lacking in love.  Without this feeling, somehow we think they are lacking in life.  

Love is a messy emotion on a two way street.  Since both parties need to love in order for the bond to truly exist,  feelings usually get hurt at some point.  What is so wrong with not wanting to get hurt?  Or being hurt too many times that you just give up trying?  Perhaps my youth has created a bias, but I guess only time will tell.  In the meantime, I would like to see more positive media about being single. 

-M