So what if he's got a ring?
A few years ago, I stopped judging potential conquests by whether a guy had a ring on his finger.
It's not that I'm into married guys; quite the contrary, since I'd hate to set myself up from the first to be competing with another woman. Besides, it's an ethical no-no for me. Though I've gotten involved with guys who were already in relationships, dating a married man, to me, is crossing a serious line.
But it's tough to tell now whether or not a guy is married. A ring on that key finger could just be an accessory. And I know a few guys who, though they're married, have never worn a ring - they don't like wearing jewelry; it's uncomfortable; they'd fidget it off and lose it; whatever the reason.
So how, other than if a guy comes straight out and tells you, can you be certain someone's hitched before you spend much time chatting them up? I'm not talking about planning a wedding and future babies' names here, or anything; it's just a waste of a few hours at a bar if a guy's already sharing his home and, possibly, his name with someone.
Have you unknowingly hit on a married person before? What's your strategy for finding out if someone's attached or not? And do you have any horror stories of relationships with married partners?