Editor’s note: This is the last installment of a semi-monthly column answering Loyola students’ questions about sex and relationships on campus. This column is for entertainment purposes only.

For my last column of the semester, I decided to ask myself a question for once, because I, like all Maroon readers, don’t have everything figured out when it comes to relationships and sex.

One question most single women ask when dating a man is: Why do men play games? Carrie Bradshaw covered it on “Sex and the City” in her column. The show has been cancelled for almost four years and women are still asking that question. We’re not talking about Monopoly, Scrabble or my personal favorite, Spin the Bottle – I am talking about games men play with women to mess with their heads, causing them to ask, “What does this mean?”

Let me give you an example. I have a boyfriend; we’ll call him George.

George and I had an argument the other night. After we settled down, we thought it was best he head back to his place because we were still upset. As he left he said, “I’ll call you tomorrow.” So I thought, alright – fine.

This was Sunday evening. Monday came and went without a call, as did Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. By lunchtime on Friday, let’s just say that I was a little more than annoyed.

I knew what was going on but didn’t want to admit it. He was playing a game with me – playing me for a fool to see how much it would take for me to “yearn.” Guys do this to test women.

The age of technology has only made this worse. It might have given us Tivo, HDTV and iPods, but it’s screwed us over in relationships. E-mail, cell phones, text messaging – they’re all a form of rejection and a way for us to play games. The fact that I couldn’t do anything with all of this technology at my fingertips was agonizing those five days.

But you know what I realized when he wasn’t calling me and I wasn’t calling him? I was just as bad as he was. I just sat there and let him play me like a freaking puppet.

NOT calling him was, in itself, a game as well. Then it hit me – girls play games, too, but we’re 10 times worse because we don’t let out what we really want.

I finally got it. If I wanted anything to change in the situation, I would have to make the first move in order to salvage my last bit of dignity and not let him make an idiot out of me.

If I wanted to call him and yell, I should. If I wanted to text him that I hated him, I should. And if I wanted to e-mail embarrassing naked pictures of him – well, I shouldn’t, but I could, dang it.

Take a stand. Don’t take it laying down, crying yourself to sleep because he hasn’t called. The truth is, we both play games, but neither one of us has to.

Maybe you should realize that this guy sucks and you probably shouldn’t be with him if he is testing your like/love/lust for him with this crap. It’s immature, it’s stupid and it’s just plain mean. So the bottom line is, grow up and get yourself into a mature relationship. You don’t play games, so don’t just sit back and be played with. Again, not what you think it means.

But if worse comes to worse, get rid of the relationship part. Friends with benefits can be nice. Then you’ll start playing a whole new set of very different games – the good kind.

I have enjoyed being the provider of relationship advice for The Maroon for this past semester. There have been ups, downs and plenty of Letters to the Editor. I might be retiring, but if you find that you need some help, just remember to keep it classy, Loyola.