Rebounds serve an important person in life.  They are about not letting life get you down, even if you miss the mark. But most importantly getting back on the horse. Of course, in this case the horse refers to women. And, no I am not advocating getting on top of, below, or anywhere near girls that remotely resemble equines. I don’t think rebounds aren’t an important part of any relationship (or more accurately post-relationship), but let’s be honest with ourselves in the fact that the people we rebound with aren’t exactly good decisions. Here are a couple classic rebound scenarios.

The Revenge Fuck

Any time you start dating somebody, there will be certain people of the opposite sex that will just bug the bejesus out of your significant other. Either you are a little too friendly with your female friend, too friendly with her female friend, or she’s irrationally jealous of a coworer or a girl she knows wants to sleep with you. Whatever the case may be, there is going to be the female that if you slept with, your ex would murder you. This extends to any of her friends, family, roommates, coworkers, etc. Basically the revenge fuck isn’t about the girl you are sleeping with, it’s about the fact that it will piss off your ex.

The Sure Thing

Another potential rebound is a female that is significantly slutty, or just somebody you know you can easily get. Why haven’t you gone for these girls in the past you might ask? Because sure things are boring, and we all love a challenge. But, more importantly than that, it is because we really don’t like these girls enough to give them prime relationship consideration. They are the B squad. Understudies that we relegate to special teams. Drunken mistakes, self loathing, and the rebound.

The Stranger

The next girl you meet after the breakup that you designate to be the rebound is automatically going to be a minor player in your life. You aren’t over your ex yet, but you enter into this relationship that is doomed from the start because it becomes about proving lying to yourself that you are strong enough, and over it enough, to move on. Of course you aren’t, so you are setting yourself up for a short lived failure.

Yes, rebounds are great and fun, but they are ultimately more about yourself, and your ex, than the rebound girl. There is a reason that we constantly avoid trying to be the “rebound guy/girl” because you know you are fighting a battle you can’t win. Just because you didn’t hit a goal with the first shot, the rebound doesn’t entirely make up for it.