The Failure of Role Models Everywhere

I ran across a young man's diary earlier today. (I'm not going to post a link to it for various reasons.) I have to admit that his diary really hit me. Reading the entries he's written over the last month or so left me feeling like I should have emotional whiplash about now. To give you a rough timeline:

9/9 -- He's dating another guy named Sean. He won't see Sean until 10/4 because he's grounded.
9/23 -- He's just got engaged to a guy named Charlie. What happened to Sean? When did he meet Charlie? And now he's engaged?
10/4 -- Charlie broke it off with him. Wait, wasn't it just a week ago they got engaged? That engagement was almost as short as Brittney's (or was it J-Lo's? I forget) last marriage!
10/5 -- He's now announced he's looking for Mr. Right. Call me crazy, but maybe taking a bit longer than 24 hours to get over the fiance who dumped you might be wise....
10/5 Part Deux -- He's tired of dating younger guys because they're so "immature." Yet he's upset because older guys won't date him because he's not an adult (yeah, well for those of us who prefer to stay out of jail and any other legal pitfalls, the fact that you're only 17 does tend to make you pretty undesirable). After all, he's as mature as any 21 year old (apparently, he hasn't noticed that most 21 year olds are pretty immature themselves).

Now, I'm not telling you all about this just to make fun of the young man. To be honest, I feel for him. Because I have to admit, seeing his level of naivity and immaturity (and I realize part of it is natural, as he is still pretty young), I have to wonder if we adults -- especially we gay male adults -- haven't failed the poor guy.

It's pretty clear to me that this guy doesn't know a lot about dating, let alone what makes relationships last and work out. Here he is looking for "Mr. Right," but apparently has no sense about how to go about that search effectively. Heck, I'm not sure he even has a realistic idea of what "Mr. Right" looks like.

To a degree, we all have to figure that out on our own. But to a different degree, others can point the way. This guy needs (and needed) to see examples of successful relationships. He needed role models that he could observe to understand what it really takes to form and maintain lasting, satisfactory relationships. He needs role models that consistently show what it means to mature and become the kind of person who is ready for a lasting, satisfactory relationship, and has what it takes to make one work. In other words, he needs people like me. (Wow, Jarred, egotistical much?)

I find myself wondering, what can I do to make myself a more visible role model. What can I say and do to visibly live my principles and virtues so that people like this young man take notice and have the opportunity to learn by experience? Because it's pretty obvious to me that people like me are failing him.