After 6 or 7 dates, why are they still dealing with the shadchan, shouldn’t they be talking to each other directly? “
Personally, I think they should be dealing with each other from the get go. People who cannot set up a date with each other on their own, after being recommended by someone, are not ready to get married (and I am not including chassidim, who have a whole different hashkafa of dating, which works for them).
Part of adult life for most of us, includes being able to make decisions, make phone calls and actually converse with someone, and yes, explain to someone why you no longer wish to date him/her, without going through a third party. 6 or 7 dates are not so many, in the scheme of things.