Over the past decade, millions have signed up for Web-based dating services such as Match.com, eHarmony and Yahoo! Personals, which can be fun while the novelty lasts. But none of the services truly promise much outside of the raving testimonials.
You fill out lengthy profiles and send dozens of e-mails this way and that. You chat with potential cyber suitors for hours, days, even months, only to find disappointment within a matter of minutes due to a lack of chemistry or attraction.
Then you finally meet the person and mutter under your breath, “What a waste of time.”
The “traditional” dating sites may be ancient history with the advent of the world’s first online speed-dating site, which made its debut this month.
Dan Abelon and Simon Tisminezky, ’07 Stanford University graduates, are the co- founders of SpeedDate.com. The website allows you to see if sparks fly between yourself and whoever’s profile piques your interest by using Web cams and computer microphones.
It’s based on the traditional speed-dating model in which a group of singles meet somewhere (like a restaurant or bar) and rotate from person to person, having “mini dates,” with each lasting only a few minutes.
With SpeedDate.com, you can now get acquainted from the comfort of your home – and in your sweats, too. No more dressing up for dates or having to ask your best friend to bail you out of a bad date by calling your cell phone crying wolf.
When it comes to the dating scene, physical attraction is a pretty big component. After all, we live in superficial LA, where plastic Barbie dolls with inflatable boobs flaunt their flesh around the city while Ken doll wannabes drool over them.
Looks are pretty important. There has to be some kind of initial attraction to ignite the chemistry. If the pheromones kick in, one person may instantly become attracted to the other.
Generally, you know if you like a person within the first few minutes of interaction. SpeedDate.com may have simplified the process, since concerns about physical attractiveness cut straight to the point.
The genius of the online speed-dating concept awes me. I wish I had thought of it first. It’s certainly an excellent potential moneymaker and you get to play cupid – all from the goodness of your (no, not heart) home computer.
But take advantage of the free service while you can, because it won’t last long, if the Website’s popularity grows.
Pictures and captions (as well as descriptive text) can’t quite capture the essence of a person the way body language and voice tone does during live online interaction, or a “date.”
Having a dating profile to attract possible suitors is like having a résumé for potential employers. It’s an unwritten code to dress up résumés in an attempt to win over future employers. Similarly, people doll up dating profiles to win over their ideal mates.
I’ve tried and it was pretty neat. The only problem was that there weren’t a lot of people online at the same time.
And by the way, I don’t really like long walks on the beach.
Niki Payne is a senior journalism major and a contributing writer for
the Daily Forty-Niner.
