Article DetailsHang On? An Actual Face-to-Face Date? |
| Date Added: January 31, 2009 07:11:52 PM |
| Author: Admin |
| Category: Nightlife: Speed Dating |
| We're in a world where the majority of first contacts are made on the Internet, on the phone, or over e-mail. This makes perfect sense for building business relationships, and in fact in a global high-tech economy, we have no real choice. But for romantic relationships? When we think about attraction, all research points to a face-to-face meeting. So why do we even bother with online dating? Take a look at communication for example. 7% of communication between two people involves actual words. 38% is vocal (pitch, speed, volume, tone of voice). 55% of communication is visual (body language, eye contact). And this is just the passing of information. Add in to that the impact of pheromones, touch and "chemistry" and all the mysterious things that make two people attracted to each other, then it is a wonder we even bother with online dating. The counter-argument is that, in a crazy fast-paced work-obsessed city like New York, we need the online dating to get to the real date. The problem is, it's too easy to spend hours looking through profiles, and even more hours with sending e-mails and arranging a first date. Your chances of that first date being successful are low, as you're making your decision based on a tiny fraction of the information (and not much better if you phone them). By the same stats, your chances of eliminating someone as inappropriate, who might actually be a good match, is also high. So you end up on a 2-3 hour, expensive date that you know has no future. So what do we do? Do we go to a bar? Nope. If you're a guy, then you have to face rolling eyes, rejection, cold looks, "oh, I've got a boyfriend", wasted money on drinks and no phone number... If you're a woman, you have to deal being hit on by exactly the guys you don't want to be hit on by, and you can't really do the picking, as you're constrained and made powerless by social norms that apply even in the progressive bars of NYC, and even in 2009. Do we go to Starbucks or the grocery store, or do we rely on our friends to set us up, or do we (shudder) date our work colleagues? The first is dreadfully inefficient, the second, most of us have exhausted all those options, and the last... well, how did that work out for us last time? Badly. So, we go speed-dating. It's the perfect balance. You have between 10 and 30 dates of between three and eight minutes. Everyone at the bar is single, and everyone wants to meet someone, and there is no face-to-face rejection. For women, the sheer numbers allow choice and pickiness, and creates a safe environment where one can be as flirty and nice as you wish, and still check "no" if he's not someone you want a second date with. Conversation is light, the atmosphere is relaxed, and adrenalin (and perhaps a bit of alcohol) drives a mood of flirtation. It's inexpensive (how does $2 a date sound!), and it's efficient. The evenings offered are split by age ranges and theme or ethnic/cultural background ("Sporty/Active Singles", "Creative Singles", "Jewish Singles" etc), improving the likelihood that the pool of options shares your interests or background. If you're single, and you're wondering how to meet people, find a speed-dating event and sign up.
Daniel B. is one of the owners of New York's most exciting Speed Dating company, New York EasyDates. Specializing in speed dating events for single professionals in New York City, New York EasyDates offers a variety of themed events for all ages. Visit our site at www.nyeasydates.com and register for an upcoming event. Article Source: www.nyeasydates.com |
