A popular
dating and matchmaking trend is upon us. It
is called speed dating. Naturally, it has
found a new home on the internet. But what
exactly is it and how does it work?
Speed dating
origins is credited to a Jewish Rabbi Yaacov
Deyo, who is said to have invented it as way
Jewish people meet in areas where they were
outnumbered by non-Jews. I not sure the
Rabbi anticipated such a huge growth in his
creation. But that's a different subject.
So, what is
speed dating?
Well, as
the name suggests, speed dating is process
or event for men and women meet in great
numbers for the purpose of finding a match
in the shortest possible time. Speed dating
is also gaining popularity among the gay and
lesbian communities.
Who sort of
people participate in speed dating?
Mainly busy
professionals and people who lead busy lives
and don't have time for traditional dating.
They are normal, attractive people who want
to meet compatible prospects without wasting
time.
How does
speed dating work?
The event
is pre-planned by an organizer. This is
crucial for, as they say, "The more the
merrier" and also, for safety reasons, it is
important for participants to be screened
and supervised. During the actual event
couples meet and interact with each other
one-on-one for a brief period of time,
usually less than ten minutes.
Once the
minutes are over you move on to the next
possible prospect, no matter how much you
are enjoying the present interaction or,
conversely, you dread the next one. This
offers participants as wide a choice as
possible, therefore increasing chances of
finding someone.
Also, the
time limit ensures that everyone gets equal
opportunity, while avoiding getting stuck
with a person with whom they no longer wish
to talk to.
At the end
of the event participants submit a list of
persons they would like to meet again. The
matching process takes place after the event
to ensure no one faces rejection. The
organizers then look for matches and inform
both parties (if two people pick each other,
it's a match).
In a speed
dating event, no contacts are exchanged
directly, to avoid face-to-face rejection.
Arguing is prohibited and an atmosphere of
fun and enjoyment encouraged.
Though the
process may vary with each organizer, the
basics of speed dating usually remain the
same.
What are
the advantages of speed dating?
The most
obvious advantage is- you guessed it- speed.
You get to meet a variety of people, all of
whom are there to for one thing, to find a
mate. It allows a large number of daters to
meet in one short event.
Another
advantage is that it is a two-way traffic.
Women don't have to just sit there and wait
to be approached and men do not have to play
the traditional role of aggressors while
trying to guess if the woman is be
interested or not.
The
averting of face-to-face rejection is also a
big advantage, don't you think?
What are
the disadvantages of speed dating?
The biggest
advantage is also the biggest disadvantage:
Time. You have a very short time to make an
impression. For some people the pressure may
be too much. For people who can't start a
conversation easily with a stranger it might
also pose a challenge.
Critics of
speed dating also point out that it
emphasizes on first impressions, which may
not necessarily be indication of future
compatibility. Well, most relationships
start this way anyway, so I don't see a big
issue here.
Speed
dating is a great way to meet prospects and,
possibly, your soul-mate. Many people who
have tried it say the interaction is fun, no
matter the outcome. Reputable speed dating
sites offer the option of meeting prospects
online, at an event, or both.
