Has old fashioned dating turned to “meet greet rate and date”? Apparently.
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Let’s face it. Old fashioned dating no longer exists. In my world it was boy meets girl, boy asks girl out, both get to know each other, and then the romance commences. In the world today, that order seems to be all out of whack. Modern society has turned dating into something more akin to virtual flirting. Some may argue that the dating scene today is better and more efficient than the old fashioned way because it allows the person to screen someone before they put in time and effort towards building a relationship. This may be true, but for me I must say it’s a little unsettling if someone begins rambling facts about me after just learning my name.
Call me old fashioned, but I liked getting to know someone first before interacting with him or her via social media. I mean isn’t that the way it’s supposed to go? Aren’t we only supposed to only add people on our social media pages who we already know? But the world is changing faster than we can comprehend it. The dating scene is now entering the 21st century and that means an abundance of technological advances geared towards trying to make the venture of finding a mate just a little easier for mankind. Forget E-Harmony and other dating websites. Nowadays the easiest way to find someone who you may be interested in is via smartphone applications. Phone apps such as Lulu, Tinder, and Date Hookup have grown in popularity over the last few years. Lulu, an app designed for women to rate men, launched in 2012 and is now one of the top apps used by young adults. I’m not going to lie and say that this app isn’t hilarious and entertaining to read. I mean I’ve definitely had my fair share of wasted hours on Lulu just scrolling through all my guy friends, but this isn’t dating. Instead this is using another person’s judgment on someone’s character to help the user create his or her own opinion. Isn’t that biased?
The dating scene doesn’t just stop at these endless dating apps and websites. In fact it has advanced even further. Now websites that weren’t even designed for the purpose of dating such as LinkedIn and Facebook are being used. People will go through a friend’s friends in hopes of finding a face that may catch their eye. This is the new virtual dating world.
I get it though. As the world progresses people have less time to go out and find someone the old fashioned way. It’s hard to meet people on the streets and strike up a conversation. The Internet is just, well, convenient. Especially for those who are in the working world and can’t afford a professional matchmaker, an online search seems to be the way to go. It’s an easy, accessible, and affordable way to meet someone who may share an interest with you. The biggest issue for me is—how do you know they’re real?
I mean let’s be real the Internet isn’t a 100% honest place. If I can Photoshop all my pictures or take them at strange and odd angles in order to make myself seem more attractive, what might others do? Who’s to stop someone from saying he’s a French male model or a billionaire from Dubai? Last I heard, Facebook sure as hell doesn’t double check facts for accuracy. You could be potentially stalking someone who doesn’t even exist.
Regardless of if you are a fan of this new scene or not, old fashioned dating is meeting its end and virtual flirting is making its Hollywood debut. This is the 21st century folks and whether I, or anyone else for that matter, agree or disagree with it, we must all face reality. Online “meet, greet, rate and date” is the future. All I ask is that we proceed with this new manner of “dating” with caution.
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Photo: aarontait / flickr
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