Like many other inquisitive young people, I've often wondered what speed dating is like. It's been growing in popularity across North American metropolises, and I've heard many friends proclaim that speed dating was the greatest thing since cyber sex. On the other hand, there's the common Hollywood portrayal of speed daters as a socially awkward and romantically desperate segment of society. Although I tried my best to be my usual unbiased self, my mind kept conjuring up a scene from
Hitch, where an irritated female speed dater interrupted Will Smith's dialogue with the memorable line, "This is really kind of distracting and I haven't gotten laid in a year!"
Conceptualized in the late 90s by a Los Angeles rabbi, speed dating is a matchmaking process in which an equal number of guys and girls take turns speaking with each other. There are only a couple of minutes to chat with each potential match, so first impressions are key. At the end of the event, participants check off all names they are interested in. If the attraction is mutual, contact information is released and hopefully, the two speed daters later arrange an actual date.
Organized by the Speed Dating Club, McGill's version featured nine girls and nine guys meeting in an area of Gert's. After a quick pep talk from the event organizers, the games officially began.
As I made the rounds chitchatting, I kept expecting something outlandish to occur. Unfortunately, it wasn't my day. There were no outbursts of Hollywood proportions. No one awkwardly dressed or just plain awkward. Stereotypes? This wasn't the place to find them.
Nevertheless, at some point I had to stop wondering when the first gaffe was coming and actually pay attention to the person sitting across from me. Time to really go undercover.
My mindset wasn't about seeing how many numbers I could get for bragging later - it was more of a "let me go in there, talk the talk, smile the smile, semi-flirt but not really, throw in a couple teasers and one-liners while listening to her glitter about her major" approach.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Speed Dating Crew
posted 12/02/09 @ 12:32 AM EST
And remember, if you are interested in the Speed Dating club, check our website at www.speed8.com
Speed Dating Girl
posted 12/04/09 @ 4:04 PM EST
I'm surprised to hear that you didn't meet ANY cliches or weirdos. If that happened to me, my blog would be out of material. Keep going, and I'm sure you'll either find the love of your life or some crazy anecdotes eventually. (Continued…)
Student speed dating
posted 1/02/10 @ 4:42 AM EST
Speed Dating Stories was about one guy's experience at a speed dating event. He met 17 eligible women (and 1 non-eligible woman) over a course of 90 intense minutes of dating tension. (Continued…)
Julie Wood
posted 2/05/10 @ 5:13 PM EST
Speed dating is something I've always been weary of thanks to the stories I've heard from friends- everyone I know who's tried it seems to have plenty of never-again-in-a-million-years stories. (Continued…)
søren
posted 3/18/10 @ 4:51 PM EST
I have try speed dating one time, it's was very funny, some yers ago i had a dating profile one one speed dating site and one time i want to try to go to one speed dating party. (Continued…)
Post a Comment