Online speed dating: what's the point?

Dating is one of the most popular of social engagements and seems never to go out of date. The boy-meets-girl scenario is repeated over and over again, without anyone tiring of the activity. However, this doesn't mean that for some social dating as most of us understand it, can't become..., well, dated. For the socially innovative types, speed dating is one of the newer dating formats.

As the name implies, speed dating doesn't waste any time on the too time-consuming formalities. A quick assessment of the dating candidate, with speedy, to-the-point interviewing techniques is all it take to determine their date-worthiness. Some speed dating clubs set a maximum of ten or fifteen minutes during which the candidates are allowed to interview each other. If they like each other, they can set up for a longer date later on.

Eventually, the face-to-face speed dating format evolved into its cyberspace version, online speed dating, which quickly became a hit with teens. Now, you may well wonder, what's the point in a date you can't see or put a voice to, only reading text messages? The short answer is that online speed dating is a game of sorts. Whether the participants use oblique or direct questioning techniques, the idea is to get your speed date to reveal his or her true personality and intent, with as little time invested as possible.

Other telltale clues that help in the online speed dating game include the moniker they sign with and the agility with which the candidates uses acronyms. Preferred monikers are imaginative, with original quotes pertaining to their view of life. For example, pithy statements like, What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger accompanied by an illustration of a dragon breathing fire, may find favor with the daring soul looking for an adventurous online speed dating partner. As for agility with acronyms, if the date doesn't know more than IMG and ROFLOL, they may be a phony, or worse, a predator.

So, do these people ever actually meet in real life encounters? Not likely. So, back to where we began: what's the point? Unlike real life, participants in this game of chance and mixed intent aren't very concerned with the niceties they want to solve the mystery of their cyberspace date just cut to the chase, so to speak. While somewhat cynical and perhaps lacking manners, it all in fun.

Online speed dating has plenty of followers. Looks like this phenomena will be around for awhile at lest until something more exciting comes along to tickle the fancy of the dating public.