Sorry everyone for my recent unintended hiatus, but some other more pressing things came up in my life that trump this blog. Ok, on a daily basis things come up that trump the blog, but I still write because that’s what I do. It makes me happy. Anyway, I’m glad to be back now, pressing things or not.
Which leads me to my post for the day. I’ve seen a couple of things recently in the news that give me pause.
I’ll start with Boink. It’s a new app on the iPhone/ iPad, and if your first priority in a relationship is sexual compatibility, this may be the app for you. You know, you can bypass the step of actually sleeping with someone in case it’s a waste of time. Just like dates seem to have become a waste of time. We’ve whittled them down to 3-minute speed dates or the 15-minute “coffee meeting”. Or even just an online video chat. Nobody has the time, but I digress.
Boink is scientific. It allows you to create your “bedroom profile”, which ranges from kissing preferences (tongue/ no tongue) to preferred sexual positions (which include diagrams and descriptions). Then you tap your phone against a potential prospect’s who has also had his bedroom profile created, and it gives you a compatibility rating. Ahh, romance.
But enough about Boink. There’s also this cute little Today Show story about a Mom who set up a website for her son to help find him a wife. Now, I appreciate some help from friends and family setting me up on a date, but a website? It’s called “Date my Single Kid”. The poor guy seems alright—he’s attractive, smart and seems perfectly normal from the 3-minute clip, but how do I know? It’s a little creepy Mom is so involved. She claims she just wants to “cast a wider net” for her son, that for some reason, he’s just not meeting quality people. With work he doesn’t have time. Umm, hey Mom, heard of online dating? Maybe she wants people from across the country to move to New York to meet her wonderful son because they saw him on TV. Or something.
I would be scared to be the girl he ends up with. I imagine Mom’ll be calling every five minutes asking when she will have grandchildren.
All I can say is, technology is great…up to a point. Between Facebook feuds and misunderstandings, drunk texts, Boink, and “Date my Single Kid”, I’m a little disillusioned.
It makes me want to tell people, look, just walk over to someone at the coffee shop or at a party and just start talking. Go on a few dates, see if there’s something there. Talk on the phone. Spend time together. Get to know her/ him. There’s something to be said for leaving your love life to chance. After all, like I learned when I read Coehlo’s The Alchemist all those years ago, the key to finding what you want is in the journey, not the destination.
I promise it won’t be a waste of time.
About Kelly Seal
Kelly is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles, CA. She blogs about dating, relationships, personal growth and what "healthy living" means to her. You can follow her on Google+, Twitter @kellyseal or through her website www.kellyseal.com.
Wonderful site and theme, would really like to see a bit more content though!
Great post all around, added your XML feed! Love this theme, too!
it was very interesting to read.
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
I hope Boink has the option of choosing both suggestions (as in: both with tongue and no tongue in kissing preferences, instead of opting for just one.)
I’ve heard of the mom setting up her son. He looked awkward having her all up in his business. I’m imagining my mom setting me up with a guy to, finally, kill us both. 😉
I find your getting to know the other suggestion sensible. It’s how I’ve always thought of dating.
Very interesting reading, I have never heard of boink, but I agree what happened to just meeting by chance dating.