Although I’ve been out of the dating scene for several
decades, I still have an opinion on the matter.
It was an epiphany that came about because of my upcoming
wedding anniversary, along with a television ad, that got me thinking. Here are the results.
If I was tossed into the water by a capsizing boat or some
other disastrous mishap, I would be able to swim, although it’s been years
since I visited a YMCA pool or jumped into the ocean for a cool down.
I believe that I would be equally able to find a date if
left alone by my sainted wife. After
all, there are plenty of visually impaired, deaf, and desperate women who would
be delighted to compromise their lives to be with a catch like me. That proverbial pool of companionship is pretty
full, because they are hoping for a visually impaired, deaf, and desperate man.
The advertisement that caught my attention was for farmers
who wanted a date. What I got from this
commercial was that farmers have no lives or communication skills to be able to
ask someone for a day or evening out for dinner and a movie. Farmers are those folks that seem to have
little trouble contacting their congressional representatives for more money
for farm subsidies, but apparently have great difficulty inviting a potential
mate out for coffee.
However, they are not alone.
Christians also are having problems finding companionship because they
also have a dating site that caters to “Christians meeting Christians.”
Jews also need a special conduit, oddly enough. All those meddling yentas are evidently doing
a poor job, well, meddling. The result
is another website that claims to be able to bring those singles of the Jewish
faith together to schwitz like a pudding.
Speed dating gatherings are akin to the old gatherings of
Parents Without Partners, who match people with kids to other people with
kids. This venue doesn’t specify if you
need to belong to a particular religion, or have an agricultural background to
apply.
Senior citizens who are never shy to carp to a total
stranger about not getting their “special senior discount,” appear to be
tongue-tied when it comes to talking to the opposite sex – without teeth, I’m
guessing. Hence, someone came up with a
website for them. If only they knew how
to use a computer to get to and use the site.
A quick check of the internet located dating sites exclusively
for black people, harmonious people, and Cupid lovers. There’s also one for apparent smokers or
campfire-lovers having something to do with the almighty “match.”
Literally millions and millions of users visit these sites
on a regular basis. How many are
cross-visitors is a mystery but, I’d guess that with any degree of success,
only one site would be necessary.
Now remember that these dating services are not all
free. Users evidently complete an
information form and then pay a premium to get their data on that specific
dating site. Costs range from $30 to $60
per month for a subscription, with prices varying for long-term usage.
But I believe most of these sites and their services would
be unnecessary if people stopped relying on ‘social media’ to communicate. If they would only put down those
smart-phones and rely on interpersonal contact to create relationships.
Try hanging around the frozen food section and when an
attractive member of the sex-of-your-preference walks by, ask them about that
bag of cold veggies you’re holding; they may offer to come by your place and
help you with dinner. You won’t get that
service from your cellular telephone.
