Blindfolded Speed Dating – Good or Bad Idea?

I read an article tonight that talked about Dr. Marco van Gelderen, a senior lecturer in the Department of Management and International Business, at Albany, who has done extensive research into the subject of dating as a service industry.

Dr. van Gelderen says the dating service industry has grown in recent years as a result of greater demand and rapidly evolving technology including the internet. But too many potential clients remain stuck in “singledom” because of a lack of industry awareness of their needs as well as ambivalence about using dating services.

“The dating industry has a number of special problems in being successful in connecting people,” says Dr van Gelderen. “First, people don’t like to admit that they are lonely. Loneliness is something that happens to other people.

“There is a social stigma to loneliness and even to being alone. There is also the perception that dating services are for losers.”

He interviewed many singles asking them questions about what factors affect attraction and dating. He wanted input that would help to create new ideas in the dating service industry. Some of the ideas that the Dr came up with include a combination dating and weight loss facility, blind-folded speed dating, and chatting about mundane, but commonly used products as a way to start conversation.

Okay, some of these ideas are interesting, but they sound a bit crazy to me. Weight loss and dating? I know that people of all sizes are looking for love, but weight loss takes time and lots of effort and meeting someone new works best in a relaxed environment. Those two things- weight loss and romance- might not be mutually beneficial. Don’t you want to date someone when you are feeling confident and secure with who you are, where you are, what you are?

Blind-folded speed dating sounds like a reality show game. Did you ever see the episode of Survivor All Stars where they were doing a blind-folded game with big puzzle pieces or something like that? What a (comical) mess. People falling, people hitting their heads, people shouting. It was nuts. Does that sound like what you are looking for in a first meeting? Does that scene carry even a hint of romance?

I think that it’s good that there is an open dialogue within the industry, but I’m not sure they are heading in the right direction. How about meeting people through volunteering for a worthy cause? Or…. cooking classes for singles? (Wait, I might have mentioned that one before). Just because it’s a new idea, that does not mean that it’s a good idea.

What do you think? Do you have a better idea than a combined weight loss/dating service?

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