Fast Love: An Introduction to Speed Dating

Fast Love

Who says Valentine's Day is for lovers only? No, this year’s V-day did not just go unnoticed for many singles. Instead of staying at home to watch feel-good movies, they spent Feb. 14th meeting about twenty other dateless singles in events held at conference rooms of posh hotels.

These events, aptly called Speed Dating, promise to encourage singles to meet as many new people as possible. Speed dating was coined and initiated by Rabbi Yaacov Deyo and his students in Los Angeles, California to help Jewish singles meet and find potential spouses. The first event took place in 1998 and has since gained popularity even outside Jewish circles. Although still in its infancy in the Philippines, Speed Dating already enjoys phenomenal attention in South America, Europe, and the United States after having been featured in movies such as Hitch.

The match-making process starts out with two groups – the male group and the female group, each member of both groups with a partner. A couple is given an opportunity to get to know each other and then determine their compatibility. After three to five minutes, a person moves to another table and repeats the action in a round-robin scheme. After the round, each participant is asked to list down names of the ones they would like to meet with again. Usually, the rules state that no contact information must be provided during the initial meeting. It is only when two people appear on each other’s list are they allowed to exchange contact information.

Speed dating has a number of rather significant advantages. First is that it allows meeting a fairly large number of people who may turn out to be, not just romantic partners, but friends. Second is that it allows busy singles to spend one night mingling with other singles who are all available and on the look out just like them. It also spares singles the hassle of meeting people at inappropriate circumstances and spares them the awkwardness of rejecting a partner. Finally, it is time and cost-efficient for the participants since they can have a series of dates for the time and cost of one.

Yes, speed dating can save anyone from a night of boredom but don’t ever trust that speed dating will find you Mr. or Ms. Right. More than anything, it is an exercise that boosts confidence and allows a person to overcome shyness and inhibitions when it comes to meeting other people. It gives each participant the assurance that everybody else is at the same level with them, thus reducing their restraints and making them all them ore eager to get to know others.

Sam is a free lancer writer and content builder of www.deartips.com/ and now a days he is doing work on Dating and Love.