Speed Dating

If you have trouble meeting girls, this could be worth trying. However, it could be a saddening if you only get negative responses. Five minutes will probably lead to decisions based mainly on looks.

I might consider it, but there is probably a fee involved, and that would feel too much like prostitution, I think.

I doubt anything like that goes on around here anyway. Around here it's all bars, and who wants to tell their grandkids "I met your grandma while skulling Yuenglings down at the local pub. I got her drunk and then we made your mother."

Supposedly it's all about not asking the standard questions, like "so what are your hobbies?" but instead people are more likely to be interested in those who ask questions that differ from the norm.
Be interesting & honest without giving much away. Let them feel like they've got to know you but still let them talk about themselves, you don't want to come across as not letting them get a word in edgeways but equally don't want to be seen as the silent type (what's the point in doing it otherwise?).
Personally I consider myself pretty average looking, and absolutely rubbish at smalltalk and meet girls just fine. As for meeting new people and making friends, go for it. Consider a date a bonus.

A date was something I did after I met someone. Speed dating doesn't make sense to me.

I "tried" it once. It wasn't planned however, I just happened to be in a club where they had this going that particular night, and one of my girl friends tought it would be funny to sign me up. I met a few physically attractive girls and won some free booze for a reason I don't clearly remember. Now in my case, it wasn't a really an enlightening experience, but here are my toughts about this.

1) You need to be very outspoken. I'm not a shy guy but sitting in front of a girl without even knowing her name is not an easy situation. When I go to speak to a woman in a bar, I usually need some reason to do so. ("Could you move a bit" when she's in the way is all I need usually, you get the picture).

2) The corollary to this however, is that the girl's as nervous as you, unlike when you are actually taking the first steps. Exploit it. Those 5 minutes are a kind of power struggle. You have to 'dominate her' and look in control. It's not time to hear about her, you need to make her laugh, make her cry, wathever, you need her to remember you. Also, go for the physically attractive ones. There's no way you are going to know her in 5 minutes.

3) "We sure look like two fucking idiots" seems to be a good opener.

4) In my instance, no one was really serious about meeting a 'significant other' so everyone took it light-heartedly, but I reckon this is the kind of place were you usually meet the 'creepy ones'. Be careful [grin].

Just put up the $20 and pay for a good night like people who have come to terms with their ugliness and social instability do. At least then you get to pick what you want.

I've only seen one real speed dating setup(read: not in a movie), it was on Penn&Teller's show BULLSHIT. I don't recall what most of the guys looked like, but most of the girls were pretty attractive, from 25-40. It would be intimidating for someone normally shy to say the least.

Sounds like the kind of crap teachers used to make you do in gen ed classes to "facilitate discussion."

I dunno.

Sounds to me like people treating each other like cattle. I wonder if there is any kind of ulterior dynamic that results. As in, in a situation like this, I would easily begin to feel jealous if I liked somebody and they are now considering 5 other guys with the same weight. I would rather feel a little more special, rather than one item at a buffet.

And, considering other social arenas that are highly compact, like, for instance, a high school, the prettiest/hunkiest people select each other because there is so much to select from and superficiality springs eternal when there is always somebody else. I wonder if your average speed dating session works about the same.

In your average dating life, you run into somebody, you go out, and you consider them. Cramming 25 people in a room and saying "Here. Pick your favorite" shrieks of "Prom King and Queen together, let the mutants sort themselves out"/

:) But then Im just talking way out my ass. I never ate a banquet at a buffet. I eat meatloaf at a buffet. The best dishes are found by accident or recommendation.

As far as "Too busy to date, so lets do Speed Dating"....I really abhor the Rush Culture. For gods sake, slow down people. Relish a little time, stop and smell the roses and all that jazz, or you're gonna wake up tomorrow and be 45 with a great car and a great job and no memories.

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Original post by krikkit Sounds to me like people treating each other like cattle.

which is basically how the clubbing method also works.. its not refered to as a meat market for no reason [grin]

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The best dishes are found by accident or recommendation.

*nods* this is very true indeed [smile]

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or you're gonna wake up tomorrow and be 45 with a great car and a great job and no memories.

*chuckles* or you'll wind up like my grandad and wake up at 85, crazy with no memories [grin]
(and before anyone gets on their high horse about me taking the pish out of old people with mental problems its pretty much my future so I think I've got the right [razz])

Anyways... speed dating... meh.
Personally, it doesnt appeal at all, but then I'm known for being remarkably fussy when it comes to stuff like this so I'd probably reject everyone I came across based on some small reason or the other [grin]

If you were at one of these events and you met someone of the oposite gender who said that they were a Game Developer... would that attract you to them or do opposites attract and that you would like someone totally different? For me I like people who on the outside are totally opposite but maybe deep down they are be a bit like me.

PS

In America are there really people who are like the "popular" people like in movies because I don't think we have that kind of thing in English schools. Perhaps this is because American high schools have a higher leaving age? In England you go to University and are aloud to drink at 18 yrs old is it the same in America?

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Original post by paulbird If you were at one of these events and you met someone of the oposite gender who said that they were a Game Developer... would that attract you to them or do opposites attract and that you would like someone totally different? For me I like people who on the outside are totally opposite but maybe deep down they are be a bit like me.

Nice, I got an idea! You could like.. make a robot.. and date it!

Just to be an anoying TV-buff. This idea was an episode of Star Trek, where Captain Kirk landed on a planet with a scientist who create loads of female robots that resembled his wife. They managed to defeat these robots in the end by confusing their robot logic with illogical paradoxes.
It's probably where I got the idea for the robots from in the first place!

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Original post by paulbird Just to be an anoying TV-buff. This idea was an episode of Star Trek, where Captain Kirk landed on a planet with a scientist who create loads of female robots that resembled his wife. They managed to defeat these robots in the end by confusing their robot logic with illogical paradoxes. It's probably where I got the idea for the robots from in the first place!

"I, Mudd" was the episode, I believe.

The women who go are also workaholics and tend to be doctors, dentists, and the like. Most people assume it's full of people who are socially incompetent, so you may be pleasantly suprised and if you want a well off lady you may be pleased.