Speed Dating: Is It For Real?

Like many novel matchmaking strategies, the origins of speed dating was developed by Hebrews; Rabbi Yaacov Deyo of Aish HaTorah is credited with the invention as a way to ensure that more single Jewish people met each other in cities where they were outnumbered by goyum. While remaining a wholly unnatural way for people to meet, this idea caught fire and now there are speed dating events in virtually every major and minor city in the United States, and many more abroad. Speed dating has been in existence for less than ten years.

The gist as I understand it, based only on punch line scenes of countless movies and TV shows, is that first impressions are adequate enough to base a decision to move forward on, and they are often permanent. One should expect to know within this brief an amount of time if the person they are barraging with direct questions and feeding straightforward answers to is someone they would be interested in getting to know better.

On paper it makes sense, even if it isnt’ the most romantic way to meet a partner, but I have neither tried it myself nor do I know anyone who has given it a shot.

My research, however, has uncovered some related interesting information, check it out after the jump.

•20/20 once sent both a male and a female set of twins to a speed dating event. One of each set was wearing pheromones, and the ones wearing pheromones received more matches. This supports the ideas raised in yesterday’s post about scent.

•The taller a man is, the more desirable he is to women; with every inch he is 5% more likely to attract positive reaction in a potential date. (Wear lifts, guys.)

•Men generally attend these events solo, whereas a group of single girlfriends will attend en masse.

•Getting a similar group of people together for a big old fashioned game of truth or dare sounds like a lot more fun.

I’m hoping that some of our readers might have some experience with this phenomenon, or at least know someone who has done it and passed on some feedback to report to us.