#72 - The Dating Game

THE DATING GAME Remember that television show from the old days called The Dating Game? Before a live studio audience, they would hide an eligible bachelor, or bachelorette behind a screen to ask questions to three contestants of potential relationship material. The purpose was to explore compatibility with the ultimate reward of romance. The questions were saucy, the young and delightful participants were terribly good looking, and everyone had a little fun. Tila Tequila wasn't even born yet. You do remember her, right? Ok, good, we're communicating. By today's standards, this concept seems unoriginal, while fifty years ago the innovative format was blushingly audacious. Free love was still lingering from the revolutionary 60's, so it worked. And the truth is that public dating forums had been kept very discreet by their users up until about ten years ago when, if someone was brazen enough to create an account on Match.com, chances are they were not public about it for fear of being labeled as desperate. And we all know that desperation is an extremely effective sex repellant. So, there was a careful tightrope that the steely dreamer had to balance to maintain a positive reputation, yet still appear appealing. And to announce to the world that you met your partner on the internet would be like saying you met in Vegas. "It'll never last," said their mothers. Now however, swiping is the preferred form of exploring compatibility, which is great. On some levels. Anyway, back to The Dating Game. Not much has changed, really. The person you are corresponding with is behind a screen and what you get is a television version of them. Sigh. I think I'm gonna do a dab now.