The Interweb Experiment



I've flirted with finding companionship on the internet a few times in the past few years. It's been an interesting experience, but I think I'll go about it the old fashioned way. This is pretty much a basic game: You contact somebody. They might respond. If they do, you paint a mental picture of yourself. They paint a picture of themselves. At any time, communication can stop. If it goes far enough, you talk on the telephone and agree to meet. From there anything can happen. Sometimes it feels like a job interview. Other times, you just don't call each other back. Sometimes the night gets away from you. Either way, the internet is not a pretty place to meet somebody.

From this experiment, I've learned the following:

- Borrowing a phrase from someone you used to date and using it to catch an eye or two didn't work.
- Most users of Match.com are looking for their Ken doll. I'm not quite that with my dark hair, dark skin, dark eyes and soul patch.
- Most gentlemen callers flood every woman's inbox with unoriginal cut/paste messages.
- Taking a different, more personal approach from that printed above didn't work either.
- My christmas card picture of 2004 rated high among those who responded.
- It's very convenient to stop contact if you decide you're not interested. I think I did that as much as it was done to me.
- My chances are probably better if I bump into a stranger in public or talk to random people.
- One positive: I made a friend...and I think we'll stay friends.

Conclusion: Roll the dice if you must, but I wouldn't recommend it (especially if you're asian and male).

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .