Online Dating: Then and Now

Much like the Christians during the early centuries A.D practicing their faith in the catacombs of Rome, online daters were hooking-up through Yahoo Personals and seedy chat rooms.

I still chuckle now and then at the thought of how popular online dating has become, whether it be a commercial for E Harmony, a co-worker discussing a Tinder encounter during coffe break, or seeing my 70 year-old aunt basking in the afterglow of finding her 3rd husband.  Here are some of the differences that I’ve observed between the dark ages and the golden age of virtual courtship

The Shame Factor

Then:  You would have been more inclined to openly worship Satan on Christmas Day, then tell people about the girl you met from Yahoo IM

Now:  Zip.  Zero.  Zilch.

Pictures

Then:  Unless you had a scanner, you weren’t posting any pics, therefore not having a pic was acceptable

Now:  Let’s face it, there’s only one reason why you’re not posting pics (I’ll be nice)

Then:  When you did get a pic, it was a slice-of-life photograph e.g. getting down on the dance floor at a cousin’s bar mitzvah, or being silly with friends

Now:  Selfie…Take 37…Action

Logistics

Then:  Oddly enough, there was less caution taken back then.  I met almost all of my dates for the first time at their home address.  I even picked most of them up for our first date.  Chivalry wasn’t dead, however the same couldn’t be said for all of the online paramours

Now:  A well-lit public place, during the day is a more typical arena for the first encounter.  A full name and a phone number are almost already established as well

Sex on the First Date

Then: Implied

Now: (Unless it’s Craigslist) You’re working with the same law of averages as the common dater.

All in all, I’m glad to say that I had been a pioneer in something.  That I had risked persecution to afford future generations the freedom to thumb through a virtual catalog of potential dates, while dropping a deuce.  With my busy schedule, I’m pretty sure my future 2nd wife will be found on the interwebs.  The one constant throughout the last 20 years has been the initial reaction upon first seeing each other, and being unimpressed…

Women:  “Ugh, I can’t wait ’til the date is over”

Men:  “Ugh, I can’t wait ’til the sex is over”