The Dating Game

Jenny McCarthy
Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:00:00 -0800
Lifestyle

Now that I'm happily out of the dating pool, I can look at the dating scene from a whole new perspective. It's amazing how quickly things change these days — particularly the way we go about meeting potential mates. Back in the day, you'd be set up by a friend, head to a bar or maybe meet someone at a party.

As technology advanced, we were introduced to online dating sites, such as eHarmony and Match.com. At first, anyone who participated in online dating, especially someone who actually found a spouse through one of these sites, was scoffed and laughed at, probably because we were so accustomed to an initial face-to-face interaction — making eye contact, spending time with each other and actually utilizing more than just our imaginations and text messages full of emojis.

Fast-forward to today. Technology is even further advanced. Not only can we meet our future lovers while sitting at computers in our underwear but also now we have apps such as Grindr and Tinder to make landing a date even more convenient. A simple swipe of the finger or kissy-face emoji and chances are you're getting lucky.
Updated: Tue Jan 13, 2015

Now that I'm happily out of the dating pool, I can look at the dating scene from a whole new perspective. It's amazing how quickly things change these days — particularly the way we go about meeting potential mates. Back in the day, you'd be set up by a friend, head to a bar or maybe meet someone at a party.

As technology advanced, we were introduced to online dating sites, such as eHarmony and Match.com. At first, anyone who participated in online dating, especially someone who actually found a spouse through one of these sites, was scoffed and laughed at, probably because we were so accustomed to an initial face-to-face interaction — making eye contact, spending time with each other and actually utilizing more than just our imaginations and text messages full of emojis.

Fast-forward to today. Technology is even further advanced. Not only can we meet our future lovers while sitting at computers in our underwear but also now we have apps such as Grindr and Tinder to make landing a date even more convenient. A simple swipe of the finger or kissy-face emoji and chances are you're getting lucky.

It seems that the way we date nowadays is severely lacking emotion. It also seems just a bit too easy and convenient. What happened to sweaty palms and working up the nerve to call the girl you met the night before? Now it's more about crafting a text with the perfect abbreviations.

But maybe this is the way our parents felt when we started meeting our dates in bars instead of being set up with Great-Aunt Ethel's neighbor's niece's very nice and successful son. Times are changing, and with them, dating is changing. I'm just grateful I don't have to navigate my way around Tinder, because I'm sure I'd end up as one of those hilarious #TinderFails.

Are you single? Tweet @JennyMcCarthy and tell me how you prefer to meet your next date.