IS FINDING A DATE THE "OL' SCHOOL" WAY EXTINCT? SAY IT ISN'T SO~

Oh boy! I remember when going out and meeting someone with POTENTIAL (i.e. attractive, has a job, respectful, at least willing to pay for the date) was an easy task. Pick any lounge, mall, club, or even gas station in NYC and you could find "a date for Friday night." However the economy isn't the only thing that suffered in the recession! I have a bunch of single (good-looking I might add) friends who complain they can't find a date. All I hear is "where are all the good dudes at? They MUST be in jail or dead because I go out and see nothing but lames!" My available male friends complain also..."I keep meeting the chic who has CRAZY issues or who doesn't have anything going for herself!" I will say and admit this: YES GOING OUT and finding a date "worth your time" is harder to find, and here are the TOP 3 reasons why:


1. THE INTERNET! Online social and dating networks have made people become more reclusive. Many men don't have to approach women in social settings anymore at the fear of putting up with the rejection line "I gotta man". And why should they when they can go home, log onto any dating/networking website and find a slew of woman winking, flirting, and emailing them. Technology is great but it has caused a generation of "socially challenged" people. Picking up the phone to "talk" is outdated just as meeting a new person face to face is also.


2. NO JOBS=NO $ FOR DATES! Contrary to popular beliefs, we're still in a recession. 1/2 of this country is currently unemployed and a large part of the working class don't make enough money to splurge. Therefore, ladies those days of having multiple dates in 1 week at the expense of a man are O.V. E. R. Most regular dudes can't afford to take four chics out a month furthermore multiple women in 1 week! When talking with my guy friends, they told me point blank they're only willing to spend $$$ on a date if she's "wifey material". Meaning, the woman has to have qualities they're looking for in a long-term relationship, and they've already made a connection with her. Very few are even willing to spend "doe" just because they know a woman is a "GTF" (girl to f*ck); They stated "we can find a girl willing to do that for free surfing the net." #WOW!


3.  THE I'M A STAR EPIDEMIC! If you've been to a club, lounge, or any large social gathering lately chances are the scene left you irritated with you saying to yourself "how did I meet NO ONE when there were so many people there?!" I'll tell you why, many people who attend these events have mistaken themselves for celebrities; Meaning they don't venture outside of their entourages to introduce themselves, socialize, or get to know people. It's almost has if they expect you to know who they are already. Many times they instead talk, dance, eat, drink, and "pop bottles" ONLY within their circles. If you're in a club or lounge setting, chances are many people inside are wearing "star studded shades" so making eye contact and flirting across the room is OUT THE QUESTION.


Should I deliver the good or bad news 1st?...The bad news is meeting a quality person to date via' going out is VERY difficult nowadays. This concept isn't going to change as long as the internet social networking sites that intrigue us all still exists. The internet has taken social networking and dating to another level and that prospect isn't going to change. However, the good news is it's STILL possible to meet someone without the use of the internet. One of the best ways are through mutual friends, which is how I met my partner. Many people have friends of the opposite sex that are great people but were never a "match" for them personally. "Hooking" up or introducing that friend to your other friend by throwing a house party, spades party, dinner, or gathering is a great strategy. Having a house gathering also promotes socialization because the setting is intimate. It allows friends, and friends of friends to come to your house and meet each-other in a non-pretentious comfortable environment. Also a significant amount of people found their partners where they spend most of their time, and that's at work. If you are comfortable dating someone at your job, it can be a great place to meet someone. However, proceed with caution and establish "dating co-worker rules" for yourself when venturing there because it's your J.O.B. and a bad date with a co-worker can make the workplace awkward.