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Speed dating is a formalized matchmaking process or dating system (a variant of a meeting system) whose purpose is to encourage people to meet a large number of new people. Its origins are credited to Rabbi Yaacov Deyo of Aish HaTorah, as a way to ensure that more Jewish singles met each other in large cities where they were outnumbered by non-Jews. It has been made more popular by its use on dating game shows such as Fifth Wheel and has recently become popular in the gay community. Supporters argue that speed dating saves time, as most people decide if they are romantically compatible very quickly, and first impressions are often permanent.
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In the original idea of speed dating, men and women are rotated to meet each other for only eight minutes. At the end of each eight minutes, they are forced to the next round no matter how much they are enjoying the interaction (or dread the next one). At the end of the event participants submit to the organizers a list of who they would like to provide their contact information to. To maximize the number of interactions, organizers often depart from the original idea and set meeting times as low as one minute per person. If there is a match, contact information is forwarded to both parties. Contact information cannot be traded during the initial meeting, in order to reduce pressure (especially on women) to accept or reject a suitor to their face. |
Organization
To ensure that no participant is left alone during a round, events always have an even number of participants, and at heterosexual events the number of male and female participants is equal.
Advantages
Proponents of speed dating cite its advantages as:
- It allows singles to meet a large number of new people in one easy event.
- It is especially efficient for busy professionals or those that have limited social circles.
- It levels the playing field for men and women.
- Men do not have to play their traditional role as the aggressor-both men and women are forced to meet and interact.
- The structured interaction helps shy people to overcome their inhibitions.
- The time limit ensures that no one is stuck talking to someone longer than they wish.
- The matching process occurs after the event, ensuring people do not have to face rejection in person.
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