Speed Dating Basics

There's an old adage that says, "You can't hurry love." In the age of instants however, it seems love can be another instant through a new phenomenon sweeping the west, speed dating. Although romance and love do not necessarily follow after a speed date, people probably still expect to achieve the same goals as those set in traditional dating.

A Jewish rabbi originally conceived speed dating in attempt to help single Jewish people find lifetime partners. Today, setting up speed dating events is not restricted for a specific social or religious group. Many organizers have set up events of their own with the objective of simply encouraging singles to meet potential dates.

Speed dating derives its popularity mainly from the fact that it is extremely convenient for busy people to still have a social life. For the modern man and woman for whom time is always of the essence, it is the chance to both still work twelve hours a day for that promotion and still have some time to meet the one.

Events in speed dating are usually very organized, with organizers monitoring the event every step of the way. In some events, participants may have to register ahead and are asked to meet each other in one venue. When organizers give the go signal, participants may sit across a stranger and talk to him/ her for a few minutes, after which the organizers signal the end of the short session and participants move on to different prospects and talk for another few minutes. At the end of the event when everyone has met everyone else, participants submit names of people they like to the organizer. If there are participants who both like each other, they are matched and given each other's contact information.

Speed dating is somewhat reminiscent of traditional match making, but instead of matchmakers determining the fate of their charges, men and women in speed dating hold all the cards.

Other than the ease of forming new social acquaintances, many people have become hooked with speed dating because it can also do away with the traditional practices and concepts involved in traditional dating. In speed dating, men and women no longer need to put up stereotypical functions, such as men initiating the dating process and women waiting to be asked. It also makes sure that your potential dates are people you really like, even just initially, which means that you don't have to be stuck with someone who may be completely incompatible with you. Speed dating is also definitely more efficient in results and in cost reduction since men and women no longer need to frequent different social spots in search of potential dates.

The down side to speed dating also has something to do with its professed benefits. Since speed dating does not put into consideration traditional socialization, traditional social skills have also been put aside. Before speed dating, it was crucial for someone to have good manners and good communication skills. Now, you just can't tell in three minutes if the person you're sitting across from is some bad mouthing oaf.

Speed dating has also been criticized for promoting first impressions and encouraging superficiality. First impressions do not necessarily reflect the real person.

The point however of speed dating is to simply just allow people to meet others who they may like initially and allow those people to proceed at their own pace of getting more acquainted. Regardless of the criticisms leveled against it, speed dating is fast becoming an accepted phenomenon.