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What is Speed Dating?

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Have you ever experienced dreaded blind date where you are stuck with a stranger that you have nothing in common with for the entire evening? Have you ever found yourself coming up with an excuse to cut a date short or faking a family emergency just so you don't have to waste your entire night with someone you know you are absolutely non-compatible with? If this situation is one that seems all too familiar to you, speed dating might be an option you should consider.

Imagine meeting someone for about eight minutes and discussing your likes and dislikes, ambitions and dreams and minimizing the surface small talk. That is why speed dating was created. We all know nobody wants to be stuck on a date that you know is not going to lead to anything else after the first few minutes. Speed dating cuts right to the chase allowing you to spend small amounts of time with several individuals in one evening, and then come away with a handful of potential candidates that you would like to get know on a deeper level. Nobody's time is wasted, and everyone wins.

The concept of speed dating originated with a Jewish rabbi who was trying to introduce Jewish singles so that they would marry within their faith. Rabbi Yaacov Deyo first initiated these chaperoned get-togethers in the late 1990's, and since then it has flourished into a nationwide phenomenon. Speed dating is very popular in large cities, and has become even more widespread throughout the first part of the 21st century. Even television has picked up on the idea and several reality shows have become popular off of these exploits such as Fifth Wheel and Elimidate. Movies such as Hitch and The 40-Year-Old Virgin have even included speed dating scenes that have further popularized this unique dating technique.

How exactly does speed dating work? The most common practices of speed dating are in a café, bistro or other dining setting. Of course, more unconventional settings work just as well, as long as there are enough chairs for everyone involved. Once you arrive, you are presented a nametag and a scorecard and the dating is ready to begin. The women get comfortable in their chair or at their table, and then men sit in the chair across from them. When the bell rings, the dating begins. Typically, you have between eight and ten minutes to talk with each "date." Then, after the time is up the men move on to the next woman. You must move on no matter how engaging the conversation. However, if this is someone you would like to swap personal information with, you jot down their name onto your scorecard. At the end of the night, you hand your scorecards to the event's organizers, and they compare your "keepers" to the other lists. If two people select each other as a match, then their contact information is exchanged and future dates can be scheduled from there.

Next Page: What are the Benefits of Speed Dating?

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