Let us not forget, FFJD is a dating-centric bloggy wog (not dissimilar to a booky wook). I'm often forgetting this after long sessions on the elliptical, where I'm the girl who sometimes falls off and/or rips her headphones out after accidentally hooking them in the stupid channel changer, or I'm buried under a pile of Deborah Lippman nail polishes while berating Constance about something Winston Churchill said (yes, I have a British intern, and a sense of history, occasionally). I consider myself a fine elliptician.
But let's turn back to our roots (whether they be recently re-dyed or not, or ombre-d, or reverse ombre-d, for those fashion types such as myself that understands for some reason it's currently desirable to have your hair fade from one color into another. Dudes reading this: ombre hair). Let's talk about speed dating.
I get a lot of emails about speed dating -- should I do it? What should I wear? Who should I speak to? Am I a giant loser booger? So let's dissect this like we did in seventh grade before I passed out due to innards everywhere, rendering me a useless lab partner.
Speed dating: is an oft-evening activity put on by an organization, dating or not. You get a scorecard, you get a fillet o'fish/gentlemen, and you talk to each of them for a set period of time until you hear a buzzer or pass out from inhaling halitosis perfumes.
Everyone should try it.
I have once, and it was sort of like sorority rush, except instead of wondering if this betch was good for silk-top-stealing, you wondered if his teeshirt was for good-comfy-teeshirt stealing. It definitely doesn't make you a loser. It's just efficient. Like a sushi conveyor belt, for your pants.
Here are some do's and don'ts.
Walk the line between oversharing and undersharing.
I walk this line every day. In every way. (Like, should I tweet that I am picking my nose right now? Definitely.) But really, pick some basic stuff, and some not-so-basic stuff, to share with the people you're paired up with.
Guys -- girls don't want to hear about your favorite sports team, or your Mom, or your fantasy football league, generally.
Girls -- boys don't want to hear that you are PMSing, you LOOOOOVEEEEE shopping (I mean, I obviously do though...wanna go shopping with me?), and your waxer is your best friend (this I can happily admit because I'm in a relationship), generally.
Don't ask yes or no questions, but also don't ask his or her stance on marriage (regular or gay).
Do it with a friend.
I don't mean in the horizontal rumba, I mean bring someone with you if you're going to frosted flake out. You can make faces at each other if you want, but don't ruin the whole experience by only talking to your friend. I can tell you, a major turn-off for guys are girls that travel in packs. Pairs are almost worse. Potential Cons: choosing the same guy.
Try not to lose steam.
Towards the end of rush sessions I used to want to poke my eyeballs out and never, ever, ever talk about how much I love my Comm classes ever again. That being said, try to keep up the steam. You might miss out on a guy you could really like if you're too plastered that you can't hold a conversation, you're really tired of talking and need a throat lozenge, or are wondering how late Tasti is open (10 PM).
Finish strong. You're an FFJDer, after all.
Have you ever speed-dated? (Doesn't include going on two JDates in one night, which I've done).
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I've done it once, and it seems to be an okay way to meet people and see if there's interest -- kinda like going to a party without all the other drama/PiTA ... uhm... stuff, that goes with it.
Yet, as with everything, YMMV -- by a lot.