Blind date

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A blind date is a romantic meeting between two people who have never met before. [1] [2] After a blind date they can decide either they want to be in a relationship or not.

Contents

Etymology

The term "blind date" derives from its constituent words, "blind" (i.e., something done without knowledge of certain facts) [3] and "date" (i.e., a social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character). [4] Coined in the United States during the 1920s, it originally referred to the activity itself (1921), then later to the participants (1925). [5]

Structure

A blind date is arranged by a mutual acquaintance of both participants. The two people who take part in the blind date may have never met or seen each other, hence the phrase "blind date". Therefore, it is the responsibility of the acquaintance who arranges the date to ensure that they are a good match. Sometimes one person is more interested than the other, which may make it more difficult on the person arranging the date to judge whether the date will be successful. [6]

The date is usually two hours or less, as it is just a first date and is really meant to introduce the two people more than it is meant to create a relationship. [7] Furthermore, due to the unfamiliarity of the two people, the date is shorter than most because they are in the beginning stages of a relationship. The date is also very adventurous in the way that neither party knows what to expect and whether or not they will hit it off. The location of the date is also affected by the spontaneity in that it is often a neutral and public place so that both parties feel comfortable.

Online dating

Family and friends have been less influential over the dating market for the past 60 years. Since 1997, the rise of the Internet has also displaced the neighborhood, the workplace, and the circle of friends as sources of dating partners. [8] As of May 2013, it was estimated that 11% of adult Americans had used online dating websites or mobile dating applications, and 59% of American Internet users agreed that online dating was a good way to meet people (as of 2013). [9] China's largest online dating site reported over 100 million users in September 2013. [10] For couples that have been together for more than a year, the choice of venue (online vs. real life) had little influence on relationship success. [8]

Online dating services ask questions in the form of a survey in order to get to know the user better and to understand what they are looking for in a relationship. [11] After the information is gathered, the matching users would be found based on various algorithms. The users are then encouraged to communicate with each other.

According to a study done by Match.com, in an effort to determine how much impact their services are having on the way relationships develop today, "17% of couples married in the last 3 years met each other on an online dating site" and "1 out of 5 single people have dated someone they met on an online dating site". [12]

Nonetheless, there are thousands of online dating websites. The most popular ones are eHarmony with 20 million profiles and Match.com with 15 million profiles. [13]

By country

China

Chinese parents tend to find their children blind dates in parks. "Spouse-hunting fairs in big city parks by parents eager to see their children tie the knot have made parks in China a haven for relationship hunters and their parents". [14] Zhongshan Park has been the location where parents go to seek partners for their children. This process begins by the parents sitting on a bench with their child's credentials such as photos including academic and career information. After information has been exchanged and the parents like what they see, questions are asked about issues ranging from their child's zodiac sign to their place of residence. If everything runs smoothly during the second step, contact information is exchanged. This process can be very stressful for the parents and the child because they are not always in agreement. This makes it even more difficult for a partner to be found. Li, a middle-aged man who has experienced blind dates says he has met women "who have no intention of finding a boyfriend. Meeting me is merely to indulge their parents". [14]

South Korea

South Korean blind dating customs are preferred rather than other dating techniques. There are two kinds of blind dates in South Korea: "mee-ting" and "sogeting". [15] Mee-ting blind dates are group dates with no prior expectations of commitment and are often used by university students. A sogeting date is engaged in by people who are "single and looking", [15] and includes less alcohol than a mee-ting date.

Radio

Television

Film

See also

Related Research Articles

An internet relationship is a relationship between people who have met online, and in many cases know each other only via the Internet. Online relationships are similar in many ways to pen pal relationships. This relationship can be romantic, platonic, or even based on business affairs. An internet relationship is generally sustained for a certain amount of time before being titled a relationship, just as in-person relationships. The major difference here is that an internet relationship is sustained via computer or online service, and the individuals in the relationship may or may not ever meet each other in person. Otherwise, the term is quite broad and can include relationships based upon text, video, audio, or even virtual character. This relationship can be between people in different regions, different countries, different sides of the world, or even people who reside in the same area but do not communicate in person.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Online dating</span> Internet service providing potential relationship contacts

Online dating, also known as internet dating, virtual dating, or mobile app dating, is a method used by people with a goal of searching for and interacting with potential romantic or sexual partners, via the internet. An online dating service is a company that promotes and provides specific mechanisms for the practice of online dating, generally in the form of dedicated websites or software applications accessible on personal computers or mobile devices connected to the internet. A wide variety of unmoderated matchmaking services, most of which are profile-based with various communication functionalities, is offered by such companies.

Dating game shows are game shows that incorporates a variety of matchmaking systems and services in the form of a game with clear rules. Human matchmaking is involved only in selecting the game's contestants, who are usually selected more for the amusement value than any concern for their happiness or compatibility. The audience sees only the game; an important feature of all dating game shows is that the contestants have little or no previous knowledge of each other, and are exposed to each other only through the game, which may include viewing a photograph or at least knowing the basic criteria for participation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtship</span> Period in a couples relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage

Courtship is the period wherein some couples get to know each other prior to a possible marriage or committed romantic, de facto relationship. Courtship traditionally may begin after a betrothal and may conclude with the celebration of marriage. A courtship may be an informal and private matter between two people or may be a public affair, or a formal arrangement with family approval. Traditionally, in the case of a formal engagement, it is the role of a male to actively "court" or "woo" a female, thus encouraging her to understand him and her receptiveness to a marriage proposal.

<i>The Dating Game</i> American television game show

The Dating Game is an American television game show that first aired on December 20, 1965, and was the first of many shows created and packaged by Chuck Barris from the 1960s through the 1980s. ABC dropped the show on July 6, 1973, but it continued in syndication for another year (1973–1974) as The New Dating Game. The program was revived three additional times in syndication afterward, with the first from 1978 to 1980 as The All-New Dating Game, the second from 1986 to 1989, and the third from 1996 to 1999.

eHarmony Dating website

eHarmony is an online dating website launched in 2000. eHarmony is based in Los Angeles, California, and owned by Nucom ecommerce, a joint venture of German mass media company ProSiebenSat.1 Media and American private equity firm General Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OkCupid</span> American online dating service

OkCupid is a U.S.-based, internationally operating online dating, friendship, and formerly also a social networking website and application. It features multiple-choice questions to match members. Registration is free. OkCupid is owned by Match Group, which also owns Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and many other popular dating apps and sites.

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Match is an online dating service with headquarters are in Dallas, Texas. The company has offices in Dallas, West Hollywood, San Francisco, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Beijing. Match is owned by Match Group, which owns several online dating services.

<i>Blind Date</i> (American TV series) American TV series or program

Blind Date is an American dating game show. The show was originally hosted by Roger Lodge, and is currently hosted by Nikki Glaser.

<i>Blind Date</i> (British game show) UK game show

Blind Date is a British dating game show first produced by London Weekend Television. An unscreened pilot was made with comic Duncan Norvelle as presenter but it was eventually hosted by Cilla Black, who already hosted the LWT series Surprise Surprise. Blind Date originally ran on Saturday nights from 30 November 1985 to 31 May 2003 on ITV.

Dating is a stage of romantic relationships in which two individuals engage in an activity together, most often with the intention of evaluating each other's suitability as a partner in a future intimate relationship. It falls into the category of courtship, consisting of social events carried out by the couple either alone or with others.

Plenty of Fish (POF) is a Canadian online dating service, popular primarily in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil, and the United States. It is available in nine languages. The company, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia generates revenue through advertising and premium memberships. While it is free to use, Plenty of Fish offers premium services as part of their upgraded membership, such as allowing users to see who has "liked" a member through the service's MeetMe feature, and whether a message has been read and/or deleted.

<i>Dates</i> (TV series) British television series

Dates is a British television romantic drama series created by Bryan Elsley, who also created Skins, which first aired on Channel 4 on 10 June 2013, at 22:00 (BST), as part of its "Mating Season" programming, illustrating a series of first dates between online dating service users. The show's target audience is "ABC1".

The Big Date is an American dating show hosted by Mark L. Walberg, which aired on the USA Network from June 17, 1996 to September 19, 1997. Notably, the series featured a young Jon Hamm as a contestant on one episode. Susan Powter and Hank Steinberg also appeared as participants.

Blind Date is an Australian television game show which was originally based on the American series The Dating Game.

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<i>Chinese Dating with the Parents</i> Chinese TV series or program

Zhong Guo Shi Xiang Qin is a Chinese companion dating show, it is made and broadcast on Dragon Television in China and is currently hosted by Zhang Guoli and Chen Chen. The program was first broadcast and released on 24 December 2016 on Saturday nights at 20:30, and was originally hosted by Jin Xing.

<i>Love Is Blind</i> (TV series) 2020 Netflix reality series

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References

  1. Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg The dictionary definition of blind date at Wiktionary
  2. "Blind date". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. "Blind". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  4. "Date". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
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  7. Molloy, Angela. "5 Rules for Great Blind Dates". TheStreet. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
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  12. (2010). Match.com and Chadwick Martin Bailey 2009 - 2010 Studies: Recent Trends: Online Dating Retrieved from http://cp.match.com/cppp/media/CMB_Study.pdf
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