Contributed by: Jet on Tuesday, November 29 2011 @ 09:41 am
Last modified on
When people head to conventions for genres like comic books or science fiction, they might be concerned with the logistics of keeping their costume together. Maybe they're thinking about arriving in time to secure a place in line to get their favorite star's autograph, or hoping to score a good deal on rare merchandise. Still others, however, are wondering if they're going to meet someone special, someone who has the same passions.
The idea of finding love at a convention may sound strange, but it's not a bad idea at all. Everyone there likes at least something about the genre, so chances are you have common interests already. Conversation-starters abound, from crazy costumes to the prices of merchandise to speculating about the direction a series will take. The only problem is that conventions are often so hectic, and people so driven with their own agenda, that often people feel intimidated about approaching someone and starting a conversation.
Speed dating has begun to catch on in conventions as an easy way to bring like-minded singles together - and it has apparently caught the eye of TV's TLC Channel producers. A new show, "Geek Love", will premiere on December 18 in America on TLC. The show will focus on people who attend Ryan Glitch's Sci Fi Speed Dating events at conventions.
On the one hand, the premise of the show itself isn't a bad one. On the other hand, TLC, known for featuring reality shows about "unusual" families, medical anomalies and other gems such as "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," often walks a fine line between educational and exploitative. Do the producers of the channel really intend to show us a group of passionate people, deserving of love, or do they think people will enjoy laughing at a "bunch of nerds"?
The trailer[*1] for the show seems like it could go either way; the convention-goers don't seem particularly extreme or exceptionally awkward, but when the man leading the speed dating event shouts "Normal people suck!" one has to wonder if the "geek acceptance cause" wasn't just set back ten years. Either way, whether it's to root on those seeking love or pick up some basic do's and don'ts for speed dating, "Geek Love" might be worth a try.