The New Normal
- Wednesday, January 26 2011 @ 08:38 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,729
It can be difficult to get advice about dating and love from friends and family members; often, the difficulty exists because of cultural differences. “Cultural differences” doesn’t just refer to customs from another country; it can be a generation gap, or even a regional one. After all, while your grandmother might not have had an arranged marriage, she might have met her husband at a chaperoned taffy pull. Not many of those around today.
Similarly, using an online dating site can cause a cultural disconnect. Sure, dating is just dating - two people meet, fall in love, live happily ever after. Still, for some the method obscures the motivation.
How do we cope with the cultural difference? Well, try coming up with something the audience can connect to. For example, for more old-fashioned friends and family members, try underscoring the similarities to traditional dating instead of the differences. Getting to know someone online through emails and profiles is, in some ways, more “traditional” than hooking up with someone at a bar. For those who feel online dating is too much of a commitment for “someone you haven’t met in person,” remind them that you’re just agreeing to a date or meetup, not a marriage, and in fact it’s quite similar to giving your phone number to someone you’ve just met.
However, the biggest cultural obstacle may be your own internal prejudices and pre-conceived notions. Online dating sites are still relatively new; not everyone who signs up with a profile truly believes they could meet someone compatible. Dating is, in some respects, a numbers game, and only when you truly commit to the process (sending out first-contact emails, updating your profile and pictures faithfully, encouraging conversations) can you maximize your chances of success. Don’t let doubt and skepticism hinder you.
As for everyone else, try to have a little patience when you get the occasional raised eyebrow at the phrase “online dating.” We all have our own cultural norms - and to you a chaperoned taffy pull might not sound like romance in the making!
Similarly, using an online dating site can cause a cultural disconnect. Sure, dating is just dating - two people meet, fall in love, live happily ever after. Still, for some the method obscures the motivation.
How do we cope with the cultural difference? Well, try coming up with something the audience can connect to. For example, for more old-fashioned friends and family members, try underscoring the similarities to traditional dating instead of the differences. Getting to know someone online through emails and profiles is, in some ways, more “traditional” than hooking up with someone at a bar. For those who feel online dating is too much of a commitment for “someone you haven’t met in person,” remind them that you’re just agreeing to a date or meetup, not a marriage, and in fact it’s quite similar to giving your phone number to someone you’ve just met.
However, the biggest cultural obstacle may be your own internal prejudices and pre-conceived notions. Online dating sites are still relatively new; not everyone who signs up with a profile truly believes they could meet someone compatible. Dating is, in some respects, a numbers game, and only when you truly commit to the process (sending out first-contact emails, updating your profile and pictures faithfully, encouraging conversations) can you maximize your chances of success. Don’t let doubt and skepticism hinder you.
As for everyone else, try to have a little patience when you get the occasional raised eyebrow at the phrase “online dating.” We all have our own cultural norms - and to you a chaperoned taffy pull might not sound like romance in the making!
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