Zoosk Celebrates International Kissing Day

Zoosk
  • Friday, September 20 2013 @ 07:11 am
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  • Views: 1,409

If I had my way, every day would be International Kissing Day.

But seeing as I have not yet used my Pinky and the Brain-like powers to take over the world, we're stuck with International Kissing Day happening only once a year.

To celebrate this year's event, Zoosk surveyed more than 3,500 singles around the U.S. to gather their thoughts on kissing. You may never have been curious about the most memorable kisses in pop culture, the best kissing spots around the country, and the most popular songs to kiss to, but you're about to find out what they are anyway.

The top three songs to kiss to are...

  1. 21% of singles say "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" by Whitney Houston & Enrique Iglesias is the best song to kiss to.
  2. 17% of singles choose "A Kiss From A Rose" by Seal.
  3. 12% of singles choose "Blow Me One Last Kiss" by Pink.

[Ok, I do kinda have a soft spot for that last one, but...really? Have any of those Zooskers actually listened to the song? It's about a breakup. An ugly one. Not exactly the most romantic choice for a makeout soundtrack...]

The most memorable on-screen lip locks of the summer are marginally better chosen:

  1. 41% of singles say Tony and Pepper's kiss in "Iron Man 3" was the most memorable of this summer's blockbuster flicks.
  2. 23% of singles say Spock and Uhura in "Star Trek Into Darkness."
  3. 21% of singles say Alan and Cassie in "The Hangover III" shared this summer's most memorable on-screen kiss.

The places singles most like to get their smooch on are:

  1. The beach: 30%.
  2. In a car: 23%
  3. In front of a roaring fireplace: 15%
  4. On a carriage ride in New York's Central Park: 14%

[I have a lot of questions and concerns here, but...I won't go there.]

And finally, Zoosk collected a few random kissing facts (in case the first three weren't random enough already):

  1. 73% of singles say they dated someone who was a bad kisser.
  2. 77% of singles say they have rubbed noses, Eskimo style, to show affection.
  3. 83% of singles prefer to kiss with their eyes closed.
  4. 59% of singles say the most memorable kiss in recent political history was President Obama kissing his wife on election night (soundly beating the famous passionate kiss Al Gore gave his wife Tipper at the Democratic National Convention).
  5. 71% of Americans say it is more awkward to see world leaders kissing vs. watching a politician kiss his or her spouse.

5 Signs You’re Ready For Love Again

Tips
  • Thursday, September 19 2013 @ 07:10 am
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  • Views: 1,536

Reports have come out recently that the widow of Steve Jobs is back in the dating pool, and is seeing former D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Dating again after a devastating loss such as death or divorce is not easy. In fact, many people wait years before they feel comfortable enough to go out on a first date or even consider joining an online dating site. It's difficult to give of yourself emotionally when you've suffered such a huge loss.

So what can you do if you want to move on? And how do you know if you're really ready?

I think many people are afraid to begin the process of finding a new relationship. It's one thing to work through your grief and come to a good place in your life as a single person, but it's another thing to think about a relationship with someone new. Some people tend to avoid working through the process of healing, and jump immediately into a new relationship to avoid being alone.

Here are a few signs to tell if you're truly ready for that next relationship:

You've worked through your grief. It's scary to go from being part of a couple to on your own. Some people respond to this by jumping head first into a relationship immediately after losing the last one. Unfortunately, this doesn't give you a chance to process what happened. It's important to work through your grief, anger, and other issues that surface when you've lost a partner. It's also important to know who you are on your own, outside of a relationship. You are a different person than you were before, and it's good to acknowledge and embrace that.

You are happy on your own. This might sound cliché, but it's important to get to know yourself as a single person. Try hobbies that are new to you, do some traveling to places you've always dreamed of visiting. Test the waters to see what you might enjoy in your new life. Cultivate those interests you have that bring you joy, whether it's skiing or cooking or painting. When you see what brings you joy, and you pursue it, then a relationship is a bonus, not something you need.

You leave the past behind. Instead of thinking my ex used to order this for dinner, start on a clean slate. Making comparisons doesn't add to your life and sense of well-being going forward. Nobody will be like your former partner, so try to see each person in a new light. It will help you be more open to love.

You are emotionally available. There's a big difference between dating because you're feeling lonely and dating because you want the experience of a new relationship. If you're not willing to give someone else your love and attention, then you probably shouldn't be looking for a relationship.

You will know. There's something to be said for listening to your gut. If you feel that you aren't ready, then don't allow others to push you towards dating. If you do feel ready, then don't wait for the most "appropriate" time to start - just go for it!

Dating a Social Media Addict

Advice
  • Tuesday, September 17 2013 @ 06:50 am
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  • Views: 1,626

The scenario: You've met a woman you find incredibly attractive. You've been dating for a few weeks, and are considering a relationship. The problem? She posts constantly about her personal life on social media, and checks Facebook and Instagram constantly, which makes you a little uncomfortable. What will she say about you?

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites have become a huge part of our lives. Most of us regularly check in. But we all have different levels of comfort with what and how much we share.

If you're in your twenties, you're more likely to friend someone before the first date, and you're more likely to share aspects of your life over social media. There isn't such a divide between your virtual presence and your real life, because the Internet and social media have been ever-present. So it might be harder to discern where the line is when you discuss your love life. For instance, do you blog, Tweet, or share stories on Facebook about your dates? Do you look at someone's relationship status before her ring finger? Do you like to post photos of you and your dates on Instagram?

Social media can play a large role in developing relationships, so it's important to discuss how you will use it if you decide to take your relationship to the next level.

Maybe you're worried because your girlfriend checks her Facebook page when she first wakes up in the morning, or because her Instagram account is full of pictures of her getting drunk with friends. Before you make assumptions about her online behavior going forward, it's important to discuss what makes you uncomfortable and set some boundaries as far as what you'll share online.

For instance, let her know that you love her blog, but you don't want to be the subject of any posts, positive or negative. Talk about your relationship status in person before you make decisions about what it is on Facebook. Maybe you're fine with her posting pictures of her meals, travel, or friends on Instagram, but you're uncomfortable with her keeping a visual record of every date. Talk it out. Together you can decide where the boundaries are, what you can compromise on, and what will make both of you happy.

Bottom line: if you're uncomfortable with how much or the content of what your girlfriend shares, let her know. Don't expect her to have the same opinions or judgments as you do. Everyone is a little different when it comes to what they are willing to expose and the stories they wish to tell publicly. So don't make assumptions based on what you think is right. Discuss how much you want to share of your love life over social media.

Online Dating: Artificial or Honest?

Advice
  • Saturday, September 14 2013 @ 10:13 am
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  • Views: 1,640
“It’s not just online dating I’m opposed to,” I once heard someone proclaim. “It’s all dating. It’s just so artificial. Like something from another time.” Sure, this scoffing might rankle a little (would that everyone found love so easily that dating were completely unnecessary!) but rather than dismissing the comment out of hand, let’s consider it.

“Dating is like something from another time.” When you consider the courtship and dating practices from other times and cultures, you might conclude that they’re usually born from necessity. In cultures where, say, genders were completely separated, there wouldn’t be much daily interaction. Thus, something a little more heavy-handed like matchmaking might seem a more natural conclusion. As times become more modern, people interact at school or at work. Supervision is less necessary, but because you meet under “non-relationship-seeking” circumstances, you still need time to assess your compatibility one-on-one. As such, you get “going out,” which is less formal than dating because the getting-to-know-you part has happened bit by bit somewhere else.

But what if you’re not in school anymore? What if you work solely with people who are all married or dramatically out of your age bracket? What if you don’t share interests with anyone in your day-to-day life, or even sexual orientation?

The reason online dating has evolved and is growing in popularity is because dating is not “something from another time.” It’s the latest answer to an eternal problem. Falling in love is still entirely natural - it’s meeting people in the first place that causes us the most problems!

Ultimately, there’s not much difference between meeting someone at work, at church, serendipitously at the grocery store, or through an online dating site. You’re “looking for love” the entire time. In fact, online dating could be considered the superior option: you’re not waiting around for a serendipitous moment. You join groups or clubs solely for the enjoyment, not the possibility of meeting someone. You can focus more at work. Online dating may be “artificial” but no more awkward and artificial than meeting someone new has always been. Instead of fighting romance, why not pursue it in the most straightforward way possible?

Big Steps Forward For AshleyMadison.com

Ashley Madison
  • Friday, September 13 2013 @ 06:54 am
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  • Views: 1,371

Oh, Ashley Madison...what a confusing phenomenon you are.

On one hand, I am a firm believer that monogamy is not for everyone and a strong supporter of open relationships of all shapes and sizes.

On the other hand, my support of (ethical, honest) nonmonogamy has made me even less tolerant of those who don't choose to be ethical and honest about their extracurriculars.

On a third hand, my entrepreneurial spirit can't bring itself to completely condemn someone who saw a hole in the market, filled it, and is no doubt raking in the big bucks because of it. People are going to cheat whether or not I like it - someone might as well be making money off their infidelity.

Ashley Madison has been celebrating successes left and right so, begrudgingly, I think I might have to let the third hand win out. Maybe part of me is just bitter I didn't have the idea first.

In July, the infamous cheating website reached a major milestone: its 20 millionth member. And here's the real kicker: that makes its membership larger than the entire population of New York State. The 20 millionth member comes after a year of unprecedented growth for the site which, says AshleyMadison.com CEO Noel Biderman, "proves that infidelity is a universal business."

Just how universal? Ashley Madison is one of the fastest growing dating site, with one new member joining every six seconds. The dating service has also experienced an increase of over 15% in mobile usage a year and expanded to include Ashley Madison Blackbook, an app that allows affair seekers to maintain anonymity beyond emails with a private phone line for discreet texting and phone calls.

More recently, Ashley Madison is expanding its global reach (already 27 countries) to include Japan, the site's first launch in Asia. As of July 1, 2013, four days after it debuted in the new country, Ashley Madison Japan had already logged 230,000 visits and 70,000 members.

"This might be bigger here than in America," Biderman told The Wall Street Journal. "We totally underestimated the desire here." The biggest challenge the site faces now is marketing - word of mouth isn't exactly a viable option when users are looking to keep their cheating under wraps. "We're going to position ourselves as a marriage-saving site," Biderman added, "a social network for married people. I think they'll understand that concept."

A 'marriage-saving site?' If you say so, Biderman, if you say so. After all, who am I to argue with the man who proudly announced that his company has "become the 'Kleenex of cheating?'"

Do You Friend Request Before the First Date?

Facebook
  • Thursday, September 12 2013 @ 09:10 pm
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  • Views: 1,918

Friending someone on Facebook before your first date might be more acceptable than you think, according to a recent survey by Mashable.com.

One out of four people send a friend request before the first date, according to the responses of 3,000 participants who were asked what they found acceptable in regard to dating in the digital age. Roughly 39% of college-aged participants friend request before the first date, but then the number drops to 26.2% for 20-somethings and 16.4% for those in their thirties. For all ages, only 12.5% prefer to wait until you mutually decide on relationship exclusivity.

So what does this mean for your Facebook profile? Since friending early on in the dating trajectory seems to be the trend, it's important to know what you post on your page and make sure to adjust your privacy settings. If you've been ranting about your awful ex boyfriend or posting drunk photos with your friends, you might be putting off potential dates. Most of us don't take the time to filter each post, but if you're choosing to friend virtual strangers before you've even started to date, you might want to consider the importance of your digital first impression.

And what about announcing your relationship status on Facebook? As it turns out, women are slightly more reluctant than men to do so. Almost 79% of women say they must be mutually exclusive in a relationship before posting, whereas only 63.5% of men agree. Over 19% of men say that they would become Facebook official after multiple dates compared with only 10% of women.

Do you check your phone on a date? Has it become a more acceptable practice? Not really, according to respondents. Over 50% say that you should never check your phone on a first date, or only if it's an emergency. However, 37% are willing to check their phones if a date has left the room. No age group was okay with checking your phone whenever you wanted while on a date.

Another statistic that was intriguing: despite our culture's increasing preference for texting vs. calling someone, more people in their twenties, thirties and forties prefer a call over a text from someone they just met and who might be interested in dating. There was a bit of a gap among the age groups however. Twenty-three percent of women in their twenties preferred a phone call compared to 15% who thought a text message was acceptable. But for women in their forties, 47% felt that a phone call was an acceptable way to follow up with someone compared to only 7.7% who felt that texting was okay.

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