 Romance/Love: March 29, 2006 Issue [#955] |
  Romance/Love
This week: Edited by: Diane  
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Welcome to this week's edition of the Romance/Love newsletter. Each edition highlights stories and poetry on the site containing romance and love for your reading pleasure.
~ ~ Diane ~~
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Dating Today
Dating in the 21st century is much different than dating was in the previous century. There are many ways to meet people, but with our busy schedules, finding the time to meet your soul mate can be difficult. Dating has evolved over the past few decades to accomodate our fast-paced, high-energy, lifestyles. According to the US Census Bureau, the number of single people 15 years of age and older has increased by at least 1 million annually since 2000. So the available singles is increasing in number, but as a single woman, I know it's getting harder and harder to find single guys!
Some of the more innovative dating methods include online and speed dating. Both reduce the amount of time needed to devote to dating, which is key in today's society. With the time limits placed on people by increased hours at the office and time spent on the road sitting in traffic, less time is available to invest in finding a date. So to get around these time limitations, 21st century daters put their social life on the fast track!
Online dating starts with finding a website you are comfortable with using. All sites have a couple things in common. Participants are required to fill out a profile, answering basic questions such as age, sex, race, and personal preferences. Some of these include things like smoking and drinking preferences, what you think of as the "perfect" date, hobbies and interests. These surveys allow you to screen out people who don't meet your basic criteria.
After the survey is filled out, it's time to post a picture and start searching for someone you might be interested in meeting. Each site has a method of contacting other dating site members, typically via email or an instant messaging system. At this point, the dating turns to the more traditional method of meeting in person, complete with sweaty palms and nervous chatter.
Speed dating is a bit different in that the initial meeting is face-to-face instead of from the safety of a computer chair over the Internet. Speed dating typically starts by signing up for a location. The location, date and time are set by the speed dating coordinator. Generally it occurs in a restaurant or bar, somewhere that serves alcohol to soothe the nerves of the participants.
Before the dating begins, participants fill out a profile of information and are assigned a number. The "dates" are fast-paced, usually limited to five minutes each. In that time, the daters ask each other questions and try to get to know the important facts about the person across the table. When the bell rings, the men (generally) move to another table and the next date is underway. After all daters have been introduced, the formal event ends and people begin to mingle. The advantage to this method of dating is knowing the basics about everyone in the room and also being immersed in a pool of singles who are also looking to meet someone. This takes a little of the pressure off the daters in the room.
Since dating has changed, romance stories must change too. Certainly there is still room for the traditional meeting places for our romantic characters, but we should also attempt to include more contemporary settings in our stories. So spice up a regular romance by giving your characters an unconventional meeting. 
Until Next Time,
Diane
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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The editors work hard to make sure the newsletters are informative and enjoyable. We appreciate your responses.
 ftrinta - "Hi Diane. Well, your newsletter this week has a lot to do with my own history. My husband and I are from different countries and we exchanged a lot of letters and e-mails till I decide to move to The Netherlands. Who knows, maybe I'll write my own story! Cheers, Nanda. "
That sounds like a wonderful idea, Nanda! Be sure to submit it to the newsletter if you post your story on the site.
yampuff - "A thought you might to add about long distance love is that it may perhaps be easier and less stressful than being with that loved one. Being away makes you focus on their good points, what you liked about them as you begin to forget how they used to annoy the heck out of you! 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder' has its basis in truth. Lovers are always at their most romantic and pasionate before they are truly together. Maybe long distance can keep the flame alive, so to speak? =^-^="
"Good point! I just hope most long-distance romances don't go the opposite direction as there is also a saying that Absence makes the heart go wander!" 
Incurable Romantic - "Wonderful thoughts on those long distance relationships, Diane. And the stats are great. I don't have the time right now, but I'd sure like to try that story idea of yours on long term relationships. Hopefully I'll get the chance at some point. Keep up the good work! "
Hi Jim! I'm glad you liked the newsletter.
Brians Next Novel Almost Done! - "Well, I don't know about writing a story about LDRs, but I can tell you something about the one I am having now.
Sarah and I met through that MySpace.com website and struck up a friendship last year before soon realizing that there were some deeper things at work in our friendship. We have since begun "dating" even though I am in WA, and she lives in CA. Communication is vital to our relationship's success, be it through emails, IMs, phone calls, praying for each other...whatever form it takes, communication is essential. And interestingly enough, beginning in a relationship without having met her (we had seen pictures though) proved to be a good thing because it caused us to work so much harder on communication simply because we did not have that luxury of seeing each other every day. We finally met for 11 days in February and it was a fantastic time--a major blessing from God! It is hard being apart, but it's all been worth it thus far."
Sounds like communication is definitely key in your relationship, Brian! Good luck with it. I hope you get to meet her in person soon.
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