Might Speed Dating Work Better Than Online Dating?

Online dating has become an integral part of my life. Every day I receive several emails, “winks,” “yeses” and “likes” from men as close as my new hometown in Florida and as far away as the Czecho Republic and Greenland. I’ve gone on too many dates to keep track and enjoyed them all, though I haven’t found that special someone.

It takes time to review all the men’s profiles and their correspondence, but reach out to men who seem more promising. I recently read one 55-year-old man’s profile from a website that covers Jewish singles. He stated that he didn’t want any meshugeners (muh-SHOOG-in-ers), which in Yiddish means crazies.

Feeling rebellious, I wrote him, “How do you define meshugener ?”

He replied, “You’re Jewish, you should know, and you are too old.” I’m 57.

So I sparred back: “It depends on how you define crazy, for example when a 55-year-old man, such as yourself, states he is seeking a 35-year-old woman, THAT’S a meshugener.” Case closed.

So I’m thinking to myself, I’m a meshugener for trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It’s time to try something new. How about speed dating?

I signed up with the Predating Speed Dating company. It has events in more than 70 cities each month. Each speed dating event lasts about two hours and can cost $35 to $40. Rotating from person to person, eight to 12 or so women and eight to 12 men of a similar age range and geographical area get an opportunity to talk to each person of the opposite sex for about six minutes.

Afterward, if interested in any of the men you spoke to, you discreetly circle their names on your interest sheet. If they select you, too, the company sends you an email with links to contact your mutual selections. If no one selects you, or you select no one, you’re invited to participate in another speed dating event until you do meet someone, or you can hire a matchmaker like the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

I figure that since I am reasonably attractive, articulate and ask questions for a living, I might have a chance of meeting someone at warp speed. Perhaps if I keep doing speed dating, I can quit my aerobics class.

Coming next: My prince might have arrived.

*Names and identifying information have been changed to protect privacy and security.

Photo: Askold Romanov /iStock