Cupids Dating Blog

The idea behind a virtual date revolves around the theory that more of the dating experience can happen online. From meeting over an online hand of bridge or a round of two-player minesweeper, to completely rendered virtual environments, the idea of virtual dating isn't to date a computer, but to use computers as the medium for a relationship. A true virtual date is more in line with the merger of massive multiplayer online games than the simple chat over a remote board-game.

This sounds, to my mind, a little bit impersonal. On the other hand, there are a couple of obvious benefits. For example, it's a pretty safe way to meet a stranger. It doesn't give you any real means of catching a lie, because you have no more information about these people than they're willing to offer. The thing is, you have to ask yourself if you really are that much more able see the truth when you're sitting face to face with someone. No matter what you do, finding out if someone is honest involves making a leap of faith at some point.

I still find it hard to believe that people get a good sense of chemistry in online encounters, but the other good side is that, ideally, people are being a little less shallow. The contents of their heads, and their ability to be creative, might count for more than immediate and passing attractions. Your dating pool is also limited less by where you are, so it might be something to consider for long-distance relationships.

In any case, virtual dating is definitely a trend that's picking up along with the general tendency for people to spend their lives online. I read somewhere that there are games hosting virtual worlds that have a higher gross national product that some countries. So maybe the Matrix wasn't so far-fetched after all.