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Friday, May 6, 2011
Dating and Mating / Guest Blogger The UNC Date List
Posted By Web Editor on Fri, May 6, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Monday, May 2, 2011
Guest Blogger Match.com: Take 3
Posted By Web Editor on Mon, May 2, 2011 at 12:14 PM
In the aftermath of my Match.com love quest for Brittney, I was beginning to feel a little discouraged. The only connection I was finding through online dating was to the Internet. My roommate, on the other hand, who felt inspired by my match-making, has found success via this dating tool and refers to Match.com as online shopping for women.
In his words: “No thanks, I’m just browsing.”
Ready to send up the white flag, I began scanning the site for success stories for inspiration. While seeking out these “true love” accounts, I stumbled across the official Match.com blog. As a blogger myself, I felt it my duty is explore. Unfortunately, this reading material didn’t leave me with any sort of redemption of faith for Match’s match-making abilities.
Exhibit A:
This blog post includes actual percentages of women’s expectations from a guy financially on their first date. It also breaks down percentages of what single people expect and how women and singles react to finances on the initial date. The post goes as far as to say that “50% of women think it would be OK for their date to pay with a coupon.”
Has dating become such a game of numbers that as a woman, I’ve become a statistic? Since when has dating become a business transaction?
And if this statistic is correct, “51% of women would be impacted by financial generosity, be it tipping or donating.” So are you telling me that 49 percent of women polled would be cool with a guy who failed to tip their server or bartender? You’ve got to be kidding me. Is the recession the villain responsible for the death of chivalry?
Wait, Match.com isn’t finished. Now we’re discussing tax returns and how single people use them. Maybe these aren’t the people to trust Brittney’s love life with after all …
— Jordan Bullington
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Guest Blogger The Match(making).com continues …
Posted By Web Editor on Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 8:34 AM
Weeks ago, acting as one sneaky intern, I went undercover and created my hectic boss a profile on Match.com. What? Brittney’s average week involves one stacked agenda and various time zones — like she has time to date? So, that’s where I come in.
But after weeks of sifting through this single guy database, I’m beginning to realize that online dating is the equivalent of online shopping: seems much easier, until you get what you paid for and discover you probably should have tried it on in the store first.
I’m not prepared to give up, just yet. Let’s get back to Brittney’s Match.com fans; after all, attention should be paid to those “winking” romantics. Insert player two: RangersFan10
This blissful guy stands tall at 5’9” and could be the poster child for any dentist office around town with a smile more gum than teeth. Donning a casual look, dress shirt and simple black tie, so far I’m impressed. And he’s a Rangers fan? A baseball guy, I dig that … or at least I dig Josh Hamilton. Wait, I’m doing it again. This is for Brittney, This is for Brittney, This is for Brittney.
OK, RangersFan10 — what’s your story? Turns out, this Texas native is relatively new to Charlotte. He enjoys daily workouts and exploring new venues for music and art. Two points for the RangersFan, and nine photos, much better than our last go-round with InvestorUptown93.
But these nine photos have a reoccurring theme — humor. They include, but are not limited to: guy drinking beer from a plunger, guy dressed as Allen from The Hangover, and guy donning same casual outfit from above — add coveralls and toy gun to the ensemble.
Alright funny guy, are you always clowning around? The way to Brittney’s heart may very well be through laughter, but you gotta get through the intern first, and this one’s looking for someone at least career serious.
Maybe I should give this comedian the benefit of the doubt. Looks like he works in finance ... nice. But wait a second … does this say you weave lines from your comedy into the work place? So what, RangersFan10, do your stand-up routines run from 9-5 also?
And moving on…
— Jordan Bullington
Monday, March 28, 2011
Dating and Mating / Guest Blogger The Match.com-making for Brittney continues
Posted By Web Editor on Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Last week, I, being the good intern that I am, signed Brittney up for Match.com. Luckily, I still have a job. But still no boyfriend for my busy boss. As I browsed the Web trying to upload a love match for Brittney, this is what I found ...
The morning after my latest rendezvous with Match.com, I woke to a buzzing phone and a full inbox. Clearly Match.com wasn’t the only party pleased with Brittney’s revised profile. I spent the early part of my day sorting through e-mails with subject lines like: “You’re one of his favorites!” and “[insert screen name here] winked at you!” Winking?
These quick messages didn’t divulge much information; evidently the Match.com 250 character limit is also imposed in their e-mails, but they did invite Brittney to “wink” back. Is the Match.com “wink” the new Facebook “poke”?
On a side note, the creators of Match.com have gotta be former CIA members. The sheer amount of technological monitoring is scary.
Insert our first player in the Brittney Cason online dating campaign: “InvestorUptown93.” (Editor's Note: Screen names have been changed to protect the innocent ... and the not-so-innocent.) This screen name had viewed, e-mailed, winked, and labeled Brittney as one of his favorites. Alright guy, you’ve got my attention — time to do a little Match.com stalking myself. My first thoughts after viewing his profile:
When did ‘The Situation’ move to Charlotte?
This gel-head is an investor? I’m not totally sure I’m buying it. Is he donning his Ed Hardy tees to the office?
OK, I need to take a step back. This is for Brittney. This is for Brittney. This is for Brittney … To find a match for Brittney, one must think like Brittney.
So, let’s see what “InvestorUptown93” has to offer.
This sightseeing, social-drinking Aries lives one active life — working out three to four times a week. He enjoys volunteering and traveling. So far so good.
But I can’t help but notice the differences in his two photos: one, bar-side in a skin-tight shirt with hair sharp enough to provoke injury; the other, sitting by the beach in khakis and dress shirt.
Who are you,” InvestorUptown 93?”
The explanation lies within the profile. As it happens, this guy believes in living a multi-dimensional identity. Hold on Superman, should I be wary of phone booths? Strike 1. Also, one of his “fav” past-times is soaking up some sun on the beach. Do you like taking long walks on the beach, too? OK InvestorUptown93, what do you do when you’re not tanning or making trips to the gym? Let me guess, laundry?
And moving on … Next!
To be continued …
— Jordan Bullington
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Dating and Mating / Guest Blogger Meeting your Match
Posted By Web Editor on Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 10:26 AM
My mother met my father 30-plus years ago when dating entailed dinner dates, goodnight phone calls and having her home by 11. Unfortunately, for those of us living in this modern-day idea of romance, the dinner dates are now drinks at the bar, goodnight phone calls are texts and 11 is when the fun begins. Not to mention, who’s got time to date?
Meet my mentor: Brittney Cason, whose career leaves her traveling so much she spends most of her spare time in airports and sleeps in hotel beds more than her own. Sometimes I wonder if she isn't just a professional gypsy. So when does my career-driven boss have time to even consider dating? Exactly … so this is where I step in, and add to my list of duties as the intern.
If you watch any amount of TV you’ll see your fair share of online dating commercials. Not only do these success stories pack the “true love conquers all” mentality, they do it with good-looking couples. I’m sold. So, working undercover I got busy and signed my hectic boss up on Match.com.
I’m a rookie at the online dating, but I thought: how hard could it be? Apparently, not that easy. When doing the initial set-up, I gave generic answers and didn't upload a photo to keep it anonymous (and to cover my ass in case she gets mad). When I clicked “Send for Approval,” I didn’t expect the response I later received in e-mail form:
“Thank you for submitting your profile on Match.com. Unfortunately, we are unable to approve it at this time, because part of your profile text was unintelligible or repetitious.”
Hold up Match.com, I’m not so sure I like your tone.
So I spent an hour editing her profile to adhere to their standards. I hope the guys on here aren't as high-maintenance as the site itself.
The questions are somewhat challenging; for example: Tell us about your favorite music, TV shows, food, etc. etc. ... in no more than 250 characters.
Yes, that says characters, not words. So, let me get this straight Match.com: you want people to describe themselves in 250 letters? Who are you kidding?
But 250 characters later, I’m now the self-proclaimed matchmaker in Brittney’s life. That is, unless she kills me. Because this is the first she’s hearing about it. Stay tuned to see how the Brittney Cason online dating saga plays out … or if I still have a job.
— Jordan Bullington
