EHarmony – Match made in computer heaven
Gone are the days when your parents arranged to have to married off to the neighbor’s son or daughter. If you were lucky to have sons, you could expect a nice dowry from the parents of the bride to be. At some point people decided that they should be the one to choose who they married, based on love instead of your parents whim. So now we all live happily ever after, right?
I choose EHarmony for my weekly icon. People who fought for the right to break away from their parent’s ability to choose their mates are now relying on a computer program to find them their soul mates. They offer a scientific matching, relationship 29 points of compatibility questionnaire and “guidance”, all for a small fee. But how can you put a price on true love?
Why has this become such a current pop culture phenomenon? Can people not really find their soul mates by trial and error like so many of us do? Am I sour about this because I did it all on my own and I wonder how bad these people have to be to pay for a system to match them with others?
I don’t have all the answers, but I do have an opinion. I believe that matching people based on how they answer a 2 hour quiz would get at the likes and dislikes of people. That’s a good start. But it can’t measure the spark or chemistry that is needed for true love. I believe this has become so popular because people have no time. They don’t have time to date, to mingle to go out there and look for that one person to complete their lives. I think some people have been really hurt in the past and think this offers a solution to wade through all of the bad apples. I think that some people will believe and try anything not to be alone.
I do have a huge problem with services like these. You have to be accepted. For those lonely people who sign up for these services, presumably as a last resort, take all of the tests and screening just to be told that they are not accepted into the program can be devastating. Not only do they feel they haven’t been lucky in love on their own but now a computer program is telling them they can’t help them. The only thing that’s worse is being rejected on a reality TV show where you are fighting for your change to marry the millionaire. At least you get dumped in person that way..but that’s another blog…
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteMatchmaking is an interesting concept that has grown in popularity over the years. Once taboo, more companies and people visibly endorsing the option. Because I know it's relatively easy for someone to misrepresent who they are on the internet, I expect the same with dating services. Ironically my view has not changed though I personally know of 4 married couples that met and married through dating services. I guess I'm a little old fashioned in that regard. I didn't realize the services are able to deny a person membership. That in itself is worth exploring.