Changing Trends in the World of Singles and Dating

More single adults over 40 and even over 30, areThis is why the trend is beginning to shift towards
finding love at traditional, local, "Bricks and Mortar"more traditional dating services, that conduct a
dating agencies, or services. Some of these havepersonal screening at a local office, and offer
survived the Online Dating bubble and are stillservices such as speed dating where you can
around after over 35 years of providing a waymeet and actually see a representation of the
for singles to meet for relationships, and afterclientele they attract, and meet the people behind
careful study, observation, and analysis, it becamethese operations, a far reaching contrast to online
apparent why.services.
Prompted by the basic cultural differencesCompanies that meet every potential member
between the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest,one on one, face to face, and collect and check
I began a recent study of singles dating trends ininformation including the identity, background, and
the SF Bay Area, and by contrast, in Newfinancial status of everyone they enroll, are
England. Those areas have several dating servicesbeginning to see a renewed interest. This gives
and all seem to be doing quite well in attractingpotential members a level of confidence and
new customers, given the recent fiscal climate,degree of certainty that by the time you meet
indicating more than a passing curiosity in datingsomeone through one of these services that they
services.are serious, and real, also realizing the futility of
Speaking to representatives and owners ofthe virtual dating landscape, and decided to try a
several of these services, business at thesemore sensible solution. Although the elements and
locations does not seem to be suffering the sameprocedures offered by these physical offices vary
fiscal woes that are afflicting a large number ofgreatly in some instances, they all offer the
other businesses. Part of the reason is that inpersonal touch missing in other introduction
times of uncertainty, people do not want to beservices, passive or active. The term "personals"
alone, but also, do not want to be with justis very much an oxymoron. They should be called
anyone, either. Considering that online services"Impersonals."
cost a fraction of most of these location-basedThese local, office-based relationship and dating
services, that would seem to indicate the truth inservices boast a high level of success, however,
that consensus.success means something different to everyone.
Compatible, sensible singles looking for the rightAsk people if they have ever had a successful
relationship have grown tired of the virtual worldrelationship, and most people will say "Sure.
of online dating, where anyone can be who theySeveral". To some singles, a long-term relationship
want to be. In addition, "My Space", never muchof 6 or 7 years is considered successful. To
of a draw for 30 to 60-something singles, hasothers, anything short of a lifelong relationship is
played out as less of a reliable social network, asunsuccessful.
a way to live out one's wildest fantasies.Either way, apparently, single, divorced and
According to a report on MSNBC, research showswidowed adults from across the country, at at
that one third of people using online datingleast In California, New Hampshire and
services are married. There is also no way toMassachusetts, seem to be reverting to a less
determine if the person you are meeting is whovirtual approach when it comes to meeting each
they say they are, looks like the photos theyother.
have posted, and is not a predator.