it seems clear to me that there should either be some sort of service in place, or perhaps a protocol, that allows bloggers and their commenters (or bloggers and bloggers, or commenters and commenters) to meet each other and potentially date, without it seeming too stalkery. because it seems stalkery as is, right now, doesn't it? but i think it's a potentially good thing--i've long said that blogs, for me, have been the ultimate social filter, in terms of friends anyway. i think much of the stigma about meeting potential friends as bloggers as been erased, but i think this adoption should extend to folks who might want to try dates, too. right? clearly, if you're reading a blog, you think there's something appealing about the blogger's personality. if you've got a rapport going with them in comments, even better. but even if there's an internet spark there, i think there'd be too much hesitancy about suggesting a meet up, even if one or both are open to the idea. but i mean, most people are open to most ways of finding somebody-- blind dates, online dating--that is near anonymous, right? why not bloggers and commenters?
or, even better, we should get bloggers to agree to a forum-style dating thing, where on their blog it is announced that they will be at a bar at a particular time, and anyone who is interested in wooing them should go out and do it, because they are open to it, and then they can fight over them. however, as kriston just noted, "i think you'd find . . . women immediately shutting down all comments." ok, so the forum thing is a joke, but there's got to be some sort of better protocol that could be formulated.
ok, upon re-reading this, this sounds like the stupidest thought ever. maybe it's just in general that i feel people should be more pro-active in asking other folks out if they're interested. anyway, i guess the answer is to just invite your readers to a bar at some point, get hammered, and have an internet orgy. problem solved!
I'd like to suggest that your idea of "invite your readers to a bar at some point, get hammered, and have an internet orgy" is actually a lot like the blogger happy hours. And those have, in some cases, turned ugly, with the internet part of the relationships making it all the nastier.
However, I am admittedly quite biased. And not everyone is like that.
Posted by: K | May 10, 2007 at 03:50 PM
listen, keep blogs out of this. all XX's interested in dating just need to move out of DC, yes? all the rad single dudes are on the west coast?
i mean, besides Capps, of course.
(off to go unapologetically hit on unfogged commenters now.)
Posted by: the g | May 10, 2007 at 04:30 PM
(off to go unapologetically hit on unfogged commenters now.)
Hey there.
Posted by: teofilo | May 10, 2007 at 07:59 PM
That map is actually pretty interesting. It gives me hope for the future.
Posted by: teofilo | May 10, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Outstanding consideration of this phenomenon. It's something to which I've been giving mental airtime for months.
Popped over from Unfogged, a favorite blurking site, after enjoying the discussion.
Thanks.
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Posted by: the psycho therapist | May 11, 2007 at 06:58 AM
From pixels to the previously mentioned "Animal Nitrate."
Nice.
Posted by: jon | May 11, 2007 at 08:30 AM