Hey folks, so I saw TiMER today for the first time, and it got me thinking: How does our dating patterns change based on the technology we use? The movie depicted two very different approaches to romance/dating/etc. The 'take it as it comes' approach, and the technologically deterministic approach.

Now granted such a device doesn't exist in reality, but we still have the internet to influence our dating habits (otherwise we wouldn't be here). And in contemplating this I started to think about how matchmaking is done on a lot of sites (OKCupid comes to mind). Honestly, I do examine profiles dramatically differently on OKC than I do in most other sites because of the match algorithm. It shifts some of the analytics to the numerical calculation provided in the % match, so that I'm assessing first on that %, then on appearance and profile content. Now here's the interesting thing: when I don't have that option, I make more complex use of the search filters, effectively imitating a similar rubric mechanism.

This is dramatically different than dating IRL for me (in the few instances that happens). Strangely, the kinds of people and how I screen in-person shifts completely, and becomes more dependent on how the interaction between them and myself is prior to any sort of romantic intention declared.

The core point here, I suppose, is how technology shapes relationship development. I also have to wonder how economic circumstances shapes this as well. Consider agrarian America, ancient Rome, or feudal Japan, compared to today.

I guess even more relevantly to what I want to get at, how do these different circumstances/technologies change our perception on what love and relationships are?

Just kind of a food-for-thought thing.

Cheers,

- Jason

I think it can both help and hinder. As good as internet dating might be, I'm not so positive that it's better for EVERYONE? Any family member older than me, kinda sneers at internet social site's, because they think it's way easier to just conversate by phone or text. Their take (and maybe mine). I think a lot fear losing touch of relatives and high school friends, but that doesn't have to be the case. I do feel the world should slow down at times. Things are so fast-paced that it makes me feel nauseus. . But with me being me, was I ever really gonna want to feel so modernized? I'm not so sure. I'm more traditional. I like to keep my memories of what was.

Thanks for the reply, Shy_Emo_chick. I'm curious then, do you date differently than your older family? You also brought up connection, as technology is an oft-criticized medium to remove intimacy from interaction, yet sites like this exist and thrive.

I wonder what the impact of technology is on intimacy and connection. I'm in an awkward generation where I had a bit of the tech-generation in me, and a bit of the 'real world' generation in me (contrasted rather amusingly by my parents as well). Intimacy sure looks different online than in person, though I can't say it's inherently less.

So with the technology we as humans evolve, how are we changing how we relate? It wasn't long ago that marriage was arranged, and family kept very tight-nit with each other, yet considering that these patterns are consistent with agrarian societies, and changed radically to a more personal gratification and choice model at the advent of industrialization (a technology-driven development), it's hard to not feel that the development of the information age may, or possibly has, shifted human interaction again, especially in how we feel about love.

at the moment my dating is like this rm -rf or mv ~ /dev/null no matter what

but i have had luck or curse to be in life with just one person i met in real, we were friends before, then we married and divorced at some point, all the rest of serious relationships and friendships have been established initially on the internet.

I was never wrong about persons because if you are for too long on the internet or working something related, you get that unbeatable internet gut feeling.
Seems internet works better for me so much that usual ways no longer work, especially because i do not want to be limited to relating to the people living in the same town, street or country. Just saying what was on the internet was in live too with no difference, love is love because internet is just an extension of reality.

There are certain advances of meeting people online such as you are more likely to find familiar in vast of computer nodes and big world than being limited to street and town, i still can not believe that right man just lives around the corner, no chance. Other aspect it gives more time to observe and see how you really feel, nothing happens instantly. It can even prevent bad things. Economy moment is very important as it means giving an effort to get close to someone you care about, so it means something.

But there is one fact, i never ever found someone over dating site.
It happens as same as in real life, just random situations and random places but never places with purpose of finding someone.
My family would be in deep wonder if i ever find someone not online as they are used to "online way" for me. The last one found in RL that they met was my ex husband 23 years ago.

True that especially nausea makes me feel the same even i am internet person. Good topic btw.

I saw a trailer for an upcoming movie a few days ago--"her."

It's about a recently-divorced man who just bought a new computer with an OS that was configured to cater to his personality. In the movie, computers have come to the point where you just talk to them like you do with people. The AI for his computer was named "Samantha" and she naturally organizes his life--like how Siri is supposed to be, how Google Now works or the Star Trek computer but with a personality.

Anyway, the guy ends up falling in love with his OS.

http://youtu.be/rS8zOLOcPMQ

In many ways technology has brought us closer together.
We are able to commune with people all over the world in ways that were unthought of just a few years ago.
It has also taken us further apart.
Texting has become a substitute for "real" conversation.
And sometimes someone who does not get an immediate response to a text or E-mail will feel slighted. Not that long ago it may have taken
days or even weeks to hear from someone by mail. And I think that letter and the thought that had gone into writing it was more valued.

"I fear that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots."-Albert Einstein

My view too.