How Do You Meet People Today?

Written by Sam

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 19:00

Those of us who are still looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right are always thinking about how to meet that person. That is despite the fact that in this technological age there are more and easier ways to meet people. You can use phone dating services, online dating, speed dating, etc. Along with the "old fashioned" methods of blind dates, going to clubs, meeting people through friends, etc. Even with all of these options it still seems like it is just as hard to meet someone. I, and other singles, ask "why"? Maybe because we are so-called amateurs and should really look to a professional to help us hook up with a person of the opposite sex.

What has come back en vogue lately is several age old methods of meeting your true love - the professional matchmaker and mom and dad. Matchmakers have existed for centuries in different societies. In a country like Ireland they take this very seriously as they have matchmaking competitions and festivals in certain areas every year.

Matchmakers do all the legwork for you in that they will match you up with someone with similar interests and goals as you. You no longer have to scour the Earth for your soulmate as you can pay someone to do it for you. Most of us are too busy to do this anyway.

Matchmakers measure success by how many of their clients get married. They are not in this to find you 'casual' dates; they want to find you a lifelong partner. As a result, you can rest assured that in most cases the person you are set up with will not have "issues" that will keep them from getting serious. They have been interviewed and checked over.

Just like online dating or speed dating there is no longer the stigma of desperation attached to people who use matchmakers. You are not seen as pathetic, rather a busy person who still wants to find a partner. Matchmakers can be seen as well-connected friends who know about 1,000 people.

A warning: matchmaking is not cheap usually. For example, one American matchmaker charges anywhere up to $150,000 for her services. Another matchmaker charges her clients near $3,000 just to add them to her books.

Another way to meet persons of the opposite sex with the aim of marriage is being introduced by mom and dad. If you can believe it, arranged marriages are making a comeback in some communities. There is even a television show on CBS about exactly that.

Again, this is not a method that caters to romance or the like. You are doing this to get married. And it seems that despite most persons doubting of the method, it works. If you are a person who relates to stats then you'll understand this: only 4% of arranged marriages end in divorce compared to the near 50% of the 'non-arranged' marriages.

The downside of this method is that parents don't always know best. Especially when it comes to finding a suitable life partner for their children. Their idea of a match made in heaven could be very different from yours.

Arranged marriages can work, but it depends on your value system.