In the s, long before there was Match. When it made its debut inthe point of Operation Match was to combine "the irrationality of two online social evils: blind dates and mixers. It worked like this: You sent in three dollars, filled out a questionnaire, mailed it in, and then potential matches were chosen for you through a computer algorithm. After filling out a lengthy multiple-choice questionnaire, I snail-mailed it with three dollars in exchange for the names and telephone was of three computer matches.
I impatiently waited a month before the names of the men of my dreams arrived in the mail. I couldn't wait another minute, so I immediately phoned each one and set up times to meet. My first match was a better-than-average-looking Columbia University law student, and a few years older than me.
We met at the women-only Barbizon Hotel where I was living. Since men weren't permitted anywhere but the lobby or mezzanine, we found an area on the mezzanine where we could talk privately. Our conversation was awkward right from the start and dating soon realized we had no rapport and the date ended abruptly. My second match picked me up on his motorcycle.
He wasn't my type and was rather rough around the edges, but I was willing to give him a try. I dressed the part in a black leather pantsuit for a dinner date and was freezing in nine-degree weather as I rode on the back of his motorcycle, what blocks to Chinatown. Over dinner, site bragged non-stop about his druggie lifestyle. It was obvious we had nothing in common. I was anxious to get back to the warmth of my room at The Barbizon and the motorcycle ride back seemed like an eternity.
With only one more "match," my hope of finding Mr. Right via computer dating was starting to dwindle.
U.S. Stock Market Quotes
After meeting the first two incompatible men, I wondered how they could've possibly been paired with me. Not wanting to waste any more time on dates that didn't work out, I spoke on the telephone to the last guy for over two hours.
We had a good connection and his voice sounded sexy. We decided to meet that night at a bar around the click from The Barbizon.
I took one of my girlfriends along for moral support.
I Used The First Ever Online Dating Service In The 1960s
We sat at the bar so he could easily find us and waited just a short time before I heard someone call my name. I turned around expecting to see Prince Charming; instead, I saw a man that resembled Dating 2 the Clown with three clumps of red hair on his head — one clump on each side and another clump on top of his head; the rest of his head was bald.
Shocked and disappointed, I quickly turned toward my friend and the two of us talked until we were certain he had left the bar. That was the last time I had a computer act as a matchmaker for me, first I know things have improved the with the creation of online dating. But there is one good thing if you ever decide to try it: at least you won't be tricked into meeting someone without seeing their photos Mel Currier is a contributor to YourTango who writes on love, relationships, and the early years of online dating.
Mel Currier. Add to Bookmarks. YourTango Daily. Daily Horoscopes.