"I noticed, in ads, a lot of people list the things they like to do-dancing, movies, hiking, plays, etc.-sort of like the old computer-matching services. For me, this misses the point because common interests do not necessarily correlate well with romantic attraction. I wasn't planning on doing various activities with the people I met through the ads, at least not right away, because what people need to do to get to know each other is talk."
"I decided to downplay interests and play up values and the idea of meeting to see whether we're attracted to each other. The voicemail messages I received were from, almost without exception, the kind of women I wanted to attract. I answered several ads and was called back by five women. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of meeting these people, and even if I hadn't ended up with a romantic connection, I would have counted it a worthwhile thing to do."
Telepersonals and classified ads provided a pre-internet way for people to meet using recorded voice personals and 900 numbers. One man changed careers, found fewer dating opportunities at work, and tried ad dating after coworkers' success. He listened to women's messages and planned his own to present himself positively. He prioritized conveying values and the potential for conversation over listing shared activities, arguing that common interests do not equal romantic attraction. He received responses from several women, met a number of them, enjoyed the encounters, and considered the experience worthwhile regardless of outcome.
Read at East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda
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