Over on Twitter, inmate dating site Conjugal Dating is all the buzz. Is it real? Can it be? Or its it political commentary, using dating sites as the punchline?
Inmate dating sites exist, yes - usually as an extension of the pen pal inmate offers you've likely seen at the back of some magazines. I've even added an inmate dating sites to my list of strange dating sites. Not everyone wants to date someone behind bars, but there are some folks who don't mind.
Conjugal Harmony however has taken the idea of dating an inmate a step further - a huge step in the direction of distasteful and degrading. Their main tag lines reads: "The nagging stops when the bars slam shut!" Or from their even more inappropriate FAQ: "With a conjugal marriage, you will finally have a wife with the perfect amount of freedoms and rights, and more importantly, you will finally start enjoying your own."
Initially I thought Conjugal Harmony was another of Mingle2's spoof dating sites, like ZombieHarmony. But on closer review, Conjugal Harmony is a bit, er, harsher. There's a theme to the site, and it isn't pretty. Sarcastic, dark and dry? Yes. Real? Doubtful. The clincher for me was the copyright notice at the bottom of every page, which states the site is "in cooperation with the Governor of Illinois". I'm assuming this is referring to the recent news that former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was indicted on corruption charges earlier this week.
But what do you think? Am I being overly sensitive, or is Conjugal Harmony terribly offensive? And is it for real, or a gag? [read more]
A recent reader response to Who Pays on a Date surprised me:
I used to have a rule about money and sex. My friends called me the 40 dollar man. If I didn't have sex by the time I spent 40 dollars I wouldn't see them again. Well guess what? I had sex with 27 women the first year I did that."
The reader then explained that he'd since stopped using this (what I've now dubbed) $40 dating rule, since he was becoming embarrassed and uncomfortable with his behavior.
Of course, pursuing casual dating relationships isn't a new concept, and the Pick Up Artist (PUA) movement is gaining notoriety and fans on a daily basis because of shows like VH1's The Pick Up Artist and books like Neil Strauss' The Game (Buy Direct). But it isn't often that I find followers of these tactics commenting on this site.
What do you think about this $40 dating rule? Do you have a similar idea, or have you tried something along the same lines that worked for you? Does it surprise you? Upset you? Perhaps it fuels you to try it and see for yourself. Comment and let me know what you think.
Related: Dating Rules [read more]
A friend of mine asked me the other day if it was 'normal' for ex's to request my friendship over at Facebook. As in, did I have any ex's on Facebook, and how did I feel when they befriended me?
Interesting question, as I see this coming up in dating chats more often than even a year ago. It also was timely for me personally, as I also had an ex add me to Facebook recently - one that gave me pause, as we hadn't dated (or spoken) in over 15 years.
So why would an ex add you to Facebook? Depending on the length of time its been since you've broken up, it might be innocuous: maybe they found you through a mutual friend and were curious to see how you're doing. Or, they could be wistful about the past hoping maybe you'll reconnect, similarly to why many folks attend reunions. There also might be an apology in the works or an attempt to gain some closure. But like many of us (my friend included) the fear is that the ex is either trying to keep dibs or employing some sort of online stalkerish-type behavior. In my case the ex was wanting to make amends, but my friend is still pondering the intelligence of adding his ex to his friends list.
In a world where most people can easily find each other online with some basic information, its not a stretch to think that a select few will abuse technology in this fashion. Just like Googling your date is the norm now in certain age brackets, connecting with people from your past via social networking sites is also standard fare.
I suggested to my friend that he review the former Teen Advice Guide's article about Staying Safe on Facebook, as my friends' current Facebook profile is wide open for all to view. Perhaps a bit too much information, considering. Yet at the same time, why be paranoid about someone you've dated? That was the stance I took, and readily accepted my former date into my circle of Facebook friends. But I didn't give him full access to my profile; that was my caveat.
How about you? Would you befriend an ex on Facebook? Why or why not? And if an ex tried to add you to their friends list, would you allow the connection? [read more]
This 68-year-old question is slated to finally be answered late this summer with Archie from the Archie comics empire getting married to one of his long time sweethearts. But which one? Mum's the word so far, although part of the story has already been shared via MSNBC and the Archie comic weblog, such as that the story will take place five years after college graduation.
Archie is one of the oldest iconic characters to have not one, but two kinda-sorta-girlfriends. I don't even know what dating term or slang to use to describe Archie's relationship with either Betty or Veronica. Casually dating? Serial monogamy? Polyamory? What would you call their relationship(s)? And who do you think Archie will choose? Girl next door blonde Betty, or raven haired heiress Veronica? [read more]
A New Zealander who recently proposed to his girlfriend and was told no, didn't know what to do with the engagement ring. He couldn't return it as he'd purchased it overseas, and he didn't want to sell it for reasons, so he decided he'd get rid of the ring via a Twitter-based treasure hunt. Interested parties close to Wellington, NZ, can follow the 29-year-old's clues this Saturday, in the hopes that they get to the ring, first.
Feeling better after a breakup is never easy, but I can't imagine proposing to someone, them saying no, and then having a very expensive reminder hanging around. So donating it to a person who can put it to good use is a lovely way to change the negatives into a positive, I think. But what about you? What's your take?
Source: Spurned Man Offers Diamond Ring in Treasure Hunt [read more]
