Date Lab
Since I started writing about relationships for DC on Heels, I’ve realized how interested I am in the workings of dating. For instance, I know several classmates who’ve joined Internet dating sites in hopes of meeting someone. In graduate school, it was literally like that movie, Pregnancy Pact expect for Match.com.
I heard about the group sign-up after the fact, so wasn’t asked to participate. That’s fine because I’m torn on how I feel about finding someone from a dating service. That said, I absolutely love reading about people’s dating and love lives. One source for this pastime is the Washington Post’s “Date Lab” column. So for fun, I decided to fill out an application.
The questionnaire
Once a week, Date Lab sets up two readers on a blind date. Before the date, the readers fill out a questionnaire that sheds light on their likes and dislikes. It was lengthier than I’d expected, but it was actually fun.
Some of the questions are “If you could have any superpower which would you want? Why?” Shape shifter or telepathy. Mystique or Jean, I can’t decide. “In what ways are you very D.C.?” I brunch. “In what ways aren’t you?” I rarely have my business cards handy. “Imagine your dating history is being turned into a TV show. Pitch it to us.” I won’t say what I answered here, but suffice it to say my dating life has been full of characters.
Why I like it
Date Lab seems to really want to connect people who will hit it off. So, all of the couples appear to be fairly matched when they are introduced to us at the start of the article. After the intro, the article takes the form of an interview alternating between both daters getting his or her take on all aspects of the date. It ends with each person rating the date on a scale of one to five.
The best part is, they don’t know what the other person rated them. I’m sure this is terrifying for them but it builds so much anticipation for me as I read through the article trying to guess what each will say. I’m often surprised. My favorite Date Lab date was one where two unsuspecting old friends were set up on a blind date, “He’s formally known as prince.”
The column boasts that they introduced people who eventually got married.
Who knows if they’ll ever set me up, but it was fun to think about my dating likes and dislikes. Until my date, I’ll keep reading and try to master dating on my own.
Dating and Relationship Blogger, aka Flirty Editor, Tiffany, is a Washingtonian transplant from central Virginia. This small town girl shares her dating hits and misses with a dry sense of humor but with an open heart nonetheless. When she’s not dating she’s working with art. Follow her @trwinc.