May 31, 2008
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Written by Cindy Kirk in Jaunty PostIn 2006, 75% of single Americans encountered someone they were interested in but let the opportunity to become better acquainted pass them by…and later regretted it.
According to the Harlequin Romance report from 2006, rather than make conversation, most of us grab a newspaper, play with our cell phone, or look away–all reactions that dramatically decrease the chance for interaction with new people.
According to the report, men are even more inclined to look, but less inclined to act than women. Hardly as bold as we might believe, nearly 70% of men admit that they’ve encountered someone who intrigued them, but they just couldn’t act on it. Only 55% of woment indicated the same regret.
70% of singles depend on their friends to introduce them to new people. The number tends to be higher for women (78.7%) than men (63%)
42% think chance is the best way to meet someone, despite the fact that less than 20% actually met via a chance encounter. While the romantic appeal of a fateful meeting caters to our sentimental side, it isn’t always the most practical or proactive way to meet new people.
Although less than one percent believe the workplace is the best place to meet someone, in truth almost 20% (and this includes my daughter) met their significant other at work.
What do you think is the best way to meet new people?
* Through friends?
* By chance?
* At a party, bar or club?
* Online?
*At work?
How did you first meet your current or last significant other?
*Through friends?
*At work?
* By chance?
*At a party, bar or club?
* Online?
I’m going to compile the results and then we’ll compare our unscientifc sampling to the Harlequin survey statistics.
Everyone who responds will have a chance to win a hardcover copy of Debbie Macomber’s newest release “Twenty Wishes.”
I’ll go first.
I think the best way to meet new people is through friends.
I met my husband through a friend
Okay….how about you?
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Margay Says:
I also think through friends or family is a good way to meet people because they already know them and, hopefully, their impressions of them will ring true.
Dev Says:
I guess through friends would be the best way for me. I’m not really a shut-in, but I don’t put myself out there.
RobynDeHart Says:
Most of my great friends I’ve met, as an adult, are other writers, so I guess that means I met them through work. I met The Professor on-line.
Interesting statistics, Cindy.
Laura Says:
I met my ex at work.
Received a proposal on date three that I met through a friend.
So, I’m going to go with chance meeting simply because wherever it is you meet, you have (or probably have) something in common with the person already - based on where you are.
At least that’s my theory for now.
Minna Says:
Well, actually, I have met most of my friends at school.
JOYE Says:
It’s scary out there and if you know nothing about a person, you take a chance. So I always rely on friends because they know some things about the person’s behavior. At least, that’s a place to start.
Shana Says:
I think the best way to meet people is through friends, and I met my husband through friends. BUT! Before I met my husband I had friends introduce me to other guys and those relationships didn’t work out. Imagine going to parties or out with your friends plus 2 or 3 guys you dated. Let’s talk about uncomfortable. It strained some of my friendships, so that’s one drawback.
Amy Says:
I have to say that when I was younger that I was out at bars and parties a lot. However, I still met most of the people I would date thru friends, even then. So I’m not sure how you want to rate that. Now that I am older, and wiser????, I would say thru friends. Knowing someone a little before you go on a first date is always o.k. in my book!!!!!
Amy
Fedora Says:
Hmm… I think the best (meaning possibly most reliable) way of meeting new people would be through friends, but that would also mean being open and having a fairly good way of making new friends–so I think it helps to be involved in different groups that do things you’re interested in and being open to hanging out with the people you click with and not only the people you already know.
I met my husband in college–apparently I don’t recall our first meeting, but we got to know each other better when we lived in the same dorm.
Jane Says:
I also think meeting someone through friends is the best way. Your friends know your personality and hopefully they’ll try to match you with someone who has similar interests. I met the last person I was with at a party thrown by friends.
Stacie Mc Says:
I’ll go with meeting new people through friends too. If you both have the same friends, chances are you’ll share other things as well. Common interests make it easier to get to know new people.
ellie Says:
Definitely through friends which is meaningful and lasting.
Rainy Says:
I met my husband of 39 years through one of my best friends. But LInda was desperate to double date and she kept arranging dates with her boyfriend’s Carl’s friend that went nowhere…until she connected me with Rick, my husband and we did connect instantly. We’d both heard of each for a while and were just waiting to meet.
About a year later, we arranged a date with my very close cousin and his good friend and that worked out well, too. They were married a year after we were.
So, yeah, I guess friends are a good way to meet. I know online dating is big but it scares me. Hopefully, friends aren’t going to arrange a date with Frankenstein.
ladydawgfan Says:
I met my best friends through some people I knew at school. I don’t have a significant other, though not without trying. You get turned down enough or ignored enough, and you tend to stop putting yourself out to people you don’t know as a form of personal defense.
Kim Says:
I’m going to say through friends or at work. I met my husband at work.
Dorothy Says:
I met my ex at a party I went to at college that I got invited to through friends. How do you classify that?
After we divorced, I dated a few guys I met online, but they didn’t work out.
I’m not a very outgoing person to begin with and I’m alot older than the people I work with and I don’t go out much. Hence, I’m still single. lol
But I’d say that the best way to meet people is through friends or work.
cheryl c. Says:
I think the best way to meet new people is through friends or at work. I met my husband at college at a social event.
Gail Says:
I suggest furthering your education! I met my husband at college when I went with a bunch of my dorm friends to toilet paper a bunch of guys’ dorm rooms. The guys had to come back to our dorm hall and get us back. That led to conversation, and love.
Crystal B. Says:
I think the best way to meet new people is through friends and family.
Shirley Karr Says:
A little late but I’ll chime in with meeting through friends.
My mom’s gentleman friend gave my phone # (with my permission) to his younger cousin when he discovered I had interests in common with the cousin. We met on a blind date and five months later got married. Things didn’t work out for Mom and her guy, but Mike and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary this year.
catslady Says:
I met my husband in high school 40 years ago! I think being interested in a particular hobby or interest and finding someone with the same interest is a good way to meet someone. My daughter met her fiance say in college but going for the same degree. My younger daughter has been going with a fellow artist that she met through a friend.