Of course! Pre-internet, we were not only able to date, but correspond with friends and family, look up definitions, and even buy things! What we weren't able to do is find a date that is a 92% personality match, keep in touch with people no matter how many times they moved, see a word's thesaurus entry, antonyms, audible pronunciation and translations all on a single page, and find out how hundreds of other people rate a product AND it's seller before we buy.
Yes. People would have to be slightly braver and more assertive face to face. It's easier to reach out to someone or express interest in them online because it's kind of safe and passive -- you can always not respond to their response. It's also easier to be playful, flirty, and suggestive online than off. But, yes. Without the Net, people would still date.
I'm pretty sure if the internet didn't exist, people would be afraid to leave their houses, let alone spend a small portion of their spare time with a stranger over drinks or coffee if they didn't have the opportunity to stalk them on a social networking sight first. We all do it. Just admit it. Who doesn't want to know what they're in for?
Absolutely! People got dates well before the internet existed and, frankly, I wish it was still that way. The internet should have no influence on our love lives what-so-ever. We should be interacting with others and meeting people face-to-face rather than on match.com!
Humans managed to survive without Internet for quite a long time so...how do you think that happened Saabira?
Why embarrass Fastcompany with this question? What happened?
17 Total
February 14, 2008 at 11:41am by Joe Luna
Sure. But the socially awkward, esthetically displeasing, and the too-busy-to-have-a-life-people would be out of luck.
February 14, 2008 at 11:48am by Martha Garvey
Yep.
Me: first online in 1981, began writing for the web in the mid 1990s.
Him: IT professional. Y2K maven.
How did we meet?
A friend from my book group fixed us up.
Jane Austen lives!
February 14, 2008 at 11:56am by Bekah Wilcox
Of course! Pre-internet, we were not only able to date, but correspond with friends and family, look up definitions, and even buy things! What we weren't able to do is find a date that is a 92% personality match, keep in touch with people no matter how many times they moved, see a word's thesaurus entry, antonyms, audible pronunciation and translations all on a single page, and find out how hundreds of other people rate a product AND it's seller before we buy.
February 14, 2008 at 12:04pm by April Joyner
Of course. Networking and matchmaking weren't invented on the Internet!
February 14, 2008 at 12:39pm by Heath Row
Yes. People would have to be slightly braver and more assertive face to face. It's easier to reach out to someone or express interest in them online because it's kind of safe and passive -- you can always not respond to their response. It's also easier to be playful, flirty, and suggestive online than off. But, yes. Without the Net, people would still date.
February 14, 2008 at 1:25pm by Pete Kuhtey
No. Never. The human race would be doomed.
February 14, 2008 at 2:16pm by Steven Heath
Yes. Before the internet we found dates the old fashioned way, by going to bars. My wife picked me up at a bar way back before the internet was cool.
February 14, 2008 at 2:32pm by Sean McGowan
If you think this question is slightly leading... you've GOT to see this. A bit harsh, though, so please watch with care.
...or at least a sense of humor :)
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/online_dating_helping_pathetic
February 14, 2008 at 2:36pm by Manny Otiko
People were dating long before the Internet was created.
The Internet is merely a tool to meet people, but people have many other ways to find partners for e.g. friends, work, church, clubs, matchmakers.
All the studies show that most people meet their partners through work.
The advantage about online dating is that people can do it from home, and it does generate more dates.
It works best for older people and busy professionals who don't have the time or energy to do the club thing anymore.
February 14, 2008 at 2:53pm by Jason Falls
Contrary to the insinuation of the question, most people meet dates off-line. Would geeks ever get dates? That could be up for debate. Heh.
February 14, 2008 at 6:03pm by Carly Triche
I'm pretty sure if the internet didn't exist, people would be afraid to leave their houses, let alone spend a small portion of their spare time with a stranger over drinks or coffee if they didn't have the opportunity to stalk them on a social networking sight first. We all do it. Just admit it. Who doesn't want to know what they're in for?
February 14, 2008 at 6:07pm by Michael Louisfield
Why not? I cant share feelings online, can you?
February 14, 2008 at 6:23pm by Kathryn Collins
Absolutely! People got dates well before the internet existed and, frankly, I wish it was still that way. The internet should have no influence on our love lives what-so-ever. We should be interacting with others and meeting people face-to-face rather than on match.com!
February 14, 2008 at 10:01pm by Marc Stender
Humans managed to survive without Internet for quite a long time so...how do you think that happened Saabira?
Why embarrass Fastcompany with this question? What happened?
February 14, 2008 at 10:58pm by Subhashish Acharya
Hmmmm , Interesting question.
Thank God , someone dated "the Internet " ...........and there it is , someone made it stay. :)
February 18, 2008 at 7:23pm by Matt Halfhill
HaHa. I know for many they wouldn't but my wife and I met through my online job so I guess I owe a lot of thanks to the internet. :-)
February 19, 2008 at 9:19am by Tim Tymchyshyn
I don't know you wanna go out with me Saabira?