I Love You, Let's Meet Adventures in Online Dating
by Virginia Vitzthum
Published by Little, Brown and Company
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Reviewed By Michele E. Davis
Vitzthum quotes psychologist Abraham Maslow's to-do list for true individuation.
"He says you have to get things straight with your family, your friends, you find your career, and only then when you're a whole person on your own, can you be part of a successful relationship. Until then you're just these broken pieces."
This rings true in the commoditization of the web and online dating sites. There are over 1,000 online dating sites in the States and approximately 25% of the population has used them at least once in their lives. But are all the gimmicky questionnaires, perky advice on how to write a better email, or use different lighting for your photo really helping the shopping-cart mentality of dating in cyber space?
For her book Vitzthum interviewed dozens of daters between 25-70 years old, gay or straight; men and women; married and single; and everyone in between. She herself online dated as well. Her opinions and observations are astute and intelligent. She says that the big online dating sites are discouraging a dater to be more honest, confessional and curious. They warn you that you will be shunned, because the adage that you're fine the way you are never sold anything to anyone. Even with this mentality the online dating industry is a $56 billion dollar-a-year money generator along with a yearly creep of 6%, which is higher than inflation. Perhaps people want to believe that they can find their one true love online, instead of waiting for that person to pick up the same artichoke you did at Trader Joe's.
Interesting, documentary-style, creative non-fiction book that takes a microscope to the online dating world and gives it a good flouncing.
Armchair Interviews says: Read it for the laughs.