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Older singles try speed dates
The Washington Times ^ | 12-11-05 | Kristen Wyatt

Posted on 12/12/2005 11:14:17 AM PST by JZelle

BERLIN, Md. -- Forgive Charles Walsh if he is a little slow to join the world of speed dating. The 55-year-old divorced father hasn't even been to an evening social event in nearly a decade. "I was married for 20 years, and now I'm nervous," said Mr. Walsh, who preferred to sip a beer at the bar and watch about 50 older adults in this beachside town try speed dating, an adult mixer where men and women are paired for a few minutes of get-to-know-you chat before they switch partners. Older Americans are joining young urban singles in impressive numbers looking for love through speed-dating events and online personals sites. Match.com, a popular dating Web site, says registrations among people older than age 50 have increased by 340 percent since 2000. On Maryland's Eastern Shore, where the roads are dotted with ads for new retirement communities, the changing senior-dating scene is evident. The speed-dating event Mr. Walsh attended was set up by Mingling Singles, a group that has tripled in membership since its creation just two months ago. Another group near Ocean City, Beach Singles, has 150 members, all older than 45, with a new chapter planned in nearby Salisbury. Then there's the Merry Widows and Widowers Social Club in Ocean City. "The seniors are pouring down here," said Lois West, 71, secretary of Beach Singles. "They move here for the beach, but then they don't know anybody."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: dating; getaroom; meatmarket; singles; speeddating
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1 posted on 12/12/2005 11:14:17 AM PST by JZelle
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To: JZelle

Ugh.


2 posted on 12/12/2005 11:16:03 AM PST by johnny7 (“You have a corpse in a car, minus a head, in the garage. Take me to it.”)
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To: JZelle

Nope, not going there.....


3 posted on 12/12/2005 11:16:35 AM PST by NRA1995 (Jesus is the reason for the season)
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To: JZelle

Minute Man meets Minute Maid!


4 posted on 12/12/2005 11:17:48 AM PST by Semper Paratus
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To: JZelle
Soooooo.....Dentu Cream or Polygrip?
5 posted on 12/12/2005 11:21:31 AM PST by Gay State Conservative
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To: JZelle
men and women are paired for a few minutes of get-to-know-you chat before they switch partners.

LOL!!!
Wouldn't take me long:
"You like to fly in small aircraft?"
"You a member of the Mile High Club?"
"Wanna be?"

6 posted on 12/12/2005 11:22:12 AM PST by grobdriver (Let the embeds check the bodies!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

"Depends."

"Depends on what?"

"No, Depends."


7 posted on 12/12/2005 11:23:30 AM PST by Tall_Texan (Santa Claus is an illegal alien.)
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To: JZelle

Merry Widows make for merrier widowers.

8 posted on 12/12/2005 11:23:58 AM PST by LongElegantLegs (Nellie wants a story-book; she thinks dolls are folly)
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To: JZelle

Not that it ever died out, but Americans really should polish up their matchmaking skills, and I don't mean recommending friends for blind dates either (that often doesn't turn out too well). Does anybody still throw dances or parties with a view to allowing all their already vetted unattached acquaintances the opportunity to meet each other? The problem with speed dating and Internet dating sites is the lack of vetting by those whose judgment and character you already trust, and who have no financial angle to work.


9 posted on 12/12/2005 11:25:20 AM PST by Cecily
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To: JZelle

"OK, you have 15 minutes to convince me why I should date you."

10 posted on 12/12/2005 11:30:06 AM PST by martin_fierro (No dignity in old age)
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To: Cecily
I would tend to agree with you although you still don't know the person until you spend time with them. I ended a 1 yr relationship with a woman who professed to be a born again Christian and a conservative. The more time I spent with her, it became clear she was neither. When she stated she didn't care for Ann Coulter (who I said was a great American), I knew that was the end and I began noticing many liberal tendacies such as dishonesty and unfaithfulness.

God, that was a nightmare and a lesson learned!!! Christmas holidays are a bit tougher this time but I have high hopes for the future!!!

11 posted on 12/12/2005 11:31:51 AM PST by newfreep
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To: JZelle

Why is this different than the bar scene of any age?


12 posted on 12/12/2005 11:33:03 AM PST by Fawn (http://www.stickdeath.com/bank.htm)
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To: JZelle
I created profiles on some of the on-line services.

I started getting contacts from women my age, so I deleted my profiles.

13 posted on 12/12/2005 11:35:49 AM PST by ASA Vet (Condi "Iron Butterfly" Rice in 08)
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To: ASA Vet
I started getting contacts from women my age, so I deleted my profiles.

What? You posted your real age?

14 posted on 12/12/2005 12:07:04 PM PST by Constitutionalist Conservative (Have you visited http://c-pol.blogspot.com?)
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To: newfreep

You are right. Sometimes even people you meet in a church congregation known to be on the conservative side and who you assume are of a like mind as you turn out not to be.


15 posted on 12/12/2005 12:48:33 PM PST by Cecily
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To: JZelle
"I was married for 20 years, and now I'm nervous," said Mr. Walsh

I can relate to that. I recall how nervous I was, three years after my wife of 30 years died, when some good friends "fixed me up" with a friend of theirs. She was a fine person, but the "chemistry" just wasn't there, and we went our separate ways.

16 posted on 12/12/2005 1:01:01 PM PST by JoeFromSidney (My book is out. Read excerpts at www.thejusticecooperative.com)
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To: JZelle

I had visions of a couple of seats at a NASCAR event.


17 posted on 12/12/2005 1:09:58 PM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch ist der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: ASA Vet
I started getting contacts from women my age, so I deleted my profiles.

So you are a dirty old man trolling for college girls??

18 posted on 12/12/2005 8:46:38 PM PST by apackof2 (You can stand me up at the gates of hell, I'll stand my ground and I won’t back down)
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To: apackof2

You said that like it's a bad thing..... lol.


19 posted on 12/12/2005 8:54:56 PM PST by ASA Vet (Condi "Iron Butterfly" Rice in 08)
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To: johnny7

You need a blindfold for the key party.

The movie Ice Storm. Dubba Ughaaa


20 posted on 12/12/2005 8:57:04 PM PST by beaver fever
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