Most of us aren't lucky enough to meet the love of our life in high school, stay with them through college, get married after graduation and pop out a few little ones. While I wish it was that easy, it's just not realistic anymore.
Women are more focused on their careers, getting married later in life. Men aren't ready to "settle down" in their early 20s, they want to spread their seeds for awhile first. Inevitably, a large majority wind up in the dating scene. I've done it myself and it's no walk in the park. It's easier to date people you know for awhile first, are more comfortable around and build a bond with over time. But how often does that really happen? Those aren't odds I'm willing to bet on.
This is where the internet has come into play. Making it easier to find people who are looking for that special someone just like you. Although, a first date with someone you've only seen a picture of is a little intimidating. Yet millions of people are doing it. From match.com to eHarmony couples are hooking up like bunny rabbits. Why? Everyone wants somebody to love and quite a few aren't willing to leave it up to fate. And recently, some are going as far as letting a DNA test figure it all out for them.
Yes, people around the country are getting their blood drawn to find love. Dating sites? They're old hat. The traditional first date leading up to marriage? Why bother? Love is in your genes, or rather your immune system according to ScientficMatch.com. Not only are you guaranteed not to marry your 3rd cousin, but ladies - according to the site "women tend to enjoy a higher rate of orgasms with their partner". Sign me up!
One study they did involved sweaty t-shirts. Guys were asked to wear the same shirt to bed every day for a week without washing it. Women in the study had to take a whiff of each shirt and rate how much they liked the smell. The results? The higher the woman rated the scent, the closer the match between her immune system DNA and that of the man who wore said shirt.
Seriously? Yes, seriously. I can't make this stuff up.
I've always been a believer in the "to each their own" philosophy. You've known him two weeks and you're running away together to Vegas?! Congratulations, I hope you're still married in 5 years. Having an arranged marriage to a man you've never met? Have fun, I hope he doesn't leave the toilet seat up. But this? Having SCIENCE decide who you would be most compatible with? I don't know if I'm buying it.
However, "you have a greater chance of a more satisfying sex life" they say. Can you put that in writing?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Love At First... DNA Test?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
42 comments:
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't participate in that study. Ew.
Interesting, although pheromones are pretty potent.
I can just see it now: My (hypothetical) kids enter the dating scene and all I hear is "Well mom, you and dad met the old fashioned way and that's just not how we do things anymore."
"old fashioned" meaning "we were neighbors and didn't use the Internet or science to find each other."
Sigh.
When I first read your title, I thought your post was going to be about those siblings (twins?) that were separated at birth and adopted. They met later in life, fell madly in love and got married. How heart-wrenching would that be??
I don't like to have my blood drawn. I am guess that is going to be a problem?
I'm all for internet dating - heck, it's how I met my fiance. But ... I hated eHarmony because it took the choosing out of my hands. I'm guessing I'd hate even more some scientific bull crap ... great sex does not always make for a great marriage.
Nilsa makes an excellent point. However, the scent thing is very true for me. I shall blog about it today, in fact!
ew this is so weird, if this is how our society is going, I just don't get it!
I read about this back in University. Something about people beging attracted to people who arent' genetically like them. It's supposed to cut down on gentic diseases. But hey if gives a "higher rate of orgaisms" it's gotta be worth a try ;o)
The world has officially gone crazy! OMG that is funny! What happened to getting drunk and waking up next to someone, then marrying them? That is my kinda match!
wow. well, ive done the e-dating business (and well, that didn't totally pan out), but was fun for what it was. but science? hmm... not sure i'd be totally game for that. interesting stuff.
ahem, especially the last line. that might be the bait id need...
I've heard of this before and I think it is completely ridiculous! I'd rather do things the old fashion way than let some doctor tell me who I should be with based on my blood. Eww!
I have actually been told before that if I don't like the smell of Torsten's sweat, it means our marriage won't last. People have all sorts of charming theories, don't they?
this is hilarious, although i think i'd rather take my chances at finding love without any scientific hocus pocus!
and - i'm glad that i didn't meet the love of my life in high school! i'm much happier with whom i am at 29 and single than i think i'd be at 29 and married 7 years with a couple of kids!
this is hilarious, although i think i'd rather take my chances at finding love without any scientific hocus pocus!
and - i'm glad that i didn't meet the love of my life in high school! i'm much happier with whom i am at 29 and single than i think i'd be at 29 and married 7 years with a couple of kids!
I can't say I've ever heard of that. Kind of creepy? OK Really creepy. I don't even buy the whole internet dating (and yet i do it myself!!) because so many people fudge on what they actually like so how can they accurately match someone up? Anyway its all about chemistry when your'e together. And not just the DNA kind.
that? is insane. DNA testing for love matches?! WHAT?!
Wow. That is just...wow. I love the wording, too "have a greater chance of a more satisfying sex life". Now that's just perfectly vague :)
I can honestly say I've never heard of this before.. and I would probably never try it either. You can't let the rest of your life be decided by science.. that's crazy!
Yup, it's a personal choice for sure. For me, it seems that I always seem to date men i've worked with. I've just never had success with blind dates or online dating. At least from an online dating standpoint, it just seems like a whole project I need to add to my life, and my life is too full enough. But, on the same token, for the first time in my single career, I could care a less on meeting anyone right now. I still wonder if that feeling will ever pass and I feel like being with someone again...
I get the concept, but just because you rank one scent higher doesn't mean you find it pleasing. I would need a set of a million shirts to sniff before I found the one that was appealing enough.
Umm I don't really know how I feel about this, haha. Basing love connections off of scent of sweat, seems just a wee bit far fetched.
I've never heard of it before, and I wouldn't try it. As someone who has attempted online dating and blind dates, I think it's really all about chance.
I failed Chemistry in High School, so I would be TERRIFIED to try to find love this way!!!
.....
Yeah, I don't buy it. Personally I think there is more to love than smelly T-shirts and even (gasp!) mind blowing sex. I need to be able to connect with someone over something more than sex with a side of armpit stink.
Great post.
xox
I think if you can find two people are willing to sign up for a study where you sniff dirty shirts, it doesn't matter how they rate them, those two are perfect for each other.
I wonder if there are DNA tests to prove that your NOT compatible with your current significant other?
Hhmmm..
I don't subscribe to that kind of stuff either, its like everyone needs a scientific explanation for everything. And how does that determine compatibility? It sounds like attraction. In my opinion, the key to a long lasting marriage is two people who are willing and able to make it work, that is pretty key.
this seems a bit crazy. however it does make sense in the we have "chemistry" between us kind of way. as someone else said pheremones play a big part in who we are attracted to - it's just not really brought to our attention the way this site is doing. but getting blood drawn to find a partner seems a bit excessive i think.
haha. this is so crazy!
Um.
Seriously?
WTF.
Okay, so yes, this all sounds a little weird... however... I just might be desperate enough to give it a shot. What can it hurt, right? And if it results in a greater sex life, why the hell not? ;)
That is the most unromantic matchmaking process I've ever heard of!!!
Better sex life? THAT is a double blind study I'd like to see!
WTF is that all about. you know this will be a segment on dr phil or something!
Woooow. That is INSANE. But i'd totally try it. why the hell not.
I buy it.. totally. I absolutely LOVE my husband's natural smell ...
i have no words.
Wow. For some reason, it reminds me of Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton wearing vials of each other's blood around their necks. Yuck!
Okay first of all, that is the craziest thing I've ever heard of. People pay for this stuff?! And you know, it's certainly not USUAL for people to meet their love in high school, stay together, and eventually get married, but it is POSSIBLE. You know, if it's meant to be. ;)
One of the sociology classes I took in high school discussed this. A girl did an entire researched based project which was out to prove that the increase in use of perfume/cologne was indirectly responsible for the increase in the divorce rate. Totally far fetched, but there was scientific research backing up the notion that perfume/cologne masks natural pheromones! I'm a total nerd and love science, so this completely fascinates me! Ha!
I wouldn't doubt that this whole DNA matching business would be likely to identify potential mates, but that doesn't mean you can't determine the same thing through other means!
very interesting and thhought provoking blogs.. Love the blogs..Keep up the good work.. Will ube my friend..Visit my blogs too and feel free to leave your comments and be my friend..
Post a Comment