With recently developed dating applications lately like Bang With Friends and Tinder and the rise in online dating websites, people have a lot of dating and premium hook up apps to pick and choose from. There’s a dating app for almost everyone, from Christians to lovers of video games or wine! Even for muslims who are very particular about their dating tactics. However, still, there really is a dating app for muslim marriage! With the sheer amount out there on the market, does that mean the chances to land a successful date are high as well?
I decided to catch up with a guy I interviewed three years ago who set off on a dating challenge. Dating Brian vowed to go on a date everyday for a month as an experiment and when I caught up with him, he was right in the middle of it. He was dating girls he’d met whilst out and girls he’s met online BBW Dating Sites. He was ignoring his “usual type” and dating various girls, hoping to find a significant other. Now three years later, he has completed the project and I wanted to know where he ended up! Dating Brian was so kind to answer my follow-up questions on how his dating style has changed, if he’s currently in a relationship now, and what he’s been up to.
Q: It’s been three years since we last talked and back then you were dating up a storm! More like one date every day for 30 days. I never got to chat with you after the Dating Brian project ended. How did that turn out?
Brian: Man, it really has been a while. It went well-got to meet a bunch of awesome ladies and chill out about the stress of dating. Also, got a job out of it!
Q: I remember that you went on a second date with one of the girls, how did that story pan out?
Brian: My last date of the project was going on a third date with her and we kept chatting a little bit afterwards. The interesting part: she met a couple of my friends and they still hang out to this day. So, I still see her from time to time.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2JGB6ULhjZ0]
Q: What were the most important things you learned about yourself and your dating style?
Brian: If I feel comfortable being silly with a girl, that’s a good sign. Sometimes I’d start a date and immediately feel like I have to be serious. If they are too serious it could mean they are incredibly stressed and end up holding on to something that could ruin any bedroom chemistry later one. When I met my now girlfriend (more below), I spent most of my side of the conversation just making fun of myself. I guess it worked?
Q: What dating lessons did you learn from the dates you went on?
Brian: I’ve found that I’ll know whether the girl I’m meeting is my type within about a minute of talking with them. Also, the obvious one: be yourself. Chill out. This other person is probably just as nervous and overthinking as you are.
Q: So you’re in a relationship…
Brian: I’m now in a relationship with an amazing girl I met at a party just over two years ago.
Q: Dating aside, what’s been going on in your life for the past 3 years?
Brian: Oh man. That’s been a majority of the time since I moved to NYC. A lot has happened-more dating, got a job because of the project, started a new job too, and made plenty of other lil’ internet things since then.
Q: I was reminded of you and our interview because of some new innovative dating startups recently. Have you checked them out? Would you use them?
Brian: I’ve seen things like HowAboutMe which I think are really interesting, though that was around when I did my project. Although I have a girlfriend now, I find the innovation in the dating area to be really interesting. It’s gotten so dull and it’s just asking for someone to swing by and knock all the others out of the water.
Q: Would you ever be open to another dating experiment again?
Brian: I think there’s a lot of room for others to do similar things, and not necessarily in dating. There was the guy that sold shares of his life for $1/share. Read about it here: http://www.wired.com/business/2013/03/ipo-man/all/ This kind of sacrificing-some-part-of-your-privacy-online-slash-reality-show thing is super interesting.
Q: How did you feel about having your personal life all over the internet? Was it weird or strangely comfortable?
Brian: I’ve always been super open with my information online. My face has awkwardly showed up in strange places all over the web completely out of my control and I honestly just find it funny. I started keeping track of it at http://brianontheinternet.tumblr.com/
Q: You said the biggest thing you might get out of this project was perspective. Well, how has your perspective changed?
Brian: It’s definitely changed. Dating is not the big deal that people make it out to be. It’s literally just meeting another person and if it works, it works on its own. There’s no forcing or faking you have to do to “be good at dating.” Just do stuff with cool people. The worst that could happen is you end up with an acquaintance.
Q: What’s next for your life in terms of dating, work, etc? When I interviewed you, you were 23 years old (that’s how old I am right now!) It’s crazy to think that you were doing all of this at my age. Where to next?
Brian: Work-just keep trying new fun stuff online. If it includes some sort of privacy invading project, I’m into it. I’m all about trying tons of little things and seeing what sticks.