The New Dating Game

It's interesting to see how dating games have evolved over the years. You think back to three girls or guys with the 'date' on the other side of a screen. He or she does not see faces but asks questions of the others, assigns them little projects (make me a valentines day gift or tell me how you'd plan a romantic evening). Today we are in the era of the Bachelor, Bachelorette, Joe Millionaire, and so on and so forth. I had the opportunity today to see a part of Flavor of Love, where Flavor Flav is looking for love.

Here's the thing though. Today's dating 'game' if you will is much more intricate and much more complex. These shows have a ton of contestants who actually get to interact with the "prize". In some instances this interaction leads to non-G rated activities that only serve to add to the intrigue. Mind you I watched most of this without sound (with captioning on) as I was at the Gym, but it definitely got me thinking about the type of person that would go on a reality dating show. There is nothing wrong with being the center of it - you're the prize, the ultimate, you're what everyone wants. But when it comes to being a contestant...what kind of people do this? Particularly when it's a bunch of women after a man. There is back-stabbing, gossip and non-stop cattiness. I guess some people like that stuff.

What struck me is this - Flav is not that attractive a guy. Not by my standards. Sure he's famous, sure he's whatever else he's supposed to be - but how far would I go to win his affections?? Probably not all that far. Doesn't help I don't find him particularly attractive, but even for a handsome person I wouldn't go that far. He has them work in his favorite restaurant cutting open chickens, serving people they don't know and doing all sorts of weird things just for a chance to have a date with him. Everything that someone else does for him is a personal affront to all the others, and rather than looking at him and deciding he is not worth the energy they squabble and bitch and practically scratch each others eyes out. Why why why?? What's the point? I don't get it at all! Sure it's great to be "the winner", but every woman acts like she was with him first and the others came into the picture later. He doesn't have to be with any of them, but they don't need to be with him! It's a little silly if you think about it. With Joe Millionaire - sure it's the money. But the Bachelor? The Bachelorette? Why are they so special? Food for thought...nothing more than that :)