How to Survive the Relationship Apocalypse:
CBC Radio | CBC | Posted: March 24, 2016 7:37 PM | Last Updated: March 24, 2016
Whether you're online searching for love, sex, or money, the risqué or the religious, our romantic relationships are changing rapidly with the evolution of the Internet and digital media. But is it a revolution, or an apocalypse?! And has the popularity of online hook-up culture put your relationships at risk?
In this one hour special, host Jamey Ordolis and producer Mieke Anderson talk to everyone from cheaters to biological anthropologists, to app creators, to 'sexpert' Dan Savage (and many more) to find out how to survive and thrive as we search for love – and other arrangements – in the digital era.
In this one hour special, host Jamey Ordolis and producer Mieke Anderson talk to everyone from cheaters to biological anthropologists, to app creators, to 'sexpert' Dan Savage (and many more) to find out how to survive and thrive as we search for love – and other arrangements – in the digital era.
Featured in this hour:
"I'm here to tell you: the one is not out there. You have no perfect match!"
- Dan Savage, nationally syndicated sex and relationship advice columnist, writer of Savage Love and host of the Savage Lovecast.
"I think the internet is one of the largest changes since the agricultural revolution in our understanding of people's romantic and sexual lives today."
- Professor Justin Garcia, Assistant Professor of Gender Studies and Associate Director of Research and Education at The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and a scientific advisor to Match.com
"The biggest [problem] is what is called cognitive overload. The problem is when you have what you regard as an endless number of alternatives, you end up choosing none."
- Helen Fisher, PhD., biological anthropologist, a Senior Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute and Chief Scientific Advisor to the dating site Match.com. Helen's book Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray has just been updated and re-released.
"Sugar Daddies are not paying for anything, they're actually gifting."
- Brook Urick is a former "Sugar Baby", who now works for the site Seeking Arrangement, where she runs their blog: "Let's Talk Sugar". Instagram: @LetsTalkSugar
- Professor Justin Garcia, Assistant Professor of Gender Studies and Associate Director of Research and Education at The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and a scientific advisor to Match.com
"The biggest [problem] is what is called cognitive overload. The problem is when you have what you regard as an endless number of alternatives, you end up choosing none."
- Helen Fisher, PhD., biological anthropologist, a Senior Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute and Chief Scientific Advisor to the dating site Match.com. Helen's book Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray has just been updated and re-released.
"Sugar Daddies are not paying for anything, they're actually gifting."
- Brook Urick is a former "Sugar Baby", who now works for the site Seeking Arrangement, where she runs their blog: "Let's Talk Sugar". Instagram: @LetsTalkSugar
"Hookups are a way to make yourself feel less lonely for that point in time. But you deserve so much more."
- Alicia Kozakiewicz, founder of The Alicia Project, an advocacy group that raises awareness about online predators, abduction and child sexual exploitation.
- Alicia Kozakiewicz, founder of The Alicia Project, an advocacy group that raises awareness about online predators, abduction and child sexual exploitation.
"All we did was take your auntie and uncle out of the equation."
- Khalil Jessa, creator of Salaam Swipe - a Tinder-style dating app for Muslims.
- Khalil Jessa, creator of Salaam Swipe - a Tinder-style dating app for Muslims.
"I've encountered a lot of exotification, especially when it comes to my head scarf."
- Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, founding editor-in-chief of the online magazine MuslimGirl.com.
- Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, founding editor-in-chief of the online magazine MuslimGirl.com.
Special thanks to everyone else who shared their stories of love in the digital age from the show.
And here's some additional advice that we didn't have time for in the show from biological anthropologist Helen Fisher.
Helen Fisher's Do's and Don'ts for Online Dating
When choosing your profile pictures:
DO: Send and many pictures as you can, doing many different things. At home, at the office working, something that shows your interests.
DON'T: Do not show pictures of you drinking and throwing up. Do not show your drugs, your drinks. Do not show pictures of you hugging another man. Don't show your children. You can show a pet, that's rather appealing.
When writing your online dating bio:
DO: Well the characteristic thing is, "I love walking on the beach, holding hands and I like sitting in front of the fire with a drink." Well, everybody likes that! [Share] details of your life: "I like going to the opera. Last year I went to Laos and went up the Mekong with some locals and learned about their culture. I read the poetry of Byron and Shelley". Details, details, details.
DON'T: Don't talk about your exes. Never talk about your past relationships.
When using emojis:
DO: The three most popular emojis are the kiss, the wink and the smiley face - start with them. But I would do something a bit more original. I rather like the dancing woman with all the fruit on her head.
DON'T: Don't be boring. Pick the interesting ones.
When coming up with that perfect opening line:
DO: Say, "I'm eager to hear from you!"
DON'T: Don't talk about your exes.
When sending a naked picture of yourself:
DO: Delete.
DON'T: Don't send a naked photo of yourself. Period. You're certainly sending the message that you're
ready for sex, that's for one. If a man has a woman who's too sexy, he's going to have to spend his life guarding her from other men - it's called mate guarding. That's not very appealing.
When trying the land that second date:
DO: Go have sushi. It's remarkable how having sushi gets you to the second date. Our annual study with Match.com called Singles in America compared over 1700 people who had made it to the second date with 2100 people who only had a first date. It's the biggest study of second dates in the world. I don't know why sushi gets you to the second date but it's sophisticated, it's expensive and it's easy to share. And one of the hallmarks of the human animal is sharing food.
DON'T: Don't order water for dinner. Having a cocktail with dinner is even better than having beer or wine. I guess singles feel that you're going to be more flexible and warm up a bit if you drink with them.
When looking for love online:
DO: Get past the first date. Don't over wait. Get to the second date. The more you get to know them, the more you like them.
DON'T: Don't keep swiping. After meeting nine people, focus on one of them to get to know better.
You can find the host of this special, Jamey Ordolis, on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and check out her blog at Empirella.com.
The show was produced and tech'd by Mieke Anderson and she's on Twitter @radio_addict.