Love.com
For better or for worse, the Internet is radically changing the dating scene in America
But what about the romance of it all? And the serendipity? Are we losing the stories of the chance meetings, locked eyes, loss of breath? Stephenie Murphy shrugs. "We live around the corner from a video store and a little grocery shop--that would have been a cute story, reaching for the same movie or something," she says. "But this is how you meet today."
And sometimes old-fashioned good luck plays the crucial role, even on the Web. Chris Castner did eventually meet the love of his life online, even though, he emphasizes, he "never had any trouble with the ladies" in the good old bar scene either. He saw Jill from Long Island's profile and asked her out. After a hectic day at work, Jill nearly canceled her date with Chris for the evening. But she rallied, pulled a favorite blouse out of the hamper, and "sprayed Fabreeze on it." She got stuck in traffic, got lost, and to top it all off was nearly hit head-on by a Mack truck. Yet they met, despite all that, and a few months later they were engaged. Today, they are married.
For her part, Stephenie Murphy feels that she got the best deal around. "I paid $100 and got a husband," she says. "Can't beat that." Especially not when that bargain comes with a bonus: a baby on the way, due in December.
Lucrative mates
U.S. customers spent $302 million on online dating services last year, more than any other Web category.
Online spending (in millions)
2001 2002
Games $47 $72
Personals/dating 72 302
Business content/investment 214 292
Entertainment/lifestyles 112 228
Research 58 107
Community-made directories 46 91
Source: comScore Networks
advertisement
