Q: I'm a 25-year-old man who's tried several Internet dating sites and none of them have worked. They claim to be scientific and only match people who are compatible, but everyone I've met either had nothing in common with me, wasn't attracted to me or went off the grid after one date. I'm ready to give up, but I'm not meeting people through work or social contacts either, so I don't know what to do.
STEVE: Don't take it personally. The dating failure rate is enormously high. The people who are most successful are the ones seeking the most opportunities. Trying things out with 10 people isn't nearly as effective as trying things out with 50 people. That means more rejections, of course, but coping with rejection is necessary to achieve success. Try one of those speed-dating events. For $25 or $35 you get drinks and hors d'oeurves and an eight- or 10-minute conversation with a number of single women. Afterward, everyone goes online and enters the info of anyone they'd like to see again. If the other person feels the same, there's a match and each person gets the contact information for the other. If you don't get at least one match, the next event is free. It's a fun way to increase your chances.
