It seems that no holiday is safe from the cyberworld.
BlueMountain.com recently conducted an online survey of more than 800 consumers to examine how they express their feelings within relationships. The survey found many male respondents suffer writer’s block when it’s time to personalize their Valentine’s Day cards.
Only 55 percent of men said they planned to include love notes with their card. And shockingly, 27 percent will take their cue from John Hancock and just “sign my name.” Conversely, 79 percent of women planned to personalize their cards with heartfelt sentiments.
So, for anyone who has trouble expressing their softer side, BlueMountain.com, an e-card leader, has added a new Create & Print feature to its Web site. With several keystrokes, the writer can visually customize a Valentine. In addition to pasting in existing art, the tongue-tied author can insert photos or other visual elements into the text.
“It’s not that men aren’t romantic or creative but many get stalled trying to put thoughts into words that might seem corny,” said Sharon Schneider, senior vice president and general manager, Greetings Business Unit, BlueMountain.com. “We know many men are computer savvy so we
wanted to create an opportunity for them to e-mote!”
But, what is more interesting this Valentine’s Day is a poll — conducted by Match.com — that found 8 percent of singles surveyed admitted they went on a first date with someone, only to find out they had dated that person in the past.
Huh?
In the January 2004 survey of more than 800 single adults, 36 percent also indicated they’ve asked someone out on a second “first date” in hopes of amending a first “first date” faux pas.
“First dates can be magical and memorable at best and disastrous and quite forgettable at worst,” said Trish McDermott, Match.com’s Vice President of romance and resident dating expert.
The survey also found that:
- Great dates are more memorable than bad dates.
- Great chemistry and great conversation are most likely to make a date memorable.
- Both men and women think their counterparts should concentrate on being themselves rather than trying to be impressive on a first date.
- 69 percent believe a sense of humor is an important part of the attraction formula.
- 62 percent said the sound of a date’s laughter is a romantic turn-on.
- 58 percent believe taking a date to a comedy film is a good way to check for a sense of humor compatibility.
Cindy Chupack, writer and executive producer for HBO’s “Sex and the City,” teamed up with the new Colga Simply White Advanced Whitening Toothpaste to find out what singles were doing on dates. “Lack of chemistry” got the most votes. Forty percent of respondents said someone who smokes would likely not get a second date.
“First dates are all about first impressions, but sometimes you get lost in your checklist of what you thought you wanted versus what you’ve got in front of you,” Chupack said. “I recommend you take The Smile Test.’ I think the best test of whether someone is kissable or dismissible is whether you’re involuntarily smiling during the date … and not because you can’t wait to tell your friends how bad it was.
“In our busy lives, time is really of the essence,” Chupack concluded. “So make the most out of that first date. Go into it with plan to meet a friend around the corner in a half-hour.”
So, whether it’s your first date, your “second” first date or your 50th anniversary, just remember to make a good impression.
