It seems like wherever I go or whatever I’m doing, I am surrounded by love birds.
Our country has an entire day dedicated to love – Valentine’s Day.
The holiday is undoubtedly one that people either love or hate. Cynics hate Valentine’s, but couples adore it.
It seems virtually impossible to walk through campus on Valentine’s Day without witnessing couples hugging, kissing and exchanging gifts.
It can be hard to take the holiday seriously when it seems to revolve around hideous giant pink teddy bears, tacky Mylar balloons and boxes of Whitman’s chocolate.
This time of year, girls and guys alike seem to constantly talk about their significant other.
I feel like every preview of an upcoming movie is for a predictable love story.
The plot is always as follows: they meet, fall in love, hate each other and then fall in love again.
When I turn on the radio, nine times out of ten, a sappy love song is playing.
Society has fallen madly in love with love.
The concept of love itself is inexplicable.
Love is supposed to be this amazing experience that makes people feel like they’re dancing on clouds.
Some individuals develop the unrealistic, romanticized notion that they will find their soul mate when Cupid pops out of nowhere and strikes them with his magic golden arrow.
People become obsessed with finding “the one” and why shouldn’t they?
Every movie, song and television show in America seems to be telling people to find someone.
At times, people are so desperate to find “their special someone” that they resort to measures like online dating.
People can date online by filling out a profile with their likes and dislikes, what they look for in a mate, their own physical description and pictures.
This week, I was talking with a fellow student who met her significant other on the Internet.
This student claims to be “completely in love” and couldn’t be happier.
To me, this concept seemed ludicrous. A commercial came on TV for Match.com shortly after our discussion and my friend dared me to make a profile and just see what happens.
As I was laughing about how ridiculous the whole concept seemed, I accepted the dare and made a profile.
In two days, I had 50 or so e-mails and hundreds of profile views.
Some of the people on the website seemed to be normal; perhaps they were too career-oriented or busy to find someone any other way.
Other people were incredibly creepy.
When someone sent me an e-mail stating, “I have a 1.5 inch penis and I just really want a girl who won’t judge,” I knew it was time to end my joke and delete my Match.com profile.
The truth is sites like Match.com, eHarmony and Chemistry.com take advantage of the fact that people are vulnerable and lonely.
Then, they attempt to rob them blind because of it.
Being a member of these sites costs money and if you are not careful when you sign up they will lock you into a six-month contract.
I noticed that the site had multiple buttons that users could click in order to receive additional services.
For example, if you want to see if someone read an e-mail you sent them, it’s an extra $5 per month.
I cannot deny that people truly do find love online.
I don’t think online dating is effective, but it is not my place to judge.
Honestly, it makes sense that people feel the need to find love. Society has an entire holiday dedicated to love, every movie is about love, celebrity’s love lives fill the tabloids and single people are constantly portrayed as lonely and pathetic.
Given these circumstances, why wouldn’t people feel a dire need to find love?
I do not like how the media preys on vulnerable people, making them feel as if there’s some sort of a rush to find “the one” before it’s too late.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being in love and being in a relationship – it is an amazing thing.
However, there is also absolutely nothing wrong with being single and buying yourself a nice gift on Valentine’s Day!
I believe it is more beneficial for one to fall in love with their goals and aspirations before falling in love with love.
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