Too Much Information
Variety is the spice of life
I think that well-known saying is true, but evidently, not everyone agrees. Well, not if the latest trend in dating websites is anything to go by. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no authority on this subject, but I did look up a few after my partner told me about a radio programme she heard last week. It was about women in the United States who are fedup with men who claim they don’t wish to have children because it would be bad for the environment.
The site is called, ‘Find a Right-wing Man.’ I’m guessing it assumes conservatives don’t worry too much about over population and the welfare of the planet, so they would be more likely to want kids. The site is far from unique. As a matter of fact, when I made my internet search over here in England, I found several similar pages including one that lists the top 13 sites for dating conservative men.
They seem to be just as popular in Europe as they are in the States and there are plenty of sites that help men find conservative women, although finding a mate who wants children doesn’t appear to be as important that way around. And, yes, there are dating sites in Botswana as well, but I drew the line at registering for any of them, so I don’t know if views on having children are included.
As you may have guessed, I have some concerns about these sites, and the reason I’m writing about them today is that I think the topic follows nicely from my last column. That may sound odd since that one was about the World Cup in Qatar… but I mean it.
My main point last time was that the competition may turn out to be a blessing for migrant workers, the gay community and for the rest of the nation. That’s because the World Cup has drawn international attention to the tiny Islamic state and provided a platform for protests that could lead to improved working conditions and other social reforms.
It has also forced the people who run Qatar to listen to criticism and, hopefully, to look at themselves and think about some of their long-held beliefs. And I’m hoping this football competition will be another example of how exposure to different ideas can lead to growth and tolerance.
That’s why I believe these dating sites, and other internet and social media sites that allow us to surround ourselves with like-minded people, may be causing problems. Yeah, I know, comparing these sites to repressive governments is a bit of a stretch, but I think they both promote narrowmindedness.
In my opinion, the key to getting along is a willingness to listen with an open mind so compromises can be found. That holds for relations between nations, relations between governments and the populations they govern, and for relationships between individuals.
It also gives the people involved in romantic relationships the best possible chance of changing and growing in the same direction. Besides, choosing to have children together seems like the kind of decision couples should make after they get to know each other, instead of before they decide to date.