Sci Fi Speed Dating
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 7:58 pm
I realized I'm about a month late in reporting my experience with this, but work is kinda crazy and I forget to come here sometimes. I hung out with Paulo recently and realized I haven't really told anyone how it went besides the folks I was with at comic con. So, I had pre-registered online and had a slot at noon on Friday. I got there a little late and was apparently the last one to arrive. It was a little intimidating because the first thing I saw was the long line of guys outside the speed dating room. As I got my number tag, I also had to sign a waiver for TLC who would be filming the session for Geek Love. I had a couple of costumes lined up for that weekend and was dressed up like Triana from Venture Bros. that day (If I end up being on tv, look for the scared looking Latina Triana.)
I got on the ladies' line and then they had us all go in at once. There were about 30 pairs of chairs facing each other. Girls sit like lazy good for nothings. Guys had to go around the room in a zig zag as they shifted to the next seat every two minutes. I guess the atmosphere was what you would expect at this sort of thing. A mix of socially awkward people and weirdos really, really, really into stuff (me). We got a 4 page score card to keep track of our dates and note which people we liked. Here are some memborable ones:
2 - The Captain. He was nice and really mousy. It was a good warm-up because got to talk about comic books. He later turned into wtf creepy dude when I ran into him elsewhere later that day and he asked to take a photo because he liked my costume. He doesn't watch Venture Bros.
5 - Phantom of the Opera. This one was mainly into fantasy novels and we talked about Game of Thrones. He was probably the most awkward to talk to because it was really obvious how nervous he was, but mostly because a mask was covering half his face.
8 - The Dirty Brony. Probably the star of the show. He was definitely unshowered and hadn't brushed his long, thinning hair in weeks. He was wearing a Transformers t-shirt and stained sweatpants. He also identified himself as a brony and we explained to me why My Little Pony rules. I had a hard time looking at him in the face because he had a lazy eye and I wasn't sure which one to look at.
17 - Dark Knight Latin Lover Dude. This guy was really into Batman and got excited when I told him I was into Batman, as well. He kept leaning close and trying these Latin lover tricks. It got a little uncomfortable.
7 - Tween Homestuck. This "guy" was either really 14 years old or actually a woman. There was something definitely off about this person, but we were able to talk about stuff. S/he was dressed for some web comic I never read, so I mostly just asked questions about it.
14 - Dethklok Metal Dude. He was the only one who recognized my Triana costume, so that was cool. He was also the only one I talked about music, which was also a plus.
20 - Jimmy Olsen. Cameras were in my face during this date because TLC were focusing on him for the show. He was very good looking and obviously into Superman. We mostly talked about our tattoos, but didn't really have much to talk about other than that.
19 -Skyrim/Batman. I'm really into the new Conan that Brian Wood is writing, so my first reaction was that this guy was dressed at Conan because it's a little similar (he wasn't wearing the helmet). It was pretty easy talking to this one.
Everyone else I talked to were gamers and so there wasn't much to talk about since I don't really play video games. After about 2 hours of single nerd overload, we had to go to opposite sides of the room and leave our real names and contact info on the sheets belonging to the dates we liked. The men did the same. At the end, you collect your sheet and see if you got a perfect match. I got about 14 different numbers. There were a few perfect matches, but I ended up staying with Skyrim/Batman. He seemed like he had other interests besides all the nerd stuff and that was the balance I was looking. We've been on one date since and texted a couple of times, but I just wasn't feeling it afterwards. I was definitely wrong about the balance when I learned that he is actually a sort of professional cosplay/booth babe. The guy is super muscular and enters competitions wearing a bunch of spandex. It was also like pulling teeth trying to make conversation during our date. Oh well. I probably should have gone with Dethklok guy. He was cuddle fat and I probably wouldn't have to be around him in spandex.
I didn't have any expectations and had a good time. I thought about doing another session the next day, but it takes up a huge chunk of time and there was loads I wanted to see. If any of you single nerds end up at a sci/fi/comic convention and they're there, I recommend it. They're very organized and super friendly.
I got on the ladies' line and then they had us all go in at once. There were about 30 pairs of chairs facing each other. Girls sit like lazy good for nothings. Guys had to go around the room in a zig zag as they shifted to the next seat every two minutes. I guess the atmosphere was what you would expect at this sort of thing. A mix of socially awkward people and weirdos really, really, really into stuff (me). We got a 4 page score card to keep track of our dates and note which people we liked. Here are some memborable ones:
2 - The Captain. He was nice and really mousy. It was a good warm-up because got to talk about comic books. He later turned into wtf creepy dude when I ran into him elsewhere later that day and he asked to take a photo because he liked my costume. He doesn't watch Venture Bros.
5 - Phantom of the Opera. This one was mainly into fantasy novels and we talked about Game of Thrones. He was probably the most awkward to talk to because it was really obvious how nervous he was, but mostly because a mask was covering half his face.
8 - The Dirty Brony. Probably the star of the show. He was definitely unshowered and hadn't brushed his long, thinning hair in weeks. He was wearing a Transformers t-shirt and stained sweatpants. He also identified himself as a brony and we explained to me why My Little Pony rules. I had a hard time looking at him in the face because he had a lazy eye and I wasn't sure which one to look at.
17 - Dark Knight Latin Lover Dude. This guy was really into Batman and got excited when I told him I was into Batman, as well. He kept leaning close and trying these Latin lover tricks. It got a little uncomfortable.
7 - Tween Homestuck. This "guy" was either really 14 years old or actually a woman. There was something definitely off about this person, but we were able to talk about stuff. S/he was dressed for some web comic I never read, so I mostly just asked questions about it.
14 - Dethklok Metal Dude. He was the only one who recognized my Triana costume, so that was cool. He was also the only one I talked about music, which was also a plus.
20 - Jimmy Olsen. Cameras were in my face during this date because TLC were focusing on him for the show. He was very good looking and obviously into Superman. We mostly talked about our tattoos, but didn't really have much to talk about other than that.
19 -Skyrim/Batman. I'm really into the new Conan that Brian Wood is writing, so my first reaction was that this guy was dressed at Conan because it's a little similar (he wasn't wearing the helmet). It was pretty easy talking to this one.
Everyone else I talked to were gamers and so there wasn't much to talk about since I don't really play video games. After about 2 hours of single nerd overload, we had to go to opposite sides of the room and leave our real names and contact info on the sheets belonging to the dates we liked. The men did the same. At the end, you collect your sheet and see if you got a perfect match. I got about 14 different numbers. There were a few perfect matches, but I ended up staying with Skyrim/Batman. He seemed like he had other interests besides all the nerd stuff and that was the balance I was looking. We've been on one date since and texted a couple of times, but I just wasn't feeling it afterwards. I was definitely wrong about the balance when I learned that he is actually a sort of professional cosplay/booth babe. The guy is super muscular and enters competitions wearing a bunch of spandex. It was also like pulling teeth trying to make conversation during our date. Oh well. I probably should have gone with Dethklok guy. He was cuddle fat and I probably wouldn't have to be around him in spandex.
I didn't have any expectations and had a good time. I thought about doing another session the next day, but it takes up a huge chunk of time and there was loads I wanted to see. If any of you single nerds end up at a sci/fi/comic convention and they're there, I recommend it. They're very organized and super friendly.
