Ten years ago when I moved to New York City, I discovered the miracle that is Craigslist. I also discovered rats, roaches as big as rats, and roommates who do not bathe, but that’s another blog. Craigslist or CL as we savvy insiders call it is an invaluable resource to a busy city dweller. You can find apartments, jobs, roommates, community groups and even people on CL. Oh yes, I said people. Using CL I met a group of female friends, a roommate or two I still keep in touch with, sports buddies to go to games with and the occasional romantic interest. It’s this last that I’m interested in today. Internet dating is no longer a radical idea and there are hundreds of genuine, relationship minded people on CL hoping to meet someone they really connect with, but there are also skanky, let’s hook up types and I love the shit out of every one of them.
Casual Encounters is what they call it and your choices range from men and women seeking each other, same sex couples seeking each other, those seeking threesomes or larger groups, couples seeking other couples and pre and post-op trannies seeking everything in between. I love the openness and freedom this posters seem to feel and I love even more the ads with pictures. It sounds strange, but I’m not talking about the graphic photos of genitalia or specific acts and those do exist. The ads that amuse me most are those that specifically list the type of encounter they are seeking, note their involvement in a long-term relationship and then post a photo . . . OF THEIR FACE!
I’m not prude, I’ve had my share of casual encounters precipitated by too much alcohol, darkly lit bars and loneliness, but in a face-to-face encounter the collateral damage is minimal. The internet, as some of you may have heard, is pretty popular so if you post an ad looking for a casual hook up while also stating you live with your partner and then post a headshot of yourself, you are asking for trouble. Well actually, I might be understating it a bit. If you do the above you are a complete freaking moron and your relationship is likely not long for this world.
I read these ads on a semi-regular basis. I know other people who read these ads. We read them because they are funny and entertaining in a voyeuristic, yes I’m going to judge you, sort of way. I’m not a fan of reality TV, magazines or beach read books, so I get my cheese in different places, but that is exactly what CL is when it comes to these ads. The casual encounters listings are hands down the craziest shit on the internet because they are real and people seem to think no one they might know is ever going to see them.
Well, I’ve got news for you, I see them and if I run across a pic of you and your partner is my friend or family member we’re going to have an issue. If that scenario does not happen, however, I’m happy for the mindless entertainment and judgment it allows me. I make no secret of my fondness for porn or real life sex, for that matter. Sex is a part of human nature and we all have certain urges we need or want satisfied. You want to find loving online, knock yourself out, it’s not any worse than a bar, but be smart people. It takes the fun out of it for those of us reading for enjoyment’s sake when I begin to view you as a real person and worry that your partner is going to get and be publicly humiliated. As long as everyone plays by the rules and keeps it anonymous, it’s just fun reading. It’s like porn for the extremely stupid and I can dig that.
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