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Dating Is Dead | Kevin Carr | TEDxWilmingtonSalon


so here’s the bad news

so here’s the bad news dating is dead in fact many of the

dating is dead in fact many of the

dating is dead in fact many of the practices that we’ve grown accustomed to

practices that we’ve grown accustomed to

practices that we’ve grown accustomed to the ones that we’ve read about and

the ones that we’ve read about and

the ones that we’ve read about and watched on TV often fantasized about

watched on TV often fantasized about

watched on TV often fantasized about they don’t exist anymore so what does

they don’t exist anymore so what does

they don’t exist anymore so what does that mean for what is now America’s

that mean for what is now America’s

that mean for what is now America’s largest generation Millennials what does

largest generation Millennials what does

largest generation Millennials what does that mean for love what are my chances

that mean for love what are my chances

that mean for love what are my chances of finding love what does that mean for

of finding love what does that mean for

of finding love what does that mean for sex I mean listen Dayton is one-day sex

sex I mean listen Dayton is one-day sex

sex I mean listen Dayton is one-day sex is still alive right

is still alive right

is still alive right and if dating is dead then who’s the

and if dating is dead then who’s the

and if dating is dead then who’s the blame apparently me and not to point the

blame apparently me and not to point the

blame apparently me and not to point the finger many of you in the audience the

finger many of you in the audience the

finger many of you in the audience the Millennials

Millennials

Millennials they call us the hook-up generation if

they call us the hook-up generation if

they call us the hook-up generation if you google the words Millennials and

you google the words Millennials and

you google the words Millennials and dating together you’ll come up with all

dating together you’ll come up with all

dating together you’ll come up with all type of headlines the end of courtship

type of headlines the end of courtship

type of headlines the end of courtship the Millennials and their dating rules

the Millennials and their dating rules

the Millennials and their dating rules tender and the dawn of the dating

tender and the dawn of the dating

tender and the dawn of the dating apocalypse they really thought about

apocalypse they really thought about

apocalypse they really thought about that one now content like this is it

that one now content like this is it

that one now content like this is it without merit but it also isn’t an

without merit but it also isn’t an

without merit but it also isn’t an accurate reflection of the whole picture

accurate reflection of the whole picture

accurate reflection of the whole picture it’s more like alternative facts now

it’s more like alternative facts now

it’s more like alternative facts now unless you’ve been living off of the

unless you’ve been living off of the

unless you’ve been living off of the grid for say the past decade or so you

grid for say the past decade or so you

grid for say the past decade or so you do understand that yes sex is more

do understand that yes sex is more

do understand that yes sex is more accessible than it’s ever been and even

accessible than it’s ever been and even

accessible than it’s ever been and even with that being the case according to

with that being the case according to

with that being the case according to Pew Research we’re actually having less

Pew Research we’re actually having less

Pew Research we’re actually having less sex than any generation since our

sex than any generation since our

sex than any generation since our grandparents so grandma I wasn’t that

grandparents so grandma I wasn’t that

grandparents so grandma I wasn’t that fast after all

fast after all

fast after all they say that relationships have lost

they say that relationships have lost

they say that relationships have lost value amongst our generation and that we

value amongst our generation and that we

value amongst our generation and that we no longer want commitment but eight out

no longer want commitment but eight out

no longer want commitment but eight out of ten min lineal still say true romance

of ten min lineal still say true romance

of ten min lineal still say true romance is important so now that we’ve balanced

is important so now that we’ve balanced

is important so now that we’ve balanced the conversation a little bit what does

the conversation a little bit what does

the conversation a little bit what does the dating process look like for you or

the dating process look like for you or

the dating process look like for you or not today and going forward all of us

not today and going forward all of us

not today and going forward all of us here we’re in a unique position and that

here we’re in a unique position and that

here we’re in a unique position and that we’ve been able to live through

we’ve been able to live through

we’ve been able to live through transitions and evolutions as they’ve

transitions and evolutions as they’ve

transitions and evolutions as they’ve happened in real time we’ve gone from

happened in real time we’ve gone from

happened in real time we’ve gone from cassette tapes to CDs from CDs to

cassette tapes to CDs from CDs to

cassette tapes to CDs from CDs to streaming not only music with television

streaming not only music with television

streaming not only music with television my phone is essentially a computer that

my phone is essentially a computer that

my phone is essentially a computer that fits in my pocket and it affords me

fits in my pocket and it affords me

fits in my pocket and it affords me access to it seems like infinite

access to it seems like infinite

access to it seems like infinite information and if I’m being honest it’s

information and if I’m being honest it’s

information and if I’m being honest it’s that dynamic that spoiled me the need

that dynamic that spoiled me the need

that dynamic that spoiled me the need for instant results if my uber takes

for instant results if my uber takes

for instant results if my uber takes longer than five minutes I’m upset and

longer than five minutes I’m upset and

longer than five minutes I’m upset and I’ve seen that influenced other areas of

I’ve seen that influenced other areas of

I’ve seen that influenced other areas of my life including the way I did even

my life including the way I did even

my life including the way I did even down to the small things I can’t tell

down to the small things I can’t tell

down to the small things I can’t tell you how annoying it is to hear this

you how annoying it is to hear this

you how annoying it is to hear this thing actually ring every time somebody

thing actually ring every time somebody

thing actually ring every time somebody calls me it’s like hello are you dying

calls me it’s like hello are you dying

calls me it’s like hello are you dying hang up and text me and I know I’m not

hang up and text me and I know I’m not

hang up and text me and I know I’m not the only one

the only one

the only one and so electives that gives us another

and so electives that gives us another

and so electives that gives us another dynamic to deal with so how do we build

dynamic to deal with so how do we build

dynamic to deal with so how do we build relationships collectively we other

relationships collectively we other

relationships collectively we other interests in place we’re basically in

interests in place we’re basically in

interests in place we’re basically in the twilight zone of romance it’s called

the twilight zone of romance it’s called

the twilight zone of romance it’s called the gray area we meet people whether

the gray area we meet people whether

the gray area we meet people whether it’s at a lounge or through sending the

it’s at a lounge or through sending the

it’s at a lounge or through sending the DM or on a website we hang out whatever

DM or on a website we hang out whatever

DM or on a website we hang out whatever that means sometimes sex is involved and

that means sometimes sex is involved and

that means sometimes sex is involved and now we begin these relationships that we

now we begin these relationships that we

now we begin these relationships that we don’t call relationships because we

don’t call relationships because we

don’t call relationships because we don’t want to be in relationships but

don’t want to be in relationships but

don’t want to be in relationships but they feel like relationships because we

they feel like relationships because we

they feel like relationships because we do relationship things and now we are

do relationship things and now we are

do relationship things and now we are attached but at the same time fighting

attached but at the same time fighting

attached but at the same time fighting the state unattached it’s confusing and

the state unattached it’s confusing and

the state unattached it’s confusing and now we engulfed in these situations or

now we engulfed in these situations or

now we engulfed in these situations or with an on-call situation ships none of

with an on-call situation ships none of

with an on-call situation ships none of that is dating in fact nobody really

that is dating in fact nobody really

that is dating in fact nobody really knows what dating looks like at this

knows what dating looks like at this

knows what dating looks like at this point so I

point so I

point so I decided I’m gonna do a little research

decided I’m gonna do a little research

decided I’m gonna do a little research to find out what exactly people consider

to find out what exactly people consider

to find out what exactly people consider to be a former date these days found a

to be a former date these days found a

to be a former date these days found a few definitions the first I found in the

few definitions the first I found in the

few definitions the first I found in the answer section of Yahoo so it has to be

answer section of Yahoo so it has to be

answer section of Yahoo so it has to be true a casual day is when you wear

true a casual day is when you wear

true a casual day is when you wear regular clothes and a formal date well

regular clothes and a formal date well

regular clothes and a formal date well that’s when you dressed nicely makes

that’s when you dressed nicely makes

that’s when you dressed nicely makes sense then there was the answer I found

sense then there was the answer I found

sense then there was the answer I found on Yelp who knew Yelp gave the in device

on Yelp who knew Yelp gave the in device

on Yelp who knew Yelp gave the in device a user posted a real date begins by

a user posted a real date begins by

a user posted a real date begins by going over to a young lady’s house and

going over to a young lady’s house and

going over to a young lady’s house and talking to her parents about your

talking to her parents about your

talking to her parents about your intentions then getting a DNA swab so no

intentions then getting a DNA swab so no

intentions then getting a DNA swab so no one knows where the formal data is and

one knows where the formal data is and

one knows where the formal data is and you know that’s funny but it’s also

you know that’s funny but it’s also

you know that’s funny but it’s also proof that our dating habits have to

proof that our dating habits have to

proof that our dating habits have to evolve because life has evolved and

evolve because life has evolved and

evolve because life has evolved and generations passed potential couples

generations passed potential couples

generations passed potential couples would meet at the skating rink or at the

would meet at the skating rink or at the

would meet at the skating rink or at the school dance

school dance

school dance not too long ago when going on a date

not too long ago when going on a date

not too long ago when going on a date that was expected of me to drive to a

that was expected of me to drive to a

that was expected of me to drive to a young lady’s house and meet her at her

young lady’s house and meet her at her

young lady’s house and meet her at her front door today a date could be a 30

front door today a date could be a 30

front door today a date could be a 30 minute conversation at Starbucks or it

minute conversation at Starbucks or it

minute conversation at Starbucks or it could take place via Skype the internet

could take place via Skype the internet

could take place via Skype the internet age has redefined the way we meet and

age has redefined the way we meet and

age has redefined the way we meet and the way we communicate with people that

the way we communicate with people that

the way we communicate with people that does present us with a new set of

does present us with a new set of

does present us with a new set of challenges but it’s not the Internet’s

challenges but it’s not the Internet’s

challenges but it’s not the Internet’s fault it’s not tenders fault for tender

fault it’s not tenders fault for tender

fault it’s not tenders fault for tender takes the blame for everything the fact

takes the blame for everything the fact

takes the blame for everything the fact is the social rules for dating have

is the social rules for dating have

is the social rules for dating have always changed from one generation to

always changed from one generation to

always changed from one generation to the next today we have countless tools

the next today we have countless tools

the next today we have countless tools at our disposal that make many different

at our disposal that make many different

at our disposal that make many different aspects of life more efficient why

aspects of life more efficient why

aspects of life more efficient why should dating be exempt from that a more

should dating be exempt from that a more

should dating be exempt from that a more American single and waiting longer for

American single and waiting longer for

American single and waiting longer for commitment yes

commitment yes

commitment yes my generation included only 26% of adult

my generation included only 26% of adult

my generation included only 26% of adult Millennials are married but it is also

Millennials are married but it is also

Millennials are married but it is also true that technology has made the world

true that technology has made the world

true that technology has made the world smaller which makes our chances of

smaller which makes our chances of

smaller which makes our chances of meeting like-minded people greater than

meeting like-minded people greater than

meeting like-minded people greater than they’ve been in the past the key for us

they’ve been in the past the key for us

they’ve been in the past the key for us as we move forward is to remember that

as we move forward is to remember that

as we move forward is to remember that the tools that are at our disposal

the tools that are at our disposal

the tools that are at our disposal Facebook

Facebook

Facebook Twitter Instagram snapchat tinder bumble

Twitter Instagram snapchat tinder bumble

Twitter Instagram snapchat tinder bumble match just to name a few

match just to name a few

match just to name a few they’re just tools they do help us to

they’re just tools they do help us to

they’re just tools they do help us to reach and connect the people but the job

reach and connect the people but the job

reach and connect the people but the job of creating meaningful and clearly

of creating meaningful and clearly

of creating meaningful and clearly defined relationships that job is still

defined relationships that job is still

defined relationships that job is still ours unfortunately there isn’t a

ours unfortunately there isn’t a

ours unfortunately there isn’t a standardized roadmap on how to find love

standardized roadmap on how to find love

standardized roadmap on how to find love as much as I wish it was there isn’t an

as much as I wish it was there isn’t an

as much as I wish it was there isn’t an app for it

app for it

app for it dating is no longer just an event or

dating is no longer just an event or

dating is no longer just an event or series of events dating in today’s world

series of events dating in today’s world

series of events dating in today’s world is a dual process the first part

is a dual process the first part

is a dual process the first part involves us finding someone that

involves us finding someone that

involves us finding someone that deserves our exclusive attention which

deserves our exclusive attention which

deserves our exclusive attention which requires that we be intentional and

requires that we be intentional and

requires that we be intentional and almost tedious in our attachments that

almost tedious in our attachments that

almost tedious in our attachments that we grow to be self-aware enough that we

we grow to be self-aware enough that we

we grow to be self-aware enough that we know who we are at our core which will

know who we are at our core which will

know who we are at our core which will help us to identify the best potential

help us to identify the best potential

help us to identify the best potential partner that we stay active and engage

partner that we stay active and engage

partner that we stay active and engage and don’t lose the art of being social

and don’t lose the art of being social

and don’t lose the art of being social which means we have to multitask and

which means we have to multitask and

which means we have to multitask and remember life shall also be lived

remember life shall also be lived

remember life shall also be lived offline the latter part of the dating

offline the latter part of the dating

offline the latter part of the dating process involves building a life with

process involves building a life with

process involves building a life with one person which means we have to make a

one person which means we have to make a

one person which means we have to make a choice even when it seems like we could

choice even when it seems like we could

choice even when it seems like we could swipe left or right for as long as we

swipe left or right for as long as we

swipe left or right for as long as we want

want

want because there’s unlimited options at our

because there’s unlimited options at our

because there’s unlimited options at our fingertips last year the number of

fingertips last year the number of

fingertips last year the number of social media users worldwide reached

social media users worldwide reached

social media users worldwide reached almost two billion people talk about

almost two billion people talk about

almost two billion people talk about options 2 billion people each of us

options 2 billion people each of us

options 2 billion people each of us right now can pull up our respective

right now can pull up our respective

right now can pull up our respective social media feeds and we’d see many

social media feeds and we’d see many

social media feeds and we’d see many people project and almost disdain for

people project and almost disdain for

people project and almost disdain for commitment we could just scroll our

commitment we could just scroll our

commitment we could just scroll our timeline we’d see all type of posts

timeline we’d see all type of posts

timeline we’d see all type of posts chase money not love no new friends I’m

chase money not love no new friends I’m

chase money not love no new friends I’m a savage

a savage

a savage people are really excited about being

people are really excited about being

people are really excited about being alone we could just observe current pop

alone we could just observe current pop

alone we could just observe current pop culture trends or listen to the most

culture trends or listen to the most

culture trends or listen to the most popular songs right now and yes

popular songs right now and yes

popular songs right now and yes entertaining

entertaining

entertaining we might even dance but we see much of

we might even dance but we see much of

we might even dance but we see much of the same attitude being reflected and

the same attitude being reflected and

the same attitude being reflected and even in the midst of all the noise we

even in the midst of all the noise we

even in the midst of all the noise we still can’t escape how we are wired as

still can’t escape how we are wired as

still can’t escape how we are wired as humans which is for companionship I’ll

humans which is for companionship I’ll

humans which is for companionship I’ll tell you a secret

tell you a secret

tell you a secret we can’t run from it I don’t know why I

we can’t run from it I don’t know why I

we can’t run from it I don’t know why I just whispered that but it is true

just whispered that but it is true

just whispered that but it is true Harvard University did a study that fits

Harvard University did a study that fits

Harvard University did a study that fits this conversation perfectly it took them

this conversation perfectly it took them

this conversation perfectly it took them over 75 years to complete but they

over 75 years to complete but they

over 75 years to complete but they discovered the number one correlation to

discovered the number one correlation to

discovered the number one correlation to long life meaningful connections you

long life meaningful connections you

long life meaningful connections you know this hit home for me about two

know this hit home for me about two

know this hit home for me about two years ago I was sitting in a University

years ago I was sitting in a University

years ago I was sitting in a University of Pennsylvania hospital room and I

of Pennsylvania hospital room and I

of Pennsylvania hospital room and I watched a doctor tell my dad that his

watched a doctor tell my dad that his

watched a doctor tell my dad that his fight with cancer was ending basically

fight with cancer was ending basically

fight with cancer was ending basically giving him a week to live you know he

giving him a week to live you know he

giving him a week to live you know he had this look on his face that even

had this look on his face that even

had this look on his face that even today I can’t quite articulate it but it

today I can’t quite articulate it but it

today I can’t quite articulate it but it was such an anxious ‘no sin the air it

was such an anxious ‘no sin the air it

was such an anxious ‘no sin the air it wasn’t until maybe a day or so later

wasn’t until maybe a day or so later

wasn’t until maybe a day or so later during one of my last conversations with

during one of my last conversations with

during one of my last conversations with him that i realize all these got a sense

him that i realize all these got a sense

him that i realize all these got a sense of some of what he was experiencing you

of some of what he was experiencing you

of some of what he was experiencing you know in those moments he wasn’t worried

know in those moments he wasn’t worried

know in those moments he wasn’t worried about all the things that i thought may

about all the things that i thought may

about all the things that i thought may like important he wasn’t even worried

like important he wasn’t even worried

like important he wasn’t even worried about life itself you know all he cared

about life itself you know all he cared

about life itself you know all he cared about with two things the people he

about with two things the people he

about with two things the people he loved and the people who loved him so

loved and the people who loved him so

loved and the people who loved him so let me leave you with this as a term

let me leave you with this as a term

let me leave you with this as a term dating is more fluid than it’s been in

dating is more fluid than it’s been in

dating is more fluid than it’s been in the past looks different

the past looks different

the past looks different feels different but as a process it’s

feels different but as a process it’s

feels different but as a process it’s stable and though we might experience

stable and though we might experience

stable and though we might experience some hiccups along the way we may go

some hiccups along the way we may go

some hiccups along the way we may go about it in some ways that seem

about it in some ways that seem

about it in some ways that seem unconventional at first if we would

unconventional at first if we would

unconventional at first if we would employ it and engage in it

employ it and engage in it

employ it and engage in it we could put ourselves in position to

we could put ourselves in position to

we could put ourselves in position to create relationships that have the

create relationships that have the

create relationships that have the capacity to increase our quality of life

capacity to increase our quality of life

capacity to increase our quality of life and that’s what dating is supposed to be

and that’s what dating is supposed to be

and that’s what dating is supposed to be about because that’s what life is about

about because that’s what life is about

about because that’s what life is about and sort of answer the question is

and sort of answer the question is

and sort of answer the question is dating dead only if we allow it to die

dating dead only if we allow it to die

dating dead only if we allow it to die thank you

thank you

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

”

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