Speed dating started up within the Jewish community in Los Angeles in the 1990s. It has become a popular way to screen dates quickly and safely. Typically, participants pay a set fee for the evening. They are introduced to several potential partners with each “date” lasting anywhere from three to eight minutes. At the end of the evening, participants let organizers know which dates they'd like to see again. If two people have selected each other, the organizers will provide them with contact information so they can get together and set up a more traditional date.

Members of speed dating say it removes the uncertainty from the dating situation. There is no guessing if the other person might be available or might be in the correct frame of mind to date. The very fact that the other person is at the speed dating event shows that he or she is single and avaliable. Speed dating makes it easy for singles to meet several eligible people in a short period of time. Traditional forms of dating usually take up an entire evening, even if one person realizes in the first five minutes that the other person is not for them. At a speed dating event, the mismatched date takes up only a fraction of the evening.

Finally, speed dating definitely favors those who are attractive, warm, and outgoing and favors attractive participants with outgoing personalities. The person who is not especially outgoing, or who is shy and takes a little while to “warm up” will usually not get a fair shake at speed dating events. These people are better suited for other types of dating that allow time to get acquainted before a final decision about future dates is reached.

As well, speed dating relies heavily on first impressions, and as we all know, may be inaccurate. The eager-go-getter from the five minute date may turn into a male slug after a few weeks of dating, and the dream girl of the five minute date may easily turn into the shrew of the five hour date a week later. Speed daters should always remember “Let the buyer beware.”