Interview with Virginia Vitzthum, Author of I Love You, Let's Meet - Page 3

Virginia: I can't read minds and tell you what people believe, but it makes sense that a business would tell its customers "You need us." If you have cats, I think you'll be less angry. That's how it works for this hermit anyway.

Scott: As I read of the various prices of the various sites I wondered how does one quantify how much - in dollars - one wants to spend to find a companion. What do you think?

Virginia: It's an icky thing to contemplate, isn't it? You'd like to think that's one of those best things in life that are free. I never minded spending for Nerve, I felt like I was paying for good access, and I liked that I paid for each contact, not by the month. Paying by the month makes you feel like it's a job, you HAVE to be online dating even if you don't feel like it. I only like to be guilt-tripped and pressured like that by my monthly gym fee and my unlimited subway card.

Scott: You refer to some sites like eHarmony as "nanny site." Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?

Virginia: eHarmony tells its customers that they're helpless, that they need to be managed and guided through every step of dating.

Scott: For what is worth,  After the first 50 pages I wrote: "For what it's worth I'm single and you made me decide to choose Nerve for placing my next online ad, something I do for about one month each year." Then after the next 50 pages when I read about women concluding lots of guys at Nerve just use it for sex, not relationships, I decided maybe Nerve isn't right for me. I'm not sure what I'll decide after the next 100 pages.

Virginia: Well, if you're a nice guy on Nerve, you should clean up! It does seem like the site of artsy, bohemian, Web-savvy, not-mainstream people, and lots of them want relationships. I have cool friends who've met their mates on match.com, too, so I know that can happen.

Look out for part 2 of this interview, coming soon...

Article Author: Scott Butki

Scott Butki was a newspaper reporter for more than 10 years before making a career change into education.

He is an in-house media critic, a recovering Tetris addict and a proud uncle.

Visit Scott Butki's author page — Scott Butki's Blog