I had an event happen today: A young, healthy, nice-looking man checked me out. All right, this may not sound like much of an exciting moment to some people, but to a woman with two children who is feeling her age, getting a second glance from anyone is a compliment from heaven. 

The amazing thing was, I received a third glance and a fourth. There was nothing creepy or strange, and it was simply two people sizing up each other in a manner that signified we might've struck it off.

Had we spoken, of course. Social niceties being what they are, I finished my banking and left the building.  With a sigh.

The second event of the day was that I saw the man again, crossing the street in front of my car. Of course, that was even worse than earlier in the bank, because the glances did very little good, considering the traffic started moving. I left Prince Charming behind.

What struck me later on is that I realized there are no longer any cues to follow on how to meet other people. There are no rules. I don't even know what the game is anymore. Technology has changed the world, and I have an easier time talking to complete strangers in a chat room than I do real live people that I bump into.

(Ah, I should've bumped into him. That would've at least gotten me a flurry of apologies.)

I had the thought that if I managed to see the man again, I'd do something drastic. Like smile. Because, of course, giving a stranger off the street your phone number is just nuts. That's unsafe.  But sharing a login name to chat via IM with all sorts of people you don't know is perfectly fine.

Makes sense to me.

Then there is email. I pass out my email address frequently (mostly for business, but hey). I also have a few clients that know my cell phone number. They simply asked for it.

Giving some guy off the street my number would be crazy, though. Especially doing so based on a gut instinct and a few glances. He's a stranger, after all.

So let's check out what other daters are doing: reality dating shows, speed dating, dating blogs and forums, and online dating sites.  The latter half all involved nice, anonymous places where no one really knows who they're talking to. The former half involve people who obviously have either a masochistic bent or no time to talk at all.

When I think back on how I used to meet people when I was younger (and childless), I realize friends are a good way to connect with other singles. The meet and greet. Then again, all my friends are on chat and email, and we get together once in a blue moon.

Call me shallow, but I like to look at a guy before judging whether that person might be someone I'm interested in. There's a lot to be said for examining facial expressions, smiles, tones of voice and looks. Clothing, the way a person holds himself and other body language cues tell a lot too. I'd rather date someone that shared a few glances with me than someone anonymous I met on a computer and that I've never seen in person.

Maybe next time I see that guy, I will give him my phone number. Even if he is a guy off the street.

Posted by Louise.

Louise writes for Creative And Unique Gift Ideas.