Last week I got an email telling me about a “product I may be interested in.” I usually ignore these things, but this product was too hilarious and intriguing not to share.
The product was BluePont, a mobile dating service. Not making much sense? Let me explain.
Basically you download this software on your blackberry. You fill out a profile (like a normal dating profile), add a picture, and voilà- you’re ready for instant dating.
Here’s where it gets a little creepy: Every 5 minutes your cell phone checks to see if any eligible daters are in your 1 mile range. You get an alert. They get an alert. You can chose to ignore it or talk to them.
I’m still on the fence on whether this is the most genius thing EVER or if it’s cheating. Is it smart or does it take the fun out of it all?
If you live in a city, you probably walk by attractive people all the time. Don’t you ever wonder if they’re single? compatible? a doctor? (did I mention that it tells you their occupation? hello, gold diggers!)
There’s also the issue of this thing putting you in some really awkward situations…can you imagine getting these notifications if you were, say, having a business lunch with the person who you get matched up with? Weeeeiiirrrrddd.
I was so mesmerized by this idea that I had to share it with Alexa and we came up with a few other weird places you could get notifications:
- in the bathroom. (this may have helped Larry Craig out a little bit.) Either way, I don’t want to get a date notification using the facilities.
- while in a staff meeting, you get matched with your creepy boss.
- at the STD clinic. but I guess if you’re there, too…
- at a family picnic. Unless you’re in west virginia or something– hey yo!
- at the lady doctor while getting your parts checked out, you get a notification from your doctor.
Although those above situations are obviously rare, I’m pretty sure some other weird ones could actually happen. Either way, it’s almost a cool concept. What funny situations did we miss?
p.s. if any of y’all actually interested, you can sign-up here and I get part of the cash money. Consider it a donation to the “maxie is awesome” fund.
kylie says:
That service sounds weird, creepy and intriguing all at the same time. Let us know if you try it out. I would LOVE to hear your experiences with it!!
I doubt anyone in my area even OWNS a blackberry, but if I ever move to the city I may try it out for kicks.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:15 am
bethie says:
That just strikes me as horribly creepshow. How do you keep a straight face when the buzzer does go off, no matter where you are?
I guess if you sign up you actually have to want these notifications? I’m not sure…
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:15 am
Alice says:
OH MY GOSH, do you ever watch the show “Bones”? an episode last week centered around this exact dating service thing where it alerts you if you’re in a 1 mi radius of a match. i assumed it was fake because WHO WOULD DO THAT HAHAHAHA… oh.
Obviously someone! Crazy stuff!
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:15 am
Lusty Reader says:
Alice beat me to it! This was just on an episode of Bones, but it matched you within 1000 yards, very big brother stalkerish. I totally thought it was fake too because it sounded sooo stupid and it was the premis for the murder on the show.
I think 1000 yards is even scarier!
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:20 am
deutlich says:
Maxie, it never ceases to amaze me how fucking hilarious you are.
Thank you for being a part of my life.
Fer realz.
I feel the same way, dear
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:27 am
Liebchen says:
I’m so curious…but I just can’t. Could you please sign up and let us all know how it goes? K, thanks.
HAHA. um no. Who do you think I’d get matched up with here? Billy bob from the farm?
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:28 am
Crissy says:
Stuff like that makes me want to sign up just to see what kind of asshats it would try to fix me up with.
I might do it.
My husband doesn’t care.
You should do it. And then write about it of course.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:47 am
andhari says:
It makes me wanna sign up just to test it out but I doubt people over here use it. :p
I wish there was a way to see how many people in a certain region even use it.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:52 am
Erika says:
That was on Bones last week!!!
I kinda what to sign up just to see how it works, but I don’t think I want to know how many people say ignore.
Hmmm, I wonder if it tells you.
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April 21st, 2009 at 8:12 am
JFo says:
I wonder how many people sign up, and then avoid an area when they get an alert that another dater is near?
Other awkward scenarios:
A) mugger-victim
B) arresting officer-law breaker
C) priest-parishioner
GOOD ones. Priest is the best, LOL.
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April 21st, 2009 at 8:34 am
zipcode says:
This sounds like fun actually and would be hilarious especially since I work with 90 percent men.
um are you hiring? sounds delightful.
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April 21st, 2009 at 8:43 am
Matt says:
Kind of makes me glad I have an iphone.
I heard they’re coming out with an application for that soon! I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat.
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April 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
ashley says:
HAHAHA I love it. I think you should test it out, for blogging purposes
I think I should try regular online dating first…as a stepping stone, you know.
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Racquel Valencia says:
I agree with everyone who said you should give it a test run. Do it for science! Or, you know, blogging. Whichever.
I think we should elect a new guinea pig!
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:09 am
violet says:
O.M.G. no way! they just keep making it easier and easier, then they wonder why people can’t get off their phone!
I know! My blackberry is already glued to my hand 24/7!
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am
Kellie says:
OMG I think you should do it to “test” it out and see if any weird things happen! Think of the potential blogging material!
hmmm NO. But I’m all for someone else trying it!
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:24 am
Krys says:
I think the absolute worst match up would be while you’re out with your significant other and you both get matched and neither of you knew the other was looking. Not. That. I’ve. Been. There.
HA OMG! did that happen to you?! SPILL.
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:39 am
Elisha says:
Hiya Maxie!…I had heard about Bluepont in a forum….Yelp some time ago…it works on my simple candy phone also – not just Blackberry…and I have met cute boys all the way…will blog about it soon…can we exchange link of our blogs
Here is what I had posted about it on my blog –
I was waiting at the bus stop when my blackberry played music…I checked and found that Bluepont has found a match for me…while I was contemplating what to do since my bus still had 30 minutes to come…I decided to meet this match of mine – courtesy Bluepont (http://elisha982.vox.com/)
That’s awesome that you had success with bluepont! I hope you continue to blog about it.
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:43 am
*PorkStar says:
A little weird and freaky. I’m sure lots of mofos may take advantage of it and stalk and be idiots.. like they all are..
sorry, im hating my own kind today.
I think the girl has to approve the guy first, but I’m sure there are lots of ways you could get around it. Like posting a fake picture, fake occupation… like I said, it’s a little creepy.
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April 21st, 2009 at 9:53 am
LiLu says:
Um, you know you have to do that for the blog fodder, right? Come down one weekend and we’ll “experiment” together!
Wait, that came out wrong…
Or did it?
I thought we already did that that one night… how can it be wrong if it feels so right?
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April 21st, 2009 at 10:00 am
Megan says:
OMG! That is extremely creepy & funny at the same time…
loved the whole strange places to get notifications!
It could happen!
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April 21st, 2009 at 10:04 am
Patrick says:
I am totally willing to be a guinea pig for this… sounds very interesting…
Do it!!!
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April 21st, 2009 at 10:07 am
Beth says:
how about a DREAM scenario:
in the burrito line… my true love loves burritos too!?
actually, even better: the guy who is MAKING the burritos… FREE BURRITOS FOR FLIRTING!!
LOL- DREAM WORLD!
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April 21st, 2009 at 10:11 am
thatShortChick says:
this is so awkward, intriguing and plain ol’ creepy.
i feel as though people who are creepy or borderline psychotic are usually the first ones to sign up for ish like this, THUS making it hard for genuinely interested (and sane) people to find true matches.
I think you’d have to be at least a *little* crazy to try this one out.
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April 21st, 2009 at 10:24 am
restaurant refugee says:
I love this idea. It does require a particular brand of optimism (or crazy) to try it. I’m not sure I have that brand of optimism.
I just don’t have the drive. I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment yet.
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April 21st, 2009 at 11:28 am
girlofwords says:
I’m both freaked out and intrigued at the same time. Though UberTwitter for BlackBerry has a similar feature — it will (if you let it) post where you’re tweeting from and you can search for people using UberTwitter near you!
But I think it would be fun to give it a try, though.
There’s google latitude too– equally creepy! maybe more so.
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April 21st, 2009 at 12:04 pm
rs27 says:
Thats why I always wear my “I’m single, Let’s have sex” shirt.
Success rate? 0%
Oh come on! You’re in LA– it’s had to have worked at least once.
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April 21st, 2009 at 12:27 pm
jen - tsk says:
Interesting! To be honest, if you were in an STD clinic could you really say anything if it went off? You’re in an STD clinic!!! xx
hey hey, maybe you’re volunteering!
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April 21st, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Paula says:
Its kinda creepy. Like sometimes when I’m in a public place I check my bluetooth to see who is all around me and then try to guess who matches up to the names.
Actually, that’s not remotely the same thing. THAT is actually kinda fun.
But if you had this service you wouldn’t even need to guess!
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April 21st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
wigsf says:
Seems like a useful tool for sexual compulsives.
bone-age!
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April 21st, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Dani says:
That sounds oddly like that google April Fools’ joke although that one was just to match up for sex. I suppose, this could be used in a similar fashion.
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April 21st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
mandy says:
I think you should definitely sign up for it and let us know how it goes. You may find all sorts of people who didnt know of your awesomeness.
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April 21st, 2009 at 5:25 pm
beatrix says:
will someone please try this and tell me how it works?
pretty please?
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April 21st, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Michelle & the City says:
ok. wow. i had to reread this.
so, what if you’re in line at say, starbucks, and both phones went off at the same time? wouldn’t THAT be weird.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Just Playing Pretend says:
Every 5 minutes? I would shoot myself in the foot.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
alexa says:
i think that if we both signed up we would TOTALLY match.
if we were into ladies of course.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Susan says:
There are officially no limits to what you can put on a PDA.
I am not single, but if I had a blackberry I might try it out of curiosity.
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April 21st, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Dolce says:
Who comes up with these idea? Seriously. I’m a little impressed by the cleverness of this dating service.
I bet you’d get a lot of married men looking for a quickie.
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April 21st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
The Charming Hedonist says:
I just want to be near someone who uses it… I am morbidly curious about this.
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April 21st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Bon Don says:
parent teacher conference?
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April 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 am
K @ Blog Goggles says:
Ok, it’s so not fair that I’m not single. I’ve been in relationships ever since the advent of online matchmaking, and I think they would be awesome to try out. Probably a bit depressing, but definitely hilarious.
This would be perfect for all of the banker types I know. They’re already on their blackberries all the time!
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April 22nd, 2009 at 4:01 am
MinD says:
Interesting. I wonder if you can sign up if you’re not single and just see what kind of creepers are available…
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April 22nd, 2009 at 8:23 am
Red says:
So, I did it and it’s weird. Hahaha. Seriously.
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April 22nd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Lisa says:
WOW, I’ve never heard of this. Pretty interesting and hilarious!
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April 23rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Funky says:
yeeeee….Maxie you rock….I read your post and tested Bluepont…and it may sound weird but it works
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April 24th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
jen - tsk says:
It totally wasn’t as funny from the next Miss Musing!!! It’s the way you tell em (or something) x
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April 27th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Crista says:
interesting………
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April 28th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Blah. « Big Time Fancy says:
[...] just feeling too damned lazy and uncreative to write my own post about it. So I was going to steal yours and pass it off as my own. I might even change one of the words to it makes it sound like I [...]
April 28th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Elisha says:
I have taken a liberty of copying a few things about it on my blog – hope you would not mind…if yes please let me know –
Its here – http://elisha982.vox.com/library/post/a-layman-guide-to-bluepont.html
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April 30th, 2009 at 12:15 pm