On a date, with everyone
Why does dating have to be so awkward? There’s so much anxiety surrounding meeting someone for the first time. There’s what to wear, obviously. Then, what to talk about? How much do we reveal about ourselves? And what about those dreaded uncomfortable silences? In an attempt to circumnavigate or subvert this modern dilemma, Lauren McCarthy discovered that dating doesn’t have to be the hive-inducing stressor we make it out to be. Not with the help of the virtual world to back you up. For a month, McCarthy went on a series of dates with suitors from the popular dating site OkCupid. She surreptitiously live-streamed the entirety of the dates, seeking the feedback of strangers paid to watch and offer their input. “Tell him a secret,” one viewer wrote. “Have a bit more excitement and interest,” said another. If this sounds weird, or perhaps perfectly normal, that’s the point. McCarthy is an artist and programmer, and life’s...