Date Lab: What do you do when your date is not your type?

About the daters ...

BRAG A LITTLE ...

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Joshua: I have a great personality, love conversing and talking about everything under the sun, and have a great sense of humor. I have a job, an apartment and a car, which makes me independent, and I’m also ambitious. I’m educated, goal-oriented and family-oriented. And I’d like to think I’m cute with a great smile.

Carter: I’m a wicked-smart Ivy league grad. Former varsity rower. Very caring person. Love to go out and have a great time. I’m an amazing friend.

YOUR TYPE ...

Joshua: Someone who is outgoing with a great personality (not too loud or overbearing). I enjoy an athletic, masculine guy who can show his emotions. Someone who is educated, ambitious and loyal, caring and devoted. I also usually date men
of color (black, mixed).

Carter: Tall, blond, athletic, impulsive, spontaneous, caring, friendly, outgoing, ambitious.

YOUR IDEA OF FUNNY ...

Joshua: Someone who is witty and does not have to try to be funny. Also, someone who isn’t overly perverted when they are humorous.

Carter: Lovingly caustic with a sharp wit and a crazy laugh.

INTERESTS TO SHARE ...

Joshua: I hope to share my interests in politics, sports (especially tennis) and family with my date. I would say passions to travel around the world, hopefully enjoy nonprofit work, human rights advocacy or education.

Carter: I want my date to introduce me to new hobbies/interests/outlooks and passions. But he needs to play some kind of sport.

About the date ...

7:30 p.m., Zaytinya, Chinatown

Carter: I went and worked out before, and then talked to my parents, got some last-minute advice. [They said,] “No matter what, be really nice.” And my dad was like, “You’ll know within the first five minutes whether it’s a match, and then you’ll have to stay there for the next few hours if it’s not.”

Joshua: I was a little nervous. I got there about 10 minutes early because I was so nervous.

Carter: I got there maybe a minute or two late. On Jewish Standard Time, I was perfect.

Joshua: My first impression was that he had a really good smile. Super tall. He was dressed really nicely. It was good to see that, ’cause I like somebody who takes the time to get dressed up.

Carter: I’m a hug kind of person; he clearly was a handshake. But you know, I rolled with the punches.

Joshua: I would probably say that you know if we were walking down a street he wouldn’t be my type, but I was still excited to get to know him and maybe that could change my opinion about it.

Carter: He was very not my type. My ideal date is a hug person and also very outgoing, social, always smiling. He looked a little bit nervous and reserved and quiet. He says he’s a really outgoing person, but that wasn’t the initial impression.

Joshua: We were commiserating over the fact that both of our employers were the ones who got us to apply for it. [At work,] we talk about [Date Lab] every Monday, and my co-worker was like, “Why don’t you try it out? You’re young; you’re new to the area.” I was like, “Okay, it could be fun.”

Carter: My boss actually told me that I should apply. And my parents met on a blind date. So I thought it would be fun to try.