Although there are those who profess to be above it, we’ve all had an at-bat against the opposite sex in a seemingly endless inning of the Dating Game. Even if your intents aren’t malicious, chances are you’ve already suited up and are ready to play some ball because them’s the rules, folks. People who don’t play are either picked last for the sandlot team or shunned all together as the unsocialized misfits that they are. Basically, it’s a fact of life that we have to play by the rules whether or not they prescribe to any form of logic that appeals to us.

And it’s all the more hard to lace up our cleats and get in the game when we’re so damn vulnerable in this interconnected digital age. These days the first date isn’t really the initial meet and greet inspection. If you’re even remotely connected to your potential lover, chances are he or she has already scoped out your Myspace or Facebook profile (or both), or has read your blog (if you have one). Hell, maybe they’ve even Googled you to get the sweet-and-lo-down on your ass. And that’s perfectly acceptable…because you’re doing it as well. Everyone likes to know what they’re getting into before they make some bad decisions, and since people are more than willing to list their favorites in every category imaginable we’ve all got the green light peruse a bit and see if you’re compatible on a basic level. Plus, if you met your potential lover while slightly intoxicated, you can view pictures to see if he or she was really was attractive as you remember.

As with most beneficial arrangements, however, there are some drawbacks. First of all, the plethora of photos can hurt you just as much as it can help you. Not everyone is particularly photogenic, and you don’t have the benefit of context on your side. For instance, he or she may look like an angry alcoholic when in actuality they’re either hamming for the camera or in the midst of a heated yet friendly discussion while they nurse the one beer they’ll be drinking all week. In other words, you won’t know what you’ve got until you’ve got it in front of you and even then it takes a few weeks of continual presence to get a true grasp on someone’s aesthetic. Secondly, while being thorough in your research safeguards you from those bad surprises that end with you uttering phrases like “Honestly, officer, that was the first time I met him,” it also robs you of the good ones. Who wants to know exactly where their new road will lead them? For many people with blogs or online writing gigs, they distill who they are into their work, which can be awkward if it’s been thoroughly scoped. For instance, on a recent first date I was in the middle of a story about the worst date of my life, which is also available on this illustrious site, and my date stopped me and said the following: “Uhm…I don’t want to freak you out, but I’ve actually already read that article.” What I mean to say is that by getting to know a person digitally, you miss out on getting to know them in person, which means you bypass all those disgustingly precious moments where you discover something exciting and find an excuse to touch each other in mildly inappropriate yet sweet ways.

And let us not forget, the imperfections are what make people beauteous. I’m afraid that in an attempt to self protect we digital children are ruling out viable candidates because they aren’t 100% in step with our favorite movies or took a bad photo in 2005. Maybe we should get off our own high horses and give the unexpected a shot once in a while: go ahead a try a date with that guy who’s tan year round because he’s into outdoor recreation even though you’re a book nerd, or date that hipster chick despite the fact that you’re a preppie. You’ll never know until you try, and you’ll never try if you sit in front of your computer with a checklist and permanent-ink red marker in hand.

At the end of it all, it is unfair to allow your date an unfair advantage by choosing not to play the game, but it’s quite another to take it to Stalker-Town; play the game, don’t let the game play you. And may I also suggest a return to the old-fashioned basics of dating? Perhaps ease up on textual forms of communications (text messages, instant messages, emails, and Myspace or Facebook comments) and return to calling the person you’re interested in; those unexpected long and amazing conversations held on the phone in preference to on the computer will be much better for your eyesight in the long run. So take what you know and let the romance run with it.

Because, always remember: Have Love, Will Travel (The Black Keys).