Dating Without Borders (?)

[AidSource]

For the last few months the admins of AidSource have been contemplating the possibility of starting/adding or somehow incorporating an online dating section to this network.

It's a big task, though, and beyond some general agreement that it's "a good idea" and that "people will like it", we're not entirely sure where to take it from here.

This is where YOU come in. We'd love to hear your thoughts on:

• Would you like to see a "Dating Without Borders" (or other name) section/link/whatever, on AidSource?
• In your ideal world, what would it include? [We've discussed everything from simple "classifieds" (40-something logistician seeks like-minded 20-something program officer, preferably hot, willing to live with prolonged periods of separation punctuated by intense interludes when not on-mission...) to full-on E-harmony-esque online dating.]
• Any volunteers to help set-up and run the thing?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments thread here, or send the admins an email using AidSource internal email.

[Angela Huddleston]

Just an idea... instead of something that's directly related to dating (which can come across sleezy or may not encourage many people to use it), why not have a meet-up/connections classifieds instead? It can include the dating bit, but even for people heading to a new place, searching for friends or people to do things with, they can use that section as well. 

I am thinking along the lines of, "I am heading to Goma for a field-visit and am looking to get out and be active on Saturday. Anyone up for a hike / boating trip / drink / etc?)

Any opinions?

[J.]

Hey Angela, thanks for that feedback.

Just curious... how would what you're suggesting be different from the location-specific groups/discussions (Port-au-Prince Aid Workers, Ethiopia Aid Workers, DR Congo Aid Workers...) that already exist?

[Angela Huddleston]

Hi J,

I thought about this too - I suppose I envision it differently in that the location-specific groups are used (or not used - the PaP one has been quiet for a while) mostly by people living there. But for those based in HQs or those traveling for meetings / field-visits or other short-term activities, they may not want to join the location specific group if they will not be there long term. A meet-up site would be accessible by anyone interested in meet-ups anywhere in the globe (including those locations not with a site-specific group yet). 

Also, the meet-up site could allow for greater links between people (for example, Hey, I am based in PaP, but I see you are going to Kigali and looking to meet up - I have a friend there, want me to put you in touch?, etc). 

To put it succinctly (probably not accomplished above), I guess it would be just more flexible and not as tied down to a location as the other groups are. And would be more related to meeting people (rather than work or life related - the PaP group just has advice about restaurants and finding housing, for example). 

Do my random ramblings make sense?

[Courtney Brandt]

Yeah, I like Angela's take on it. After a wine induced evening of signing up for Humanitarian Dating,