I am fascinated by personal ads. From the term “seeking” to the description of people (single, beautiful, tall, genuine, rugged, petite, tattooed), I find our desire to connect with one another truly captivating. To make a somewhat generalized statement, it seems like the pull for connection causes many to throw caution to the wind, to take a risk, to try something they would never do in any other situation; thus, the impetus for an advertisement listing ideal attributes for the perfect connection.
Personally, I like the motivation that is seen in personal ads. The effort and risk associated with putting yourself out there for the world to see is a reminder that we are all human.
In my interest in the language used to advertise connection, I recently stumbled upon “I Saw U” ads in Seattle’s The Stranger (you can find them in the back pages of every issue or listed online). The Stranger is just one of many sources now offering this option. You may have come across the “Missed Connections” section on Craig’s List too.
Here are a couple ads I wanted to share from a recent issue of The Stranger:
TEAL BLOUSE AT CINDERELLA BALLEY – At 2/5 Cinderella ballet at McCaw Hall. You with two friends by the bar on the fifth floor, beautiful brunette curvy girl in teal blouse and black pants. I am 28, 6′ brown harried man. Wish I had introduced myself.
STARBUCKS 72 BUS GIRL – on Seneca and 4th you work at a Starbucks I visited today. Me: long brown hair blue eyes, headphones. You: shortish black hair amazing blue eyes and a beautiful face. Your smile made my heart melt. Do you like music?
BIG FISH BOY ON #8 – You: Big Fisher with black pea coat and a grayish scarf, cell phone and blue iPod nano. Perhaps I will be able to say hello to you, some day. Me: Fellow #8 commuter. Sat next to you this morning.
BEAUTIFUL ANDROGYNY AT THE FERRY – you were getting off the ferry from Bremerton as I waited to board on Saturday afternoon. Our eyes locked and I began to smile. I looked away because my heart was racing and the goofy smile wouldn’t fade.
Again, I am fascinated by this yearning to connect, but I am curious as to why someone would spend all the effort placing an ad and yet not actually spend the effort saying something like, “Hi”?
On the outside, placing an ad like this seems a little futile in that the person is depending on their connection to find them in an ad listed in the last few pages of a local publication (or to search www.thestranger.com/personals with a fine tooth comb)! But maybe that is the point. Maybe it is more like a fairy-tale or a twist of fate. If they do connect, it has to be fate? If they don’t connect, it was not meant to be? The typical personal ad doesn’t have a specific person in mind, but rather an ideal. These ads are listed based on the specific connection between two people. Is this really a desire for connection or simply something provided for entertainment? What do you think?
4 comments
Sloxitusituit
March 3, 2011 at 1:06 AM (UTC 0)
We should silence anyone who opposes the right to freedom of speech.
Jenny Mae
March 3, 2011 at 2:45 PM (UTC 0)
Entertainment, definitely. Particularly for those persons with a penchant for wistful longing.
More than a decade ago, during a moment in my life when I could drape myself across a piece of furniture and daydream on a regular basis, I read “I saw U”s regularly, imagining possibilities of true love no doubt. I would try to picture the individuals in my imagination. Beautiful girls, handsome shy strangers, surely.
One week there was one placed on me. The day after Valentine’s Day that year was about 73 degrees. I lived downtown and had gotten dropped off by my boyfriend. To quell the disappointment of getting dropped off on a Sunday late morning (why not a lazy afternoon with a nap later, I wondered?) I dug out some version of summer clothes and put on my roller blades and took to the sidewalks.
The ad said I was bold on rollerblades in the unseasonable weather of the day. He was long blonde hair jean jacket.
Having read the I Saw U’s so regularly wondering who these people were, I was surprised not to be a bit flattered. I don’t know if it was the long blonde hair or the jean jacket or what, but I was repulsed. I felt stalked. I wondered what sort of miscreant would write such a thing! I pictured his hair stringy and his jacket dirty. Was he missing teeth? Why I did not picture this person as one of the handsome strangers in the other boxes speaks volumes, I’m sure.
I have long since stopped rollerblading. Wistful longing and belief in love still remain a part of my life, however. Maybe I’ll pick up a Stranger this week and see what else has changed or stayed the same.
Jasmine
March 10, 2011 at 4:04 AM (UTC 0)
I L-O-V-E these ads. They are so fascinating, liberated and entertaining. I’ve read them on many occasions wondering what the story is behind the lack of meeting or if they actually ever met. A follow up ad would be appreciated.
Alawbalry
March 15, 2011 at 10:12 AM (UTC 0)
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.