In the last 10 years, digital matchmaking has risen in the ranks. Today, as many as 40 million Americans use online dating. Websites such as Match.Com and eHarmony, or apps such as Tinder and Plenty of Fish, have led the world in online dating sources; many have successfully found their significant others after using these sources, but many others have failed. With online dating comes a new wave of dangers and plenty of opportunities for conning and deception. Since online dating seems to be here to stay, at least for a while, it's important to practice caution when moving the relationship from online to "offline."
Methods to practice safety consist of planning out the entire date, minute by minute, alerting a friend or family member where you are and who you are with, or even keeping the date in a very public place and during the day. However, even after taking these measures, some have experienced troubling or disturbing encounters with the dates they've met online.
One restaurant has come up with a way for people to escape these troubling or disturbing encounters. Stephanie Duran (@ItsSteephh) tweeted the following photo just the other week. It is a poster put up in the women's bathroom of a restaurant.
While the name of the restaurant and its location is still unknown, the photo went viral within a day, earning over 250 thousand retweets and over 450 thousand likes. It also provoked long strings of Twitter conversations that praised the restaurant's actions, though there were some who questioned just how "discreet" the restaurant could be when helping a person leave their date. Regardless of how obvious the bartender is, the restaurant is still lending a very helpful hand.
I myself retweeted this photo. I believe this poster depicts a safe and well-disguised way of removing one's self from a potentially dangerous situation; the restaurant and the bartender are very brave in taking that extra step in helping a person leave a dangerous situation when they normally have no obligation to help. I wish I knew the name of this restaurant so I could promote them because they deserve recognition for this good Samaritan act.
This poster, or something along the lines, should be in every restaurant. While some may argue that the restaurant does not need to interfere in a situation like that, many others will say that the safety of the customers is the responsibility of the restaurant as soon as they walk through the door. Not only will this give people a sense of relief or help, but they're more likely to take action instead of "dealing" with their unwanted date and facing potential dangers.
I hope to see this poster in women's AND men's bathrooms everywhere within the next year.
