There are currently two people both talking about a rooftop party in Greenpoint, one male, one female. Would be very odd if one is not talking about the other.
The Greenpoint scenario would be great material if it turned out that the two were not looking for each other, but rather for a 3rd person, with whom both were smitten.
And so they come together, each thinking he/she will meet the third, and instead meeting each other, and, each finding his/her passion for the third reflected in the other, have an affair, and, after some time, part. It's ripe with potential symbolism, I tells ya.
I muse on this with a friend of mine, and we have a standing half-joking contest about trying to get a missed connection ad placed about us. To be clear and unambiguous, we discussed some kind of rules -- like we would have to wear a smiley-face button, and then if the MC ad mentioned someone with our description and the smiley face button, then we would clearly have succeeded. Of course it was all hypothetical, we never started wearing smiley-face buttons.
So I place an entirely fictitious ad, describing him, and saying "I've seen you around, the man with the smiley-face button, driving a green vw" etc. etc. And he sees it eventually and laughs, and that's that.
And then I get an email from some guy to the anonymous craigslist account from which i posted the missed connection. It was your basic pick-up email: "I saw you on Craigslist. I like to work out, ride my motorcycle, relax with friends," etc. "How about you? What do you do for work? You can email me or AIM me here. Can you send me a couple of pictures?"
No mention of the missed connection ad. I think he was just trolling. Bizarre.
Ogged, I'm sure he does, which is the creepy part. Because there was nothing whatsoever in the ad about me, (e.g. no, "i was the blonde on the corner walking my dog when you drove past") except the required gender and age.
No, Joe, you are the up-n-comer. I'm the hasbeen, the past-his-prime seen-it-all father-figure with a gruff exterior and a soft squishy middle. (Note - I can play the grizzled vet or the stoic Dad or concerned husband, too.) All my ideas start out good and then, wham, they take a whacky veer off into surrealand.
Here's a strategic question: why New York?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:10 PM
They must work sometimes.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:12 PM
There are currently two people both talking about a rooftop party in Greenpoint, one male, one female. Would be very odd if one is not talking about the other.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:13 PM
The question is, will each read the other's MC? Or will they think that, having left one themselves, they can do no more than wait for a response?
I see great potential here.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:17 PM
Great potential for further missed connection?
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:18 PM
For heartbreak and loneliness!
Or a scenario fit for dramatization (comeditization?)!
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:19 PM
I was thinking that the secret true aim of the page is to create more confusion and alienation.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:22 PM
I'd like to think they work, although I'm doubtful.
Posted by profgrrrrl | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:24 PM
A record of all the failed attempts at making simple human contact made in the city on any given day.
They should call it "Missed Lonelyhearts".
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:25 PM
I bet this one won't get much of a response.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:25 PM
Greenpoint scenario just got more complicated.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:28 PM
Nah, that person's obviously just fishing.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:30 PM
4?
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:32 PM
"4?"?—13?!
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 6:34 PM
Sorry, I meant "four rooftop parties," not comment 4.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 7:11 PM
The Greenpoint scenario would be great material if it turned out that the two were not looking for each other, but rather for a 3rd person, with whom both were smitten.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 8:00 PM
And if you think it's tough for a missed connection to work out online, what if you only had the paper to work with?
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 8:01 PM
And so they come together, each thinking he/she will meet the third, and instead meeting each other, and, each finding his/her passion for the third reflected in the other, have an affair, and, after some time, part. It's ripe with potential symbolism, I tells ya.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 8:26 PM
Regarding NYC missed connections, this New Yorker cover comes to mind.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 6:32 AM
I muse on this with a friend of mine, and we have a standing half-joking contest about trying to get a missed connection ad placed about us. To be clear and unambiguous, we discussed some kind of rules -- like we would have to wear a smiley-face button, and then if the MC ad mentioned someone with our description and the smiley face button, then we would clearly have succeeded. Of course it was all hypothetical, we never started wearing smiley-face buttons.
So I place an entirely fictitious ad, describing him, and saying "I've seen you around, the man with the smiley-face button, driving a green vw" etc. etc. And he sees it eventually and laughs, and that's that.
And then I get an email from some guy to the anonymous craigslist account from which i posted the missed connection. It was your basic pick-up email: "I saw you on Craigslist. I like to work out, ride my motorcycle, relax with friends," etc. "How about you? What do you do for work? You can email me or AIM me here. Can you send me a couple of pictures?"
No mention of the missed connection ad. I think he was just trolling. Bizarre.
Posted by Scheherazade | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 7:50 AM
Scheherazade,
You're not just telling tales are you?
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:19 AM
Bizarre.
Well, he figures you're a lonely young lady, might as well give it a shot. Probably sends that same message to every woman in the forum.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:23 AM
SPBP, I loved that cover when it arrived. Still do.
Posted by Kriston | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 9:25 AM
Ogged, I'm sure he does, which is the creepy part. Because there was nothing whatsoever in the ad about me, (e.g. no, "i was the blonde on the corner walking my dog when you drove past") except the required gender and age.
Posted by Scheherazade | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 10:22 AM
Scheherazade,
So. Do you have any pictures?
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 11:59 AM
Tripp --
That depends. Do you have a motorcycle?
Posted by Scheherazade | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 1:39 PM
SPBP, …
Call me Pishmaelp.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 1:42 PM
Scheherazade,
Yes.
I'm special. I like talking with friends and music and sitting in front of a fire. I like being active and open minded. I am unique dammit.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 2:16 PM
Fair warning, he's also 79 years old.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 2:18 PM
heh heh. You wish.
I forgot walking in the rain. Warm rain. Walking in the warm rain at night on a beach and then a star crashes down and we get taken away . . .
Damn. I need a writer. Joe?
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 2:31 PM
You're inviting her on an alien abduction date?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 2:45 PM
Warm rain! Warm rain! It burns!
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 2:47 PM
You're doing pretty well your own self, Tripp. By all means, don't stop now.
Posted by Joe Drymala | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 2:47 PM
No, Joe, you are the up-n-comer. I'm the hasbeen, the past-his-prime seen-it-all father-figure with a gruff exterior and a soft squishy middle. (Note - I can play the grizzled vet or the stoic Dad or concerned husband, too.) All my ideas start out good and then, wham, they take a whacky veer off into surrealand.
I blame Heinlein.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 2:55 PM
I'm waiting.... What have you to offer besides fire and rain?
Posted by Scheherazade | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:11 PM
Earth and wind.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:13 PM
And the mysterious quintessence!
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:13 PM
Christ. Some people are trying to write other things for which they might someday be paid.
Sheesh.
Posted by Joe Drymala | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:14 PM
I'll give you $5 to write me a personal ad, Joe.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:15 PM
What have you to offer besides fire and rain?
Lonely times when he could not find a friend, mostly.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:15 PM
Lemme rephrase: I'll pay you $5.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:15 PM
He's low-balling you, Joe.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:17 PM
He's got to prove himself yet.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:19 PM
Interesting that ogged would have that link handy.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:19 PM
All I know is that my firewall here can suck my rim.
Posted by Joe Drymala | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:20 PM
Here, Ben.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:21 PM
He's got to prove himself yet.
Not true.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:22 PM
And did you in fact enter that deadly but sexy world?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:22 PM
He's got to prove himself as a personals writer. Writing a musical is totally different.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:24 PM
Ben, why do you need a personal ad?
With that, I'm going home.
Posted by Joe Drymala | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:24 PM
I'm sick of all these impersonal ads.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 6-05 3:26 PM
Scheherazade,
What have you to offer besides fire and rain?
Very good question. I'm sorry I was out.
What have I to offer besides fire and rain?
All that you can imagine of course.
I offer purpose, meaning, fulfillment. Insight, contentment and more. It is all here waiting for you.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 7-05 9:26 AM