Missed connection

Missed connection

A missed connection is an occurrence where two or more people are unable to exchange contact information or the information that is exchanged is lost.[citation needed] These missed connections are generally associated with romance, but they may also be business-related or otherwise. Through the use of publications and websites some people seek to reconnect with their missed connection.

Contents

History

Before print media had sections for missed connections, some people would post fliers or stickers on bulletin boards and in public to find their missed connection. A free version of the popular personal ads once ran on the back page of publications such as The Village Voice.[1] These types of ads generally work best in small areas with a low population. These missed connections ads did not become that popular because finding a missed connection was against the odds. However with the invention of the Internet these ads would be able to reach a larger audience.

In 2000, Craigslist employees noticed "I saw you" messages popping up more and more in the Personals section and so created the Missed Connections section for these type of ads.

Since then, free dedicated missed connection sites have arrived and other free classified listing sites have created their own Missed Connections sections. For example, The London Paper, a free evening London newspaper, ran a column named "lovestruck" until September 2009 when the paper closed. The column allowed readers to send in missed connection ads by phone and e-mail, a selection of which would be published the following day. In January 2010, Gumtree closed down their Friends and Dating section which included the removal of their missed connection listings, much to the disappointment of their community. In 2010, lovetag.org opened the first map-based missed connections listing, based on a Google map. Inspired by missed connections, BUMP.com was created in 2010 as a way for people to connect based on unique identifiers. The initial focus of the site allows drivers to connect on the road based on license plate numbers. Also in 2010, the website Flirtsearch.net was launched to help people who've had a romantic encounter reconnect.

In 2011, the Internet site Meet Again Cafe' made its debut offering a simple, user friendly post board method to find lost connections similar to that found in small town cafés.[2]

Examples of missed connections

  • Romantic usually involves spotting a stranger, with or without talking to them
    • One-off encounter
    • Multiple encounters, e.g. two coffee shop regulars who exchange glances daily when buying their morning coffee
  • Looking for an old friend
  • Lost touch with relative
  • Lost and found personal belongings
  • Lost pets
  • Expressing gratitude to a stranger, including thanking employees of businesses
  • Sexually transmitted disease alert someone who has an STD concern wants to warn a previous partner they have lost touch with
  • Finding ex-partners

Common missed connection locations

  • Public transport trains, buses
  • Airports lots of lone travellers on a flight or in an airport act as a precipitant
  • Concerts
  • In the street
  • Coffee shops
  • Pubs and bars
  • Internet
  • Conventions

Common reasons for a missed connection

  • Lost contact information phone numbers, e-mail, etc. exchanged but lost
  • Delayed courage person couldn't muster up the courage to ask for contact details at the time of the missed connection
  • Delayed realisation person realises that they should have asked for contact details after the opportunity has passed, but for whatever reason it didn't cross their mind until later
  • Lost each other in a crowd
  • Didn't meet up again as planned individuals planned to meet up again in the future at a specific time and place without exchanging contact details but one couldn't attend.

Ads

  • Local newspapers
  • Local classified listing papers
  • Street furniture written with chalk on pavement, on lamp-posts
  • Online where people can attempt to reconnect with each other

Movies

Movies where missed connections feature as part of the plot:

References

  1. ^ Lee, Jennifer. "Romance Beckons (In Case You Missed It)." New York Times. 23 Feb. 2005. 8 Aug. 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/23/nyregion/23romance.html?_r=1&oref=slogin>.
  2. ^ http://venturebeat.com/2010/09/15/demo-bump-social-network-car-license-plates/

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