- Gōkon
In Japan, a nihongo|"gōkon"|合コン is a group
blind date , typically used to overcome shyness and form at least some friendships between two groups that are each of a single sex.In other cultures,
group dating is becoming more popular as a safe alternative to single dating (especially blind dating), also helping to ease tension, since both parties will feel more comfortable having the company of their friends. [cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-03-08-group-online-dating_x.htm|publisher=USA Today|title=Invite the gang for a night of online dating|date= Retrieved onMarch 9 ,2006 ]Gokon style events have also developed independently at
Oxford andCambridge universities, where they are known as aCrewdate andFormal swap , respectively.Overview
Typically groups of men and women will sit opposite each other and hold whispered discussions with their peers about which potential partners they find attractive. Later they will mingle.
"Kon" comes from "konpa" a party formed within a single group (for example people within a certain university class). "Gō" means combination. The "gōkon" may thus be a combined party; for example, a preexisting group within a girls' university may meet up with a preexisting male group from a mixed university.
Recently writing a text message on a
mobile phones and showing it to others has become popular as an alternative to whispering.References
* [http://genkijacs.com/blog/index.php?itemid=48 A JFL school's explanation of "gōkon"] . Checked on 18 February, 2007.
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* Takano Yuko. " [http://media.www.virtualreporter.org/media/storage/paper456/news/2004/05/24/Style/An.Introduction.To.The.Somewhat.Strange.Dating.Practices.Of.The.Japanese.People-682933.shtml An Introduction to the Somewhat Strange Dating Practices of the Japanese People] ". Checked on 22 March, 2007.
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