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March 25, 2011

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Chance encounters get an online helping hand

DREAM of meeting that perfect somebody by chance, falling in love and living happily ever after?

Well, a chunk of China's urban youth have become fixated on making that romantic ideal come true by microblogging little details about themselves, hoping to find their Mr or Miss Right.

"I board bus 51 at Qingshuihe Stop at around 8:20am, wearing a black coat, black pants and leather shoes. If you see me, please say hi," posted netizen "Lanren 11" on his microblog.

His posting attracts immediate responses, such as "I ride the same bus, hoping to meet you!" and "Let me find you."

The craze of making "accidental encounters" happen like this was started by web user "Lanqier" on t.sina.com.cn, a leading microblogging site in China.

More than 5,000 netizens, mainly in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu, have tapped into it.

Lanqier has posted, "We are so stuck in the rut of our everyday life, so let's design our own encounter."

Some bloggers give key phrases to tell whether that "somebody" has been following their blog or is truly just a stranger.

"Lonely key" posted online "I will be at the library on the fifth floor of Plaza 353 along Buxing Street in Nanjing City of eastern China's Jiangsu Province, wearing a red coat and scarf. You say, 'Are you here to read books?' and I reply 'Yes, please join me.'"

The encounters are set up but more subtle than traditional matchmaking dates.

Netizen "Hahayixiao" said: "This kind of date is more natural and interesting. As a girl, I want to be wooed. In this way, although I made the first move online, I can still seem a little reserved."

Not all are pinning their hopes on finding love this way. "What I expect is a warm smile from strangers. I don't think it's likely that I can find love this way, but it's nice to find like-minded friends," blogged netizen "Chenxi."

But experts have raised concerns. Hu Guangwei with the Academy of Social Sciences of Sichuan Province said that, "If you are too eager, you may be manipulated by less well intentioned people."





 

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