Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Betty White: Proposal Trend?
Mila Kunis
After Marine Sgt. Scott Moore asks actress Mila Kunis to ball via YouTube, fellow Marines follow suit with high-profile proposals; dating expert Julie Spira on the role of the Web in today’s dating world
Marine Sgt. Scott Moore made headlines when he asked actress Mila Kunis to be his date to the Marine Corps Ball via YouTube. The actress said “yes” – after some prodding by “Friends With Benefits” co-star Justin Timberlake.
“We all talk about what we are going to do when we get back, and this was my dream,” Moore, who is stationed in Afghanistan, said in a Q&A about why he asked Kunis out the way he did. “I do feel bad for putting her on the spot, but it’s not like I was going to bump into her on the streets of Musa Qal’eh between now and the ball.”
Kunis later said she got permission to take a break from her film schedule so she could attend. Meanwhile, fellow Marine Corporal Kelsey De Santis upped the ante by asking Timberlake out to the ball and setting up a Facebook page dedicated to her cause. This week, Sgt. Ray Lewis asked 90-year-old actress and comedienne Betty White to be his date to the November event via YouTube.
Is this a new trend in the world of iconic proposals?
Betty White
“Years ago, you might have seen a dramatic date request or marriage proposal on a billboard while driving by or at a sporting event, in skywriting, or along with fresh flowers being delivered to someone’s office,” said Julie Spira, dating and relationship expert and best-selling author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating and The Rules of Netiquette: How to Mind Your Manners on the Web. “In today’s digital age, it’s not unusual to see viral video wedding proposals, virtual gifts such as an e-bouquet of roses, or just simply a flirty text message to speed things up.”
But do these dramatic proposals increase the disappointment factor if your love interest doesn’t reciprocate your feelings? Or does it put too much pressure on one to respond in a favorable fashion to such an invitation or proposal?
“Sometimes when you’re in-the-moment, you might respond by saying ‘yes’ due to be spontaneous or by feeling pressured to do the right thing,” Spira said.
With so many people online and Internet dating more common than not, there are many people trying different avenues to find love. Of course, there are both pros and cons to using technology to spur action in your love life. Spira advises to be wary of letting technology take the place of the very human element of romantic interaction.
Julie Spira
“The Internet makes everything speed up as it relates to modern courtship. You have Skype dates, constant texting, and have a plethora of people only asking people out in a text message or email,” she said. “There’s still something special about hearing the sound of his voice when he asks you out on a date, especially in the early days when you don’t have an ongoing relationship.
“I always say, when in doubt, pick up the phone. If you get rejected, don’t take it too personally. It’s just one date. You can log on to your favorite online dating site and easily meet someone else.”
For More From Julie Spira on genConnect:
- “The Bachelorette” and “The Bachelor”: Real or Faux Romance?
- Friday the 13th: Advice on How to Help Yourself Fall in Love
- How to Find a Date in Time for Valentine’s Day, by Julie Spira
- Julie Spira’s Daily Dose of Love
- Dating Tips for Summer Love With Julie Spira
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Category: Dating, Relationships, Views on the News
