Since its origins in the late '90s, speed dating has been touted as an innovative and efficient way to meet women. Originally designed to help busy professionals find dates, speed dating has become a regular staple of the singles scene.

The idea behind speed dating is that first impressions are everything. The problem with this idea is that first impressions rely heavily on looks, which as we all know can be deceiving. What a woman looks like generally doesn't tell you a lot about whether you'd be happy together. Most of us would still be happy if our soulmate wasn't a supermodel, so why rely on a system that makes it all about looks?

Speed dating also works off of the idea that it only takes a few minutes to get to know whether you're compatible with someone. Most “speed dates” are only between 3 and 8 minutes long, and people who are a fan of the system say that's long enough for both men and women to decide whether they want to get to know someone. I don't know about you, but I find that you usually don't get the best information from events like these. Everyone shows up on their best behavior, right? You don't find out the girl has 7 cats or a crazy ex-boyfriend until at least 3 dates later.

If you've ever been to a speed dating event, you know it's not exactly an efficient way of doing things. Sure, you'll meet plenty of women, but the whole system smells more like a job fair than a way to meet your match. Guys pull out all the stops to get a woman's attention, relying on trying to be memorable instead of trying to make that instant connection. At the end of the event, guess who stands out in her mind? That's right, the jackass with the cheesy pickup lines. Nice guys like you are all but forgotten about. Who wants to compete with that? Wouldn't you rather meet a woman on your own terms? You and she should decide how long you talk to each other, not some adult version of musical chairs.

That's why it's so important to meet women naturally. When you're not in a rigid matchmaking situation like speed dating or a nightclub, you can really get down to the nuts and bolts of meeting a woman. You're both more relaxed, and neither of you is waiting for a bell to ring and put you in front of a new stranger 3 minutes later.