The questions Datamatch should have asked to help us find love

Scene Staff

Valentine’s Day has arrived. Love is in the air. Maybe you’ve caught a whiff of it through the Datamatch results that were released this morning. Or maybe you think that regardless of how funny some of the questions may have been, online algorithms will never help you find that special someone. Or maybe you didn’t even consider doing it. Either way, we know you probably have some thoughts on the survey. Here’s what we think Datamatch should have asked:

What obnoxious (yet enviable) B-School thing are you?

Let’s face it, we’re all pretty sick of hearing B-Schoolers brag about their proximity to Starbucks and actual job prospects. Still, we secretly wish we could get some of their perks, but which is most desirable to you? Some possible answer options could include professionally-designed LinkedIn profiles, luxurious printing budgets and dressing business casual to class.
—Jaden Satenstein, Senior Scene Editor

Which Bear’s Den station reflects your study habits?

Buzzfeed is always asking us to choose specific foods to help define ourselves. When it comes to matching with someone else, however, I’m looking for the flavor of not just the dish but the dining experience, and I want to find a partner that will treat her commitment to me the way she treats her other Wash. U. commitments: staying up all night, being unable to explain to her advisor or her parents why she hasn’t dropped me and constantly being emailed out of the blue by that one other club that just won’t let her go. Do you subscribe to the Kosher station, with a stress-free, consistent weekday routine, but no time to do anything but lock yourself in Olin on Friday and Saturday nights? Or is your schedule built like Paws & Go, always busy but flexible for daily treats?
—Jonah Goldberg, Staff Writer

What’s your go-to Subway order?

Look, if you’re aiming for love, you need to get as much information about your potential partner as quickly as possible. Sure, Datamatch’s multiple choice format somewhat hampers the ability of this question to truly search the depths of someone’s soul, but it’s still objectively better than anything else they can ask. Are you an Italian BMT type person? A meatball sub? Maybe even a #spicy Italian? And the best part of this? Those that consider themselves too good for the Mecca that is the Mallinckrodt Subway can end up together. They deserve each other.
–Sam Seekings, Editor-in-Chief

What’s your most awkward first-year roommate experience?

Were you the type to walk in on your roommate or vice versa? Did you ever vomit in your roommates shoes during Bear Beginnings? Were you or your roommate the type to not leave the room for 72 consecutive hours during finals? Did your roommate ever find your diary and post it on LinkedIn? These are all key questions, keys to the heart.
–Jeremy Goldstein, Copy Chief

Did the Grammys get it right?

Music is the window into the soul. What better way to get to know someone than to ask about what they listen to? While this may seem like a random question, you can always ask them about their thoughts on the Grammy Awards last weekend. Was “Golden Hour” really the album of the year? Did Cardi B deserve the award for best rap album? Debating about music is always fun, and you can quickly figure out whether you vibe with the other person. If it works out, going to a concert together is the perfect excuse to keep things going.
—Chalaun Lomax, Director of Diversity Initiatives

Where were you when Trump got elected?

Politics can be a huge part of a relationship or a friendship! So can grieving habits, or celebratory practices. People who closed the door on the world for 24 hours might not get along with someone who was sitting in Brookings Courtyard gazing at the American flag while boasting to their father that they knew “good would prevail.” Political affiliation doesn’t have to, or always, stand in the way of a relationship, but if two people’s beliefs are that different, it would be good to know on the front end.
—Katy Hutson, Senior Scene Editor

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