Ever since the day the “Colorado Mesa University Missed Connections,” was created, I secretly hoped I would see my name pop up. The page is a way to seek out a person you find attractive without giving away your identity.

You state a short description of the person and possibly where you saw them and hope that they see your post. While the page has caused quite a stir from people either seeking out sexual activities or complaining about how there aren’t any decent guys/girls around, it’s also become the power plug behind blind flirting.

It’s basically a dating site that forms collectively around CMU. You post their name/description, usually somebody who knows that person will tag their name and boom — they know that they have an admirer. Yet there are some of us who take this admiration as a warning.

My name did get mentioned, and at first I was incredibly flattered, until this person said they had known me since freshman year. Great, so out of a handful of people I met freshman year, this particular person still has a crush on me. I really tried to dig into my memory of freshman year and see who could have been this mystery writer.

Then I really got to thinking. This person obviously knows I still go to CMU, so do they see me every day? Do they look at me with the hopes of recognition? To be honest, I am flattered that somebody still remembers me from freshman year, but I’m also nervous about the fact that I feel like somebody is watching me at school.

I’m curious if the other people who have had posts about them feel the same way. Are they thriving at the fact their name came up? Or do they suddenly take a look around to see if anyone’s watching?

To the people that are making these posts: muster some courage and talk to your love interest. Chances are they don’t bite, and they will be nice when you approach them. Remember, chivalry isn’t dead, but your Facebook posts might as well be. How will you ever start a connection if you can’t go up and introduce yourself to someone? I understand people with social anxiety, but if you weren’t really interested in the person, you wouldn’t have made a post in the first place.

By all means, keep these posts coming, because while they do sport some kind of comedy, they also depict the way our generation has coded romance. “Damn this blonde chick that was walking across North had a big ass. Hey baby, can I get your number?” That just tugs at my heartstrings.

khoppes@mavs.coloradomesa.edu