So based on the success of "What not to do if you don't get the job," this week, we're proud to bring you "How not to act on J-Date."



COMPLETE WITH AUDIO!!



This was emailed to me (don't bother to ask by who, I promised secrecy) and it's about three or so weeks old. And before you give me crap for posting it, trust me, it was forwarded about 22 times before it hit me, so it's definitely out there. I'm not printing anything that doesn't already exist.



Our story opens with some background: For the uninitiated, (those who don't live in either New York, Florida, Los Angeles, or Israel,) J-Date is match.com for Jews. I've used it. I've had a few good dates from it, a few horrible dates from it, like most everyone has.



And when you have one of those horrible dates, you chalk it up. "Oh, it was just dinner," you say.



That's life. There'll be other dates. Right?



I mean, that's what we all do, yes?



NOT DARREN SHERMAN. Darren just felt... Well, "wronged."



So let's start here: Darren's profile reads:



About me:



I joined JDate four weeks ago. Cute, tall and funny best describes me!

I am a person whom is usually on the go, particularly in the warm

weather. In the summertime you can typically find me on the beaches in the

Hampton's or New Jersey shore. In the wintertime I enjoy taking drives

to beautiful towns such as Lambertsville, Red Bank, Katonah, Port

Jefferson and Greenwich. "People watching" can be an easily enjoyable

activity for me. I own a management consulting firm assisting financial

institutions with regulatory issues. I travel extensively for business and

pleasure.



I am looking for:



I am on JDate to find someone special. I have no set rules per se on

dating someone younger/older (20-40). I have learned that age really does

not matter; so why limit any possibilities in finding a life long

partner. Wouldn't you agree? Physcial characteristics: Preferably tall and

medium build. Mentally: Fun and easy going. Someone who is comfortable

with themselves. I love a good jokester so please be funny!



Below is a little bit more about me from a professional perspective.

(Hey, JDating is serious business :-)



Biography of Darren L. Sherman:



Mr. Darren L. Sherman is CEO of <company deleted to give the guy at least somewhat of a chance of recovering from his stupidity at some point in his life from a business perspective, anyway,> a

consultation firm providing regulatory compliance and internal audit

assistance to..blah blah. Darren previously served as a Senior

Investigator for the <government agency deleted>..blah blah.



References are available upon request :-)

I hope we get the chance to finally meet!

Darren

_____

So Darren asks Joanne out. Joanne accepts. They eat at China Grill. (Nice restaurant. I've been there.) Darren pays, despite Joanne offering to split the check.



At some point after the meal, Darren gets the idea that Joanne didn't like him.



Rather than just chalk it up to a bad date (hey, it happens, right?) Darren... Well, Darren has other plans.



DARREN EMAILS JOANNE ASKING HER TO SEND HIM $50 FOR HER PORTION OF DINNER.



Yes. I paused and re-read that about 30 times, too.



I couldn't be serious, could I? He actually didn't email that, did he? Oh, but he did:



From: Darren Sherman

Date: Jun 19, 2006 8:48 PM

Subject: Date

To: xxxxx@xxxxxx.com

: <mailto:xxxxx@xxxxxx.com>

Cc:





Sorry things didn't work out. I guess you changed your

mind.

Here is my address for the $50 bucks:

<DELETED> East <DELETED> Street, Apt. 504

NY NY 10028

Take care,

Darren

_______

OK. So Darren's a bit odd. Fine. He emailed her, she didn't respond, and he let it go. Right?



Come on. What kind of story would that be?



Darren CALLED HER AND LEFT A VOICE MAIL, THREATENING TO SEND HER A SUMMONS IF SHE DOESN'T PAY HER SHARE OF THE BILL!



(Insert Jerry Springer "OH NO HE DIDN'T" line here.)



But he did.



Listen here:



Download VM-01-1.wav



So Joanne goes to work, after hearing that email on her mobile phone voice mail the night before, and before she can even say the world "stalker," she gets the following email:



From: Darren Sherman

Date: Jun 20, 2006 8:13 AM

Subject: Darren

To: xxxxx@xxxxxx.com

: <mailto:xxxxx@xxxxxx.com>

Cc:





Joanne,



I wanted to follow up on my email and call to you last night to ensure you received my messages for the $50.



Please acknowledge by replying to this email that you will be sending me the $50.



I hope you understand from my point of view.



Thanks,

Darren

________

Um... OK. This is just getting weird. It ends here, right.



Heh. Yeah. Right.



Joanne sends the following email back to Darren:



Darren,



I just received your emails and also your message from last night. I was away and am just getting back this morning. I had every intention of calling you andmeeting to go out but your email has completely turned me off and i find it extremely tacky. I will not be sending you any money since i offered that night to pay and you told me no that you would take care of it.



Please do not call me or send me another email i would rather not hear from you at all. And for future reference in the dating world you may want to rethink the tacky approach about asking someone for money like that perhaps that is why you haven't met anyone or have seen them again.

__________

Go Joanne!! Way to show a backbone! Nice!



This, of course, (as you could have guessed,) just sends Darren to the next level.



HE CUTS AND PASTES HIS AMEX BILL INTO AN EMAIL!!!



From: Darren Sherman

Date: Jun 20, 2006 10:22 AM

Subject: American Express Bill

To: xxxxx@xxxxxx.com

: <mailto:xxxxx@xxxxxx.com>



06/04/2006

CHINA GRILL NEW YORK NY

FOOD/BEVERAGE

FOOD-BEV 107.83

TIP 20.00

Reference No: 320061560288086573

More Detail

127.83



Do the right thing Joanne.



Thanks,

Darren

__________

Words fail me.



About four hours later, DarrenStalker (TM) strikes again, sending another voice mail, telling Joanne that she's "hiding behind email," and now he's going to "contact her employer."

There aren't big enough letters on my keyboard to type "WTF?"

Listen here, and try not to snort soda out of your nose.

Download VM-02-2.wav



After receiving this barrage of communications, Joanne decides to fire off an email to Darren to end this once and for all:



From: xxxxx@xxxxxx.com

: <mailto:xxxxx@xxxxxx.com>

Date: Jun 20, 2006 2:38 PM

Subject:

To: Darren Sherman



Darren



I am truly sorry it didn't work out. You seemed like a nice guy, but after your voice mails you have now entered the world of a first class creep. Dating is not business, I offered to go dutch at the time the bill came and you declined, as far as I am concerned that is the end of the story. I didn't know that your paying the bill was contingent on me going out with you again.



Once again, I think you need to look internally as to why things are not working out for you in the dating world. You had mentioned that you had been burned several times, and I am sorry if you feel that it has happened to you again, but perhaps it is your approach in dealing with others that leads to this. Dating and relationships and business are completely different and there is not a quid pro quo for eating and drinking on a date. If this is how you think it works, perhaps you should get consult a professional who I could take care of all of your needs. If I remember correctly it was your choice to go out for dinner, I would have been just as happy to take a walk in the park to get to know you.



With that said, please feel free to call my employer or issue a summons if you think that this will help. Your message has said that you will not drop this, and I am not one to be bullied or threatened. I have saved all your messages and if you chose to go ahead with your threats then I will be more than happy to notify the proper authorities and get a restraining order. I will also let your clients and employees know about your erratic and bizarre behavior.



Joanne.

_________

I do love her backbone.



Does this phase Stalker-Darren? (Who should totally be a comic strip character and should fight the Green Lantern or something...)



No, it does not phase Stalker-Darren.



Darren calls her OFFICE, again threatening the summons, and offering up this pearl of Darren-Wisdom: "You ate the food, you drank the wine, Pay your bill."



Words fail me here, guys. And seriously - for a publicist? That's rare.



Listen here:



Download VM-03-3.wav



And of course, much like the Ginsu Knives commercial, just wait. There's MORE!



After another 28 minutes, Darren calls her cell phone AGAIN!! This time, (and I implore you - sit down for this one) he lets Joanne know that he's CALLED CHINA GRILL TO REPORT A DISCREPENCY IN THE BILL!



Yes, you read that right. Darren has told Joanne that he called China Grill to speak to the General Manager to explain that he should not have been charged for the entire meal - i.e., He expects China Grill to call Joanne and get her half of the bill, and credit his AmEx.

People, I have no motive for lying. You can't make this stuff up. Listen to the fourth voice mail here:



Download VM-04-4.wav

Finally, the fifth voice mail. From CHINA GRILL! They called, apparently as confused as we all are, asking Joanne what the heck was going on.



Download VM-05.WAV



PR props to China Grill - When Joanne told them the story, they not only told her to not worry about the bill, but offered her a free drink the next time she stopped in. WELL DONE, China Grill's GM. Someone got their PR training. Bravo.



At this point, kids, that's where our story ends. Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of Darren Sherman - Perhaps he's filing a "stop payment" on his Amex Bill... Or perhaps he's given up J-Date all together.



One thing we do know, though - (and how many times have I said this?) It you put it out there, either on a voice mail, email, fax, or the Internet, it WILL come back to bite you in the ass.

You don't believe me?

Just ask Darren Sherman.