Using a Coupon on the First Date

Groupon just begat Grouspawn, a spin-off dating site.

Basically,it’s a bribe to meet, greet... and then procreate. Groupon is offering two annual college scholarship grants for babies who were conceived as a result of “a little Groupon action on the first date.”

Grouspawn’s Date Assistant filters members by gender and city in searches for singles to match up with and wine and dine…on a deal. If the first date takes – evidentiary proof in photos must be supplied—andthe spawn is born, the parents can apply for a Groupon scholarship.

You don’t have to be a member to play – as “long as there is proof of Groupon consummation." Groupon explains the need for photographic proof with innocuous disclaimers such as, “Without a photo, nobody will believe we dated because I normally date a Japanese body pillow,” or “I’m on a scavenger hunt, and I need to take a photo with an extremely attractive person.”

"Every day, Groupon helps create tens of thousands of life experiences that wouldn't have otherwise occurred. Inevitably, a percentage of those experiences lead to the creation of baby humans," said Andrew Mason, the CEO of Groupon, in a press release. "We want to make sure Groupon Babies are the smartest babies in the world."

“Some people think the idea of using any type of coupon on a date, especially a first date, is tacky…Remember, it wasn't too long ago that most people were embarrassed to admit to using online dating sites. Groupon dating just seems like a natural progression from that.”

So what’s really at issue here? Breaking social barriers about using coupons on a first date? Or promoting sex for scholarships? We’ll save our comments until we hear yours.