Just for Fun: Some Thoughts On and While Online Dating

I’ve been online dating on-and-off for close to a decade. Oh yes, I was one of the early adopters that tried Match.com and Plenty of Fish back in the day. Currently, on Bumble and technically on the League but I check it so infrequently that my iPhone automatically un-downloaded it to save space on my phone.

Since I work remotely and frequently from home, it can be hard to meet people. Apps help me connect with people I wouldn’t otherwise meet. They are great in that way and I have met some interesting people through them. They can also be really ridiculous.

For most, all you need is an e-mail address to join there’s no real filter on who is on there. The results of that are…well, what you’d expect. There are some great people on them an then there are some real “characters” on them (perhaps myself included) and a few dangerous people (see Dirty John podcast).

The psychology of it all is pretty interesting including what goes through your own head while swiping. I thought it’d add some fun to pay attention to what goes through my head when swiping and started making notes of my thoughts a while back.

Here are a few:

Do I like you or that you’re a chef?
[After reading “NOT looking for serious” in a profile] Appreciate that honesty
Sad that people have to put not military
YOU’RE still on here?
Yeah, I guess I’M still on here too but that’s different
Maybe you should work on yourself more than your list of qualities you do and don’t want in a girl
Oh man. You thought becoming a doctor would get you women
Awww…trying too hard
Pilot, you’d probably cheat on me with some flight attendant
Your disdain for women is thinly veiled
You’re looking for a girl who is down to earth but accomplished; loves camping and outdoors but likes to dress up sexy; can hang out and watch a movie on a Saturday but will also go to the club and be crazy fun; has a career but can also cook and clean.Very realistic.
Marry me
You look fun!
You kinda look related to me, not going to work
Humor…I like it!
For someone expressly looking for a “smart” girlfriend, you sure have trouble writing a sentence
I don’t think I’m into you, but I really want to ask you some questions about your travels
Oh cool! We’ve been to a lot of the same places
Under 5 miles away, convenient
Just ten more swipes, have to end on a good one
The only excuse for the grammar in that profile is if English is not his first language. Oh, looks like it’s not. Swipe yes!
Australian = automatic yes
[Smiling] Hey! That’s me! [Upon seeing that I’m in one of my guy friend’s photos]
Homeowner. Love a man with some equity but also feeling very self-conscious about living in a SMALL studio