Dating feels like such hard work

[Britishsummertime22]

It would be nice to meet someone lovely but it feels so tiring. First you have to find someone either through the trenches which are dating apps or something worse like speed dating, then choose where to go, then find something to wear/make yourself look nice, get yourself there...and then as soon as you meet them let's face it you know if you fancy them or not. If you don't you then need to make polite conversation for at least one drink so as not to be rude. I'm v unlikely to meet someone organically as I work with 99% women, hobbies are solo or female dominated (I know I could take up a new hobby to try and meet a man but that feels like a chore in itself)

Yep, it’s soul destroyingly awful.
But if you want to meet someone to be a life partner it’s a usually necessary. Especially if you wouldn’t meet someone organically.
Staying single so you don’t have to go through this charade is also an option.
Or balance the craziness by taking regular breaks from it.

Yep, and it’s expensive too. Ultimate triumph of hope over experience.

Well I’ve given up on dating apps and haven’t been on them for over 10 years as my experience was you get bombarded initially sometimes aggressively with people wanting to meet up immediately and then the seemingly ‘normal’ ones who reach out and give you hope then end up ghosting you anyway before you’ve even arranged a first date 😅. I met my ex in real life just before Covid through the Meet-up app during a group pub outing but post Covid the app has gone to pot as it’s been bought up by a new company who’ve basically ruined it and short story is no such events are put on anymore in my and many other local areas. So yeah I feel your pain. I don’t have any family/friends and am pondering maybe just going out alone if I feel brave enough but it’s hard as I want to meet someone but would feel vulnerable also if I got unwanted attention due to being alone 😐

I agree! These are some of the many reasons that I am staying single.

Single all the way here. The older I get the more I believe all the good ones are taken. I’d rather be lonely than have the angst and stress of trying to weed out a human from all the frogs

I'm not sure, OP, that what you've described is the worst of it!

Last time I had a long weekend of online dating, I was blocked twice, called a player and sent a picture of some tosser's dick (as well as enduring speaking to these men on the phone - with mostly moaning monologues from them. MMMs 😂).

But my friend had an attempted assault on her when she went out on a date (during the day). Another had a date with guy who kept trying to grab her privates in the pub on their first dates.

Just grim. Be careful.

Dating is absolutely exhausting. Mentally and emotionally draining. I have the deepest respect for people who can persevere. I had to tap out years ago.