Step right up, it's dating thread 97

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

We don't half get through these at speed!

The Rules:

1. The first rule about the dating thread is you don't talk about it with people you're dating.
2. Develop a thick skin.
3. Do not invest emotionally too soon.
4. It's all BS until it actually happens.
5. Trust your gut instinct.
6. People vanishing, lying & being generally weird is not your fault.
7. You are the prize-they should be trying to impress you.
8. If it's not fun, stop.
9. Loo update is mandatory.

10. No dating the thread. 11. Read Why Men Love Bitches (aka WMLB), and take from it what you will. 12. Don't serve up moose burgers on the first date (although this is still in debate right now)

OMG I think I have an iron!

Exchanged a few messages on GSM. He suggested meeting on Sunday, if my work finishes early enough it might happen! He sounds interesting but has really weird hair - we are talking cockapoo, here.... But what the hey. Can I call him MrWeirdHair?

My mood has been boosted by a visit from my dad, cuppa with friend, new iron, 10K run, lovely dog walk and Cufflinks upping his game - he said he enjoys our over the top banter and wonders if it's because it feels safe I told him to stop Googling 'what buzzwords to include in messages to women'.

He is now basically trying to imply that there is something 'speshal' going on with us. Whilst obviously being very clear about not wanting monogamy never mind a relationship (the bloody cheek!!!) oh please, gorgeous women-of-the-thread, do Not. Let. Me. Get. Sucked. Into. Sleeping. With. Him!!!! I've been trying super hard to get other irons! Maybe CockapooHair can save me from him!!! Oh Lordy. It's like a form of madness.

'Eriksson/Chomsky' hahaha 314 have a brilliant girls night out.

tanya sorry what is SAHP am I being thick?

Not sorry your mojo is down too - there's a lot of it about.

Scarf, jolly and waving enjoy your dates!!!!! (And that's an order)

Handy!!1 id prefer u called him mr cockapoo!

I messaged a man with weird hair last night too!
In taxi now....

later!!

Handy, Self Absorbed Hipster Prick, a few of us seem drawn to them! My friend was berating my bad judgement in this...

Jolly my friend asked me if id eber watched channel 4's The Undateables!

I have been caught by an IDWAR before now - would run a mile at the first sign now I know what they are like. OD is so different from real life dating back in the 1980s/early 90s when I was at it, and it needs a really different mindset. It's difficult to believe some of the nonsense that people will spin you, especially if you're a naturally trusting naive type like me.

I am now thinking a good strategy might be to find newbies on the sites and nab them before they get all sweetshoppy and jaded.

Holy Crap!

I have totally changed my mind about the one picture thing. I decided to just suck it up and put more photos of myself...also changing the one I had used as the main image...and suddenly am getting all these messages in my inbox. Have just started chatting with a guy that I liked the look/sound of before (but I never messaged him because I'm really getting tired of initiating and then it not going anywhere)...but now he has messaged me first...and he seems alright! Actually asking me things!

This really makes me wonder if the pic I was using before wasn't all that great (I still have it there among the others) or if people just don't trust only one photo/think the person doesn't actually look that way unless they have more to prove it?

Anyway...hopefully I will get some real irons now too! We shall see!

SAHP of course! Hahaha! Derrrrrrrrrr

Mom I prefer it if men have more than one photo - because I know I look slightly different in both of my pics. Whatever though, it's working!

Waving Scarf and tanya have good dates, don't forget the loo updates for those of us sadly watching Luther online rather than out on dates

I think I look mostly the same in the 4 pics I have there now...but different shots - some smiling, some not. Am now chatting with another one. I think I'll come up with a name for each of them because right away they're both being more chatty than the previous guys, so it may go on for a bit.

I have two pictures up, one a close-up of my face and one full-length. Had never thought it would make all that much difference to put more up Mom but I might try it if I need to find more irons, or actually just as some kind of social experiment. It would be really interesting to do a few different profiles, all true but all with different photos and a different slant, and see which got the best results.

I want to know what a SAHP looks like, so I can avoid!

Good evening and hope everyone with dates will have a great time

Just had a message off a guy on match,seems lovely but hes 59! I'm 48...
Am I shallow to write him off?

I got sent this today...words fail me

DeeDee I don't think so - I'm 51 and he's too old for me!

This is exactly what I'm looking for ladies! I've been separated and now divorced for 3.5 years and I am sick of dating.. It's exhausting!! Where are the nice men? Does such a thing exist? They are either slightly psychotic or deeply boring, I am so glad I have found you all! Xx

Ah hello lemonade welcome welcome! Hopefully this is a tonic for you OLD-fatigue. Are you dating at the minute?

Thanks bat I agree...
Then we've had a family drama today so was on fb..so get a text off Mr builder asking how I was and was I seeing anyone?and I was a lovely girl and dident want me to get hurt???wtf...like he hurt me last month after a ons and he dident want a relationship
I kept it brief...men!!!

Scarf you have said it yourself - he's a liar. We need to surround ourselves with people who are good to/for us and treat us well (easier said than done, I know) and he doesn't sound like that type of man.

Oh god! I remember MrC! Would you be up for just sex and him being weird and going hot and cold on you? Cos that's what's on offer! Try and ignore - at least for 48hrs if you can (but I'm my own worst enemy with Cufflinks) What's the potential with MrDoc? Any chemistry there? You still there or on way home? What dyou reckon?

Hi everyone,
I feel bad but I cancelled my date for tomorrow night due to a horrible week at work and a cold and he was really nice about it and said he would still like to see me when I'm feeling up to it.

I am hopefully seeing Thursday night cocktails guy for a second date next weekend and he has texted me every day (met on Tinder, lives over an hour away and works shifts.)

I went on four dates last week as it was half term and I'm a teacher so could manage a few later nights but in term time often work seems to take over and I haven't got the energy to be on top dating form, even at the weekend. I'm going for drinks with my friends and some of their friends I don't know on Saturday so there may be an opportunity to meet some single men there!

I too have had some weird messages on OKCupid - two offering to be my 'secret servant' and two interested in 'wet and messy' (I've obviously led a sheltered life as I had to google that one!), plus a disproportionate number of younger guys from North Africa.

LOO UPDATE: MrTheatre is very sweet and not at all the cold smug hipster I thought he was. I am not sure I am attracted to him though, he has a soft, bit high pitched voice.. Aaargh. Might grow on me though and I am sick of assholes so will say am up for round #2

Fair enough Beth good that he was nice about it. Get well.

NotToday I would definitely recommend giving a few more pics a try...I am seriously shocked by the number of messages I have gotten today (I only put them up a few hours ago) and honestly the pics are nothing fancy. Just head shots - not showing any of my body. I can understand why it would make a difference though....when I've seen a profile of someone that I thought might be my type...it has made me hesitant if there was only the one pic. Wouldn't stop me from interacting with them, but I've always had 'they might look totally different' in the back of my mind.

I think it's a bit of a catch 22 to have lots of photos though because then I would feel like I had to choose very carefully. I read an article which said that our profile is only as good as the worst photo we have on there because that's what people tend to focus on. It didn't backfire on me though because I think the ones I just put up are better than the one I originally chose.

Two that I'm talking to now...going to call them Analyst and MrWhisky. Analyst is already hinting at a date - both have mentioned where I'm located in relation to where they are