I feel old saying this but dating 10 years ago seemed to be much less emotionally draining than it is now. I know at my age (37) people including myself find it harder to meet people and have accumulated more baggage and are more certain what they want and don't want. But there don't seem to be "normal" dates anymore. I've been on lots of dates over the past years but there's always something wrong: men who want to get intimate very quickly on first/second date (despite me stating I'm not looking for that) and sometimes even becoming very pushy and aggressive when I say no, who first seem very keen but then disappear without a warning, who aren't over their exes, who go on 7 and more dates but still want to stay on the dating app, either they tell you they like you within hours and already plan a future together or they play hide and seek, etc. It doesn't matter actually whether I meet them on (serious) dating apps/websites or through friends.
It's quite disheartening... I feel one has become like and object and disposable. I feel that this dating multiple people at once prevents from actually focusing on getting to know someone beyond surface level. In fact, all these possibilities about connecting with people only results in feeling lonelier than ever. It's not that I'm desperate for a partner but I've been single for ages so it would be nice to have some company and some TLC.
Has anyone found a way to deal with modern dating? 