dating apps

[Strawbzz]

What are the best dating apps? New to old but don't like the sound of bumble and women making the first move. Is tinder still seen as for hook ups? Single parent with not much social life so no suggestions of meeting someone at a hobby or walking / running group as I'm not into fitness and don't want to pretend to be for dates 😂 or is paying a better idea like match? Any suggestions

I thought POF was the hookup one?

OKCupid used to be ok, but I last used it 11 years ago, when it was free.

Pure is interesting if you're looking for something different.

At my age, they are all shocking - I hate it 😅

Ah I forgot POF I kind of like the sound of that one as it isn't swiping or is it now a days 🤔

All the free ones are men just wanting to hook up (some women too and fair play if that’s what you want). But if you want to sort the wheat from the chaff, you need a decent paid for app.

my local next door group has ‘single person meet ups’ might be worth a try

nextdoor.co.uk/

I signed up to POF on Boxing day out of some weird bizarre idea I'd like to meet someone.

I used it years ago and met a few people and had a few dates that went nowhere but thought sod it.

I signed up, filled my profile, picked pictures etc. took a bit of time, bit of effort...

Got on there..
And it's swiping these days, which made me sigh, but I gave it a go..
I lasted about 5 minutes before I was looking for the delete account button.

As it's based on photos, it went something like:

Drinking, fish, fish, car, car, fish, group, group, football, gym, gym, fish.. oo he looks nice, read profile... "Just msg me" .. 🙄

In fact, every profile I clicked was very short, no effort, "cant c likes, messg me" etc

I made a cup of tea and put the telly on. 🤣

I feel your pain. It’s a nightmare… However, so is the face to face option too. A few months ago I saw a book by Alain de Botton in the 50p bin on the high street. I think it was called ‘on seeing and noticing’ - I can’t remember. I bought it, walked down the high street and caught the eye of a woman sat outside a cafe with her mum (I later found out). I sat down for a drink next door and flicked through the book - page 38 about dating, two pages. I read it and thought, what the hell. I nipped inside the pub to borrow a pen to write my name and number on the page. I plucked up the courage to get up and hand it to her when they were leaving. “Excuse me, do you read?” “Not really, why?” “Ah that’s a shame, perhaps you might like page 38?” I handed her the book then walked off and sat back down - not quite believing that I’d done it (had been single about 9 months at that point)

Later that evening I got a WhatsApp asking “so tell me about this book” we had a quick chat and then she said she was in the pub with her mum and her mum’s friends and she couldn’t chat much. I said maybe chat later and she gave me the 👍

Made myself some food, watched a film then messaged her back…

I got a massive paragraph saying that her mum and her friends could see through my well oiled routine. How many books did I have in my bag. How dare I try to encroach on her life? I could see she was single. This isn’t a dating app! This is real life! I’ve never seen you before and you’d better hope I never bump into you again.

I was flabbergasted and apologised and blocked her number.

The few people I’ve told said she’d done me a favour and I’d dodged a bullet.

Kinda quite wary about approaching anyone now - I guess what’s romantic for some is abusive to others. I think it was acceptable in the 90’s lol

I'm on Tinder. I understand from a guy I was chatting to on there that a lot of men are on all the sites. So perhaps start there as it's big and free?

I know you don’t like sound of Bumble but it’s actually one of the better ones I think.

Are you on FB? It’s worth having a look at their dating section. It’s separate to the main FB and you won’t get shown anyone you’re friends with.

Tbh the paid sites are just the same faces as the free ones and most of the apps have the same people on so they are much of a muchness

Call me old fashioned but I don't like that women have to make the first move. I prefer the man to take the lead. Not on fb. Think I will have a look at tinder.