We are inundated with them. So many to choose from. Which one is for me? Which one is not for me? They all seem the same. They all seem confusing. It is an endless landmine in the dating app world.
Which app is right for you is a tough one. Only you know what you like, font like, and whether the site feels comfortable and intuitive for you. That can only come about in lots of trial and error. Also, a quick internet search will show you the most popular ones, the price tags that go along with them, and the proverbial success rate that they advertise. Rather lets try the do and font of dating apps, once you find one you like, or find several that you are trying out. The definite dos of online dating in the virtual world.
Always be polite. It cant be said a million times, being rude to someone is never going to work in real life much less in the virtual world. The written word text can be taken a million different ways between two people, and at times there will be friction. Simply take a deep breath, ask the other person what they meant, or for some further clarification. Don be so easy to judge online, and font take everything so literally. Remember politeness and kindness go a long way online. It separates you from the rest, and believe me, people you are interested in will indeed notice this behaviour as a big positive.
Privacy. Just because you are online does not mean you are anonymous. Make sure to follow certain rules to limit what you put out there. I am not saying to use fake photos - that’s a big no no - rather, do not use your real name, or even your real city at times. Make no attempts to use photos that can be traced to you social media accounts. Use new photos made specifically for that site. Do not give details away of your life - such as your work place, the street you live in, nearby stores, etc. This is all common sense, but, better to be safe than sorry in the virtual dating world.
Types of Photos to use. You want to use photos that attract people. So, do not use fake photos - you will be eventually caught out, and be embarrassed. No one likes a catfish. The photos you decide on make sure they are not sexual in nature. It just does not work well. Use discretion and use a wide variety of photos. Make sure the lighting is good. If the lightning is not good, there are many free editing software to bring out the best in your photo. Also, keep the editing of your photo within reason. So many people, of both sexes, go overboard, and edit their photo so much you cant even ecoregion them any more. Try to make your photo your best, with good lighting. a good smile (no frowns or serious faces), but not to the extent of being photo shopped till you are not that person. The best illustration of this is when Butters has a photo of Kim Kardashian. When he is told that she is an actual troll, and looks nothing like her photos. The point being, she is so air brushed, touched up, chopped up, you are looking at an imaginary figure. That is something you do not want. Do not play or get involved with that photo shop game.
When finally chatting with someone. Act in dating app conversations as you would act in real life. That is polite, interested, not rude, and ask questions. Always ask questions of the other party. Do not be overtly sexual right off the bat - who likes that other than teenagers? Also do not be sexually suggestive as well - it is not a good look. If you have a sense of humour even better. However, one persons sense of humour is another persons trigger zone. Be careful and way of the other person you are talking to before you are making jokes. Remember, in text, sometimes jokes don’t work well at all, unless a little help is given in context, which then may kill the joke or vibe. At first, keep your jokes either to a minimum, or restrict what your jokes will be so as not to offend the person right away. Jokes can sometimes be bombshells in a starting introduction, so, you don’t want to say anything that can scare, spook, or put a giant red flag on you. Caution is always a good thing in this area in the beginning.
Private information. Common sense should always dictate what you do, sometimes called conventional wisdom. Do not ever give out personal information. This should be ingrained in you since a little one, so there should be no surprises here. However, time and time again you will read about people who have gave out personal information. It will never stop. There will always be a small number of people, who for some strange reason, decide that its best to give out their personal information - such as a phone number, address, place of work, or social insurance number. Do not do this. Repeat, do not do this.
Who they are. Again, common sense plays the common denominator here. Just because someone tells you things does not make it real or true. Yet, we have countless horror stories of people later saying, “I did not know this about them”, and other versions of this. Readers, remember for the very few out there, do not take the people you are talking with - be it on any dating app - what they say as the gospels truth. Be wary, be cautious. Everyone is trying to impress everyone out there, the internet main function it seems, in the dating world. This is nothing new, and should come as to no surprise to anyone in this day and age.
CONCLUSION. God speed and good luck as the saying goes. In that countless ocean of the dating pool, with hard work, perseverance, the odds are in your favour that you will find someone. That’s all you can ask for.
Written by:
Jane Weedlin