I’ve been in a monogamous relationship for almost five years now and because of this both my boyfriend and I have missed out the whole Tinder thing. For entertainment (and blog content!) we decided to put on a little experiment. We would both make Tinder accounts and see what happened. I was excited but a little apprehensive. What if he met some beautiful lady on Tinder and left me? As it turns out I did not need to worry. Here is what happened.
Online dating has become so popular these days, just about everyone has tried it at some point or other. It has pros and cons, bad stories and good, and each experience is different for everyone.
Many of these sites are what I call a “woman’s market” because most conversations are initiated by men trying to catch the attention of women. As a woman, I can sit back and wait for my inbox to get flooded with messages from all types of men. Having been active on several different sites, I can tell you there are a few things that will either inspire me to reply or convince me I should ignore someone. Here are some tips for men who are inexperienced with online dating, in no particular order.
The above points are all absolutely vital when it comes to online dating – but there are a few more to bear in mind as a man seeking a woman on an online dating site.
First of all, remember that quality trumps quantity when it comes to messages. It is better to write one thoughtful, well-considered message a day than to write 100 messages saying, “Hey there.” Of course, the ability to write a quality message depends largely on the woman’s profile. Some women will eschew filling out an “about me” section of a profile. One of the most annoying things a man can encounter when looking at a woman’s profile is that, instead of listing her interests or saying something unique about herself, she tells you to “just ask.” As if she will be responding to any stupid question any man happens to lob at her. If you’re a handsome hunk who relies on looks alone to attract women, perhaps you can get away with this. But if you’re not an Adonis, it’s better to search for profiles that provide actual information about the woman you’re contacting, her likes and dislikes, etc. With the “just ask” format, you have no common point for starting a conversation. On the other hand, a profile that makes it clear that a woman likes hockey, for example, will give you a good reference point and an ice-breaker. If you’re into hockey yourself, you can answer her with questions about favourite teams, playoff odds, etc. Take the time to find profiles that have obviously had effort put into them. Personalize your response as best you can. Remember: you need to stand out from the other hundred messages any woman is likely to receive on a daily basis. Don’t be afraid to try different approaches for different women. The best profiles out there are ones that give you a very clear idea of who the woman is and what she’s looking for, as well as offering clues to her personality. Say, for example, the woman says she’s interested in poetry – in that case, if you feel up to it, you could try to formulate your response as a poem. If her profile is witty, try to be witty in your response. However, remember that you should not try to be something you’re not in order to impress a particular woman. If she loves sports and you don’t, don’t pretend. Honesty is greatly appreciated in responses, and a little bit of honesty can go a long way.
If you can, you should adopt an attitude of never expecting a reply to any given message. Take the time to artfully craft your response, but don’t feel that you’re entitled to an answer because you took the time. “Expect the worst, then you can only be pleasantly surprised” – this age old adage holds true in the era of online dating. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive a reply – every woman is different, and while one might ignore an artfully crafted response, the next might respond to one. Try to show what is unique about you in your response. Every time you craft an artful reply, you become more skilled at doing so – thus, even unanswered messages are not a waste of time. If a woman doesn’t respond, do not berate her with additional messages. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. The art of attracting women’s attention through individualized messages takes time to perfect, and one can’t expect to succeed without failing a few times. Keep your chin up – remember, it’s possible that one of these women could be the “one” for you, and if you see the potential in her profile, but don’t message because you feel discouraged, you will never know what you might have missed out on.
Lastly, but by no means least – you MUST be respectful of women. Misogyny is dying a slow, well-deserved death. Do not think with your penis – lying to get laid is a dirty, dirty trick, and in the end, the truth will come out. As mentioned above, be honest about your intentions. The worst that can happen is that you will be refused. But lying for sex only reinforces the idea that men are generally horndog scumbags. Don’t be part of the problem – be part of the solution, by showing respect, treating women as you would like to be treated, and not trying to set yourself above them.
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