• Monstrosity@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    Fuck the Capitalist commodification of love.

    Drop the dating apps & muster up the patience go do things & meet people irl instead.

      • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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        8 months ago

        They say workplace relationships don’t work and they’re probably right, but the problem is that’s the only place you ever meet anyone these days.

      • Monstrosity@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Yeah I think that’s common, but it’s literally how we’ve been doing it since, well, forever.

        Big Tech wants you to think it’s scAAaRRrry BooOoOOo!

        (I mean, tbf, sometimes it is. Also humiliating lol).

      • QualifiedKitten@discuss.online
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        8 months ago

        Opposite for me. I’ve gone on plenty of first dates via apps, and a few second dates, but have only ever “dated” people that I happened to meet organically.

    • PoPoP@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      Honestly, I’m good. I never really used apps but I have had a lot of girlfriends through mutual friends and such. I’m just over it. I’m tired of romance and especially tired of sexuality. I just want to program computers.

        • PoPoP@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          That’s the goal, man. I would be happy to never have sex again. I always felt like it was more for her benefit than mine anyway.

          • Monstrosity@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            Yes, I understand. But it’s less about the sex & moreso the companionship. When you’re 58 years old hanging out by yourself day in/day out, you may wish you’d put more effort into developing relationships.

            Maybe not, I’m just saying.

            • PoPoP@lemm.ee
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              8 months ago

              I have sufficient companionship. Plenty of true friends who know and love the real me. I’ve been more fortunate in this than most people could hope to be if I’m being honest. I really think that when you take sex out of the equation, most of modern dating is a feeble attempt to foster this type of relationship. People are afraid to reveal their true self and so they seek one person they feel safe enough to do so with, when you can actually have this relationship with everyone you’re close to if you’re brave enough.

              I love being friends with women but I don’t love being romantically or sexually entwined with them. And I’m not attracted to men. So why pursue it? I socialize when I have the energy for it. In the rest of my free time, I want to write code.

              • Monstrosity@lemm.ee
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                8 months ago

                Good to hear. I hope you continue having lots of fruitful relationships, you seem like a reflective person.

                I actually think being physically intimate allows two people to become closer, unless they’re asexual, of course (sounds like you might be).

                And I agree with you about shallow relationships but, imo, it’s dating apps that cause the problem, not sex.

                Dating apps do not always allow relationships to blossom naturally. Tinder dates (or whatever) can feel more like job interviews. Real yucky stuff.

                • PoPoP@lemm.ee
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                  8 months ago

                  I agree that physical intimacy can make people become closer, but I’m not always sure that’s for the best. I think it’s better kept as something to enjoy after a deeper bond has already formed. Anyway, I’m not asexual but I am somewhere on that spectrum, not sure where though. Also yeah… when my friends tell me about their tinder dates I can’t believe how transactional and almost algorithmic their date sounds. It’s such a shame that it’s the norm now.

    • MountingSuspicion@reddthat.com
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      8 months ago

      Fuck capitalism for sure, but the apps can still work. I know happily married couples who met on tinder. Not saying that it’s everyone’s experience, but still. The more avenues people are open to the better sometimes.

      • 5too@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        We’re a happily married couple who met through OkCupid, back when that was decent!

        • MountingSuspicion@reddthat.com
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          8 months ago

          Honestly, OKC back in its heyday was the place to be. So many of my friends made legitimate, genuine connections there. Devastating that they ended up being sold to match. OKC had plenty of people, but it was apparently the goto for all the nerds. A lot of them use meetup now, but there’s really nothing like what it was for nerd/nerd dating.

          • DefederateLemmyMl@feddit.nl
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            8 months ago

            Second that. I met my partner on OKC 8 years ago, and before I met them I also made lots of connections and had several dates with other people I met via OKC, some of whom I’m still friends with. The site certainly wasn’t perfect, all dating sites are straight up self-esteem murderers if you’re a heterosexual man, but as far as dating sites go, it was the best I’ve used because it actually tried to match you with people who shared values with you.

            At the same time I was also on tinder, and it was a barren wasteland of boring normies and felt more like a meat market than anything. I never had a meaningful match on there.

      • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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        8 months ago

        The problem is when it works it’s despite the algorithm not because of it. It’s probably easier for women, as there are more men on dating sites and there are women on dating sites.

        • papertowels@mander.xyz
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          8 months ago

          We’ll have to make sure we’re not looking through rose tinted lenses here, you know what they say, the odds are good but the goods might murder you.

        • MountingSuspicion@reddthat.com
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          8 months ago

          I really don’t think that’s an accurate assessment of the algorithm, but seeing as I am not privy to it, and I imagine you’re not either, I’m not really sure that’s a point worth discussing.

          It’s certainly easier for women to get matches on tinder, but not really sure how that’s related. I didn’t specify the sex or sexual orientation of the couples I was referring to. And even for heterosexual couples, it does mean a man found a wife through tinder, so it being easier to get matches as a woman does not mean that men don’t get matches, it’s kinda a necessary step in the women getting matches thing.

    • SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Women do not want to be approached in public.

      We’re better off regulating dating apps and predatory buisness practices, because people prefer to use apps.

      • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Women as a whole want different things, and often don’t know what they want from moment to moment. In my experience, most women prefer to be approached in public under some circumstances, and what those circumstances are differs wildly from woman to woman.

        • PoPoP@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          women ought to have a signal that they are open to being approached, like a PvP flag or something

          • Cracks_InTheWalls@sh.itjust.works
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            8 months ago

            The thing is, there are signals - open body language, frequent glances around the room, etc.

            The tougher bit for some folks is also seeing, and respecting, when they clearly want you to go away, AND not taking it personally. They may want someone to approach them, but for whatever reason not you. That’s perfectly OK, and says nothing about your general worth, just their interest at the moment.

            Go, initiate contact, and if you’re getting one word replies, crossed arms/body facing away from you, refusal to meet eyes, inauthentic laughs, etc., exit cheerfully, move on with your day and let her move on with hers.

            The biggest problem I’ve had women tell me about is not being approached, but guys not taking the hint if it’s not clicking and leaving them be. Be the guy who reads the situation, takes the hint if present and doesn’t get all fucked up about it, and you’ll probably end up talking to someone who does want to talk to you later.

            Should note this is often just human stuff, and holds for a lot of guys as well with the caveat that they’re often, though not always, more direct.

      • Monstrosity@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        When & who it is/is not appropriate to approach is a totally separate issue from what I’m talking about.

        I think the problem has more to do with the expectations of meeting people via dating apps vs organically irl, especially through common interests/activities.

        Also, let’s be real, regulating Capitalism does not work (look around).

        • boonhet@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          Also, let’s be real, regulating Capitalism does not work (look around).

          *looks around*

          It seems to work fine around me. I peeked at your profile to confirm my assumption that you’re American, and it seems I’m correct. I’d say it’s partly a cultural issue in your country. The whole rugged individualism thing leads to a whole lot of anti-regulation sentiment. In my country even the ultraconservative “let’s throw the gays in the oven and deport all black people to Africa” party isn’t considering privatizing healthcare or education. The classical liberals are considering this, but this is where having a sane election system comes in. Since neither the conservatives nor the socdems agree, it’s pretty hard for them to enact anything even if they do win an election, because “winning” an election usually means like ~30-40% of parliament seats and the ruling coalition is always a minimum of 2 parties, often 3. Plus the president’s one and only power is that he can tell them to fuck off if a law seems unreasonable.

          We currently have people from 6 parties in parliament, plus some people who were either thrown out of their party, or left it willingly.

          We’re pretty good at making noise if we don’t like something, and while a lot of people complain about our MPs and ministers getting paid so much, it means they can live well enough without taking bribes. Party donations have limits that can get people into actual trouble if exceeded, and individual campaign donations aren’t a thing. Political corruption gets the party fined and potentially individuals punished too. Even in municipal government corruption cases. There was a case that took several years, where a businessman approached a politician in the same party as the capital city’s mayor, implying that if the mayor were to reduce certain legal costs on the department store his company was building, the party would receive a major donation - which it then did. The party got fined nearly 10x what they made from this deal, and two people received probationary sentences. This party, formerly a major player, can now barely afford their next election campaign. The company that owns the future department store has been fined more than once for not getting it done as fast as promised - because it’s in a prominent location along the promenade.

          We have tons of consumer protection laws too. Plus a government entity for consumer protection so you don’t have to hire a lawyer and go to court to get your justice in a lot of cases. Similar for employment rights, etc. Fire someone without a paper trail to prove their incompetence or malice? You’ll be paying them a hefty severance.

          • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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            8 months ago

            There’s a big gap between what you’re describing and the USA. We pretty regularly see fines that are a fraction of what the crime earned, if it’s prosecuted at all. We also have an utterly insane far right wing party and a spineless right party.

            We should break up match group. It’s not a whole ass monopoly, but it has such a big market share it doesn’t really need to compete much. So it offers garbage, makes a lot of money because there aren’t a lot of other like options (and people don’t realize the apps are all owned by Match)

            • boonhet@lemm.ee
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              8 months ago

              There’s a big gap between what you’re describing and the USA. We pretty regularly see fines that are a fraction of what the crime earned, if it’s prosecuted at all. We also have an utterly insane far right wing party and a spineless right party.

              Yeah, that’s my point. It’s not that capitalism can’t be regulated, it’s that the US can’t regulate capitalism sufficiently enough.

              We should break up match group. It’s not a whole ass monopoly, but it has such a big market share it doesn’t really need to compete much. So it offers garbage, makes a lot of money because there aren’t a lot of other like options (and people don’t realize the apps are all owned by Match)

              Agreed. So many monopolies out there that people barely realize are monopolies because a parent company owns a bunch of different “competing” brands rather than running everything under one brand name. Match Group is one of them.

      • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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        8 months ago

        I said elsewhere that writing a good profile is a skill many people have neither the aptitude nor training for, and thus fuck it all up.

        Talking to strangers in public? Also a skill, and I’d say a much more difficult one with much higher stakes.

        I’ve known charismatic sensitive people that can read a scene and chat up people. That’s an outlier. Most people are bad at all of that.

        also, remember the “man or bear? Definitely the bear” thing from a while ago? Still a thing.

      • OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml
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        8 months ago

        I missed the part where the person your responding to said in public?

        Go to meetups, the climbing gym, run clubs, volunteering, language class, literally anywhere you meet people

      • 3xBork@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Women are human individuals and not a single-minded monolith.

        What women universally don’t want is to feel threatened, creeped out or objectified. It is perfectly possible to talk to someone without doing any of these. Though it gets a lot easier when you view them as humans.

    • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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      8 months ago

      I think I’ve had like two dates from in-person meets, and if I put effort (without paying) into it I can get like 1-3 dates a week on the apps. I’m not a model or other outlier.

      I live in an urban area and put effort into writing messages. The bar for men is really low.

      All of that said, fuck the capitalist hellscape.

        • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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          8 months ago

          I don’t think that’s really applicable here.

          Every date is a roll of the dice and you’re hoping for that Yahtzee. Or at least a four of a kind. If you’re making four rolls a week you’re probably going to find it faster than one a month.

          You’re also don’t have unlimited time. You probably don’t want to find your first big love when you’re 70, when you could instead find one at 30.

          And to be clear, I wouldn’t recommend going on a date with just anyone with a pulse. Check your deal breakers and shared interests first.

          Of course, you could do app-dates and from-real-life dates at the same time.

          This also assumes you, like me, have boundless energy for dates. I know people that are exhausted just leaving their house once.

          • scintilla@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            This is so weird to me. I’ve only ever dated people I was friends with first.

            • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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              8 months ago

              When I was younger I sometimes tried to go out with people I was friends with first. The rejections were worse. I’d still have to see her all the time at social events.

              There was also a lot more “oh! She’s cool! Shit. She’s seeing someone. And doesn’t date men.”

              The apps let you filter for a lot of stuff right up front. Don’t have to waste time pining after people that aren’t available.

              Someone from the app says no or doesn’t click? Back into the aether they go, never to bother me again.

              To each their own, if it’s working for you, but there are a lot of things dating apps can do better. Capitalism just shits up the place, as usual.

          • TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            hey i like your overall points but i need to point out that it’s SO much more than “rolling the dice”. i do agree that quality over quantity is more important when dating. and that means not just “how good are they” but really “what kind of person are they?”

            you may have 3 dates a week via apps, but they’re all with people who use dating apps, in a dating app context. not trying to put anyone down, but it’s just different than meeting a friend of a friend at game night or something. so to use your dice metaphor, it’s more like praying for a nat 20 while rolling d6s.

            • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
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              8 months ago

              It’s more like “friend of a friend” is a +2 circumstance bonus, and you’re rolling 1d20 + Investigation vs DC 17. It helps, but it’s pretty small. You can stack bonuses on your profile (eg: Good Pictures +3, Good Profile Text +2) to get a similar effect.

              Also a lot of my friends’ friends aren’t people I’d want to date.

              There are so many people using dating apps in 2025, it’s not a big filter. If this was 1997, then “meeting people online” would in fact be a very small slice of the population.

    • boonhet@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      Agreed that the capitalist commodification of love sucks, but also, who even does things IRL anymore? And if you do, success rate isn’t that great either, unless you abide by rules 1 and 2.

      I’m no longer single, but when I was, there were two main activities I did outside of work. Gym - a place where it just feels wrong to approach women. And women never approached me. Bar - cozy local small community place where I had plenty of great conversations with a lot of people, many of whom were women, but most were in relationships already. Maybe it’s the same for women as it is for men, where in a relationship you’re more confident and thus have an easier time talking to strangers. Made some friends though.

      When I was on Tinder, though, with my fairly mediocre appearance, I’d still get matches. Not every day, but at least a couple a month in even the slower periods and like half of them evolved into at least conversations (not a simple “hey” -> unmatch). Met some IRL. Both times I’ve been on Tinder, I eventually found someone there, though it was over a year in both cases (nearly 3 years second time). And both times the person I found was someone who’d pretty much just joined. I don’t live in what I’d call a big city though.

      Nowadays, I also work from home with no office option (unless I rent one for myself), so even shitting where I eat is not an option if I become single. What DO people do in their free time where they meet new people, besides nightlife activities? I’m not interested in drinking 2-3 nights a week anymore lol

      • valtia@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Hobbies, classes, sports teams, volunteering

        If you want to meet women, take a pottery class, join a softball league, take knitting lessons, join a book club, volunteer at a local animal shelter, go to the library regularly, join a protest, join a running or biking group, or even look around on one of those meetup apps for activities in your area

        Maybe your problem was that you only went to your gym and your bar, instead of trying to meet new people? The point is, it’s easy to get stuck into a routine, and swiping on Tinder often becomes part of the routine

        • boonhet@lemm.ee
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          8 months ago

          Maybe your problem was that you only went to your gym and your bar, instead of trying to meet new people?

          I guess I wasn’t super actively trying to meet new people, I was focusing more on my career. Most of those activities unfortunately sound boring to me. Biking group sounds nice. In fact, the only two ways I can do cardio is with a podcast or with other people. Otherwise I go flat out because to my ADHD mind, the end goal of all movement is to get to your destination ASAP. Book club sounds like a great way to get some accountability for my total lack of a reading habit these past few years, so I might look into that as well. There apparently is at least one in my city. As a kid I’d read several books a week, now it’s several years per book :(

      • Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        8 months ago

        Isn’t great? Eh I’m 1 for 1 and I most certainly do not follow rule one or two. Just talked and made it work with a friend of a friend