Tinder is an online dating app targeted primarily for the millennial generation. It's goal is to connect (presumably) single people with other (presumably) single people in hopes that they start dating, become friends, or at the very least are acquainted.
When tinder first came out I thought it was the dumbest, most disgusting idea since putting pineapple on pizza. The idea of meeting up with a complete and total stranger, you know nothing about, and hooking up with them grossed me out. Even if the date didn't go as far as hooking up, the idea of sitting in a coffee shop with someone who looks like Jennifer Lawrence over social media but actually looks like Nancy Grace in person was something I couldn't get my head wrapped around.
Therefore, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that I didn't use Tinder in its early years. In fact, I made fun, borderline harassed the people who did use it. "They're so insecure" and "how gross" were some of the more tame opinions I had for Tinder users.
However, after being recently single, I did the dirty and downloaded Tinder. Don't get me wrong, I was in no way, shape, or form looking to date anyone seriously, which I made clear with everyone prior to meeting. I was just incredibly lonely.
It was late June/early July (I can't remember which) and the time was approximately 9 a.m. No one had matched me in the first five minutes, so I deleted it and accepted the fact that I was going to live alone in my brother's basement for the rest of my life (at least it's not my parents and at least I pay rent).
That feeling didn't last long, though, so I decided to try it again; this time with the help and guidance of some of my friends. "Come on you can do it," they chanted. "You're young, smart and funny."
Did you notice how they failed to mention good looking? Yeah, so did I.
They got the ball rolling, boosting my ego by encouraging me to get back out there, while also keeping it real. "If you want anyone to take you seriously, though, you need to stop talking about Taylor Swift."
Side note: After my breakup, I kid you not, I listened to every single Taylor Swift song and album, as well as the songs she wrote for other artists. Everyone knows T-Swizzle is a little melodramatic but the lady can coin a break up song better than Donald Trump supporters can French kiss their siblings. Listen to 1989.
Anyways, I re-downloaded Tinder and lasted a week this time before deleting it. I had met up with a few people, some successfully and others not so successfully, and the truth was that I felt disgusting. I was using the same app I had judged so many people for using and now I was this insecure, gross person I had once labeled others.
After this, my mind was set; no more Tinder.
Shortly after I did what I do best and changed my mind, which, by the way, all people are entitled to do at any moment in their lives.
This time, though, was the best and most successful experience. Don't be fooled, most of the people I met were complete and total failures. Seriously, some of the most awkward nights, moments and experiences of my entire life took place between the last week of July and the first week of August.
One person worried I was going to stalk them because they had a person in their past who had stalked them, which kind of confused me. Why on earth would someone be on a dating app if they had been stalked? Sorry I asked you to go get some coffee, but what was I supposed to say? After this encounter, they went on to either delete the app or unmatch me, probably the latter.
Ouch. That's Tinder for you though.
Another person brought me to the dog park with their dog who had been hit by a car and was missing an eye. The poor dog's legs reminded me of slinkys, and watching her run and bark with the other dogs reminded me of when Forrest was running from the school bullies in his leg braces at the beginning of "Forrest Gump." At the park, we said all of five words to each other before remorsefully getting back into our cars and going our separate ways forever. Just kidding, we went to get Subway the next day and had an even worse and more awkward time (pretty confident the Chicken Bacon Ranch gave me diarrhea).
These awkward encounters are no one's fault, it's just life. Some people are not meant to be together, or for that matter even know each other. End of story.
Clearly this app isn't for everybody. Do I think I will meet my future spouse over Tinder? I had hoped not prior, but it certainly isn't out of the question. Why limit yourself? If someone is willing to watch "Roseanne" with you, keep them around no matter how you meet them.
When I first got Tinder I was like that one-eyed, basically paralyzed dog. I had just been through one of the worst times in my life and was trying to go about my life like nothing was wrong. A few months, weeks and days older I am at a greater place in my life and happy with my decision to download this app, which I once deemed embarrassing. Furthermore, it was nice knowing that there were other people using this app and that I wasn't actually all that gross, or at least wasn't the only gross one.
Ultimately, this dating app taught me how to put myself out there. If you would have told me two years ago that I would have gotten a Tinder and actually met up with people, I would have laughed in your face very rudely. However, during this time in my life I had to change every aspect about myself and that included my old, pre-conceived judgments.
For the time being, Tinder is not a part of my life. I am very thankful for the couple awesome people I met through it and still stay in touch with, but ultimately I'm happy with where I'm at in my life, as well as who I surround myself with. Who knows, maybe tomorrow I will get it for the fourth time and that is my prerogative. The moral of the story is don’t be afraid to ditch the person you were yesterday to become the person you’re going to be tomorrow. Be like that dog and run Forrest run.
