We need to talk about 21st century dating right now. That could be finding someone in the produce section of Wegmans, or it can be a blind date set up by friends who, come to find out, obviously weren't keeping at heart your best interests. The other option that many people shoot for these days is online dating. While there's nothing wrong with online dating, there are some things about certain services, specifically Tinder, that ... concern me.
I am all for finding new ways to meet people and making new connections with interesting people I otherwise wouldn't have crossed paths with. The biggest thing about Tinder that bothers me is the shallow nature of the match selection process. Now, I understand that it's mostly meant for hookups, but we shouldn't be so quick to judge our potential partners based solely on their looks and maybe a funny pickup line. If you're looking to make a meaningful connection with someone, then you should probably not use Tinder unless you're really bored. While a lot of people on there (like me) aren't just there for a one night stand, there are probably more that are, so don't take your chances because you probably won't achieve the desired result.
Many people have said that they're afraid of meeting people online, but even though I know where they're coming from, I have a different opinion. Of course there is always risk involved with meeting people from online, but as long as you don't get "bad vibes" from people and you exercise caution when deciding on what to do. In my experience, only one person has been "crazy" (and when I say crazy, I mean it). I have had two bad Tinder experiences that make excellent stories to tell, but that was because I didn't pay attention to the bad vibes. If someone calls you 14 times in a row when you tell them you don't think it's going to work out to try to change your mind, there's a major red flag. Also, if someone is so intoxicated that they can't even form coherent sentences, maybe that's another clue that there isn't a future for you two.
Contrary to popular belief, there are good people on Tinder. I have talked to some great people, and two of the people I met in person were perfectly normal and I ended up becoming friends with them. The main problem is that you have to sift through the thorns to find a rose. Once you do that, it's all good. There's nothing like being able to talk to someone online and establish some common ground before you go out and learn more about them in person. It makes it easier and it is so much more fun that way in my opinion.
Overall, I'd say Tinder is great if you use it wisely. Sure, there are always going to be weirdos and people just looking for nothing more than a hookup, but to each their own. My reasoning for using it is that I'm on it and I'm not crazy or scary, so there must be people on there who aren't either. I have only met four people from Tinder, and three out of the five were great (like I said, sift through the thorns to find a rose). I still only talk to one of them once in a while, but I think that is better than not having met anyone at all. I made a great friend and a few nice acquaintances, and I am forever grateful for that experience. Go ahead, put yourself out there. It's worth it.
