Online Dating (Sept Meeting)

Platforms: OkCupid, #open, tinder, FetLife, Feel, coffee meets bagel, Facebook dating, bumble, hinge, grindr, her, swinglifestyle, Kasidie, Swingtown, Tami, Feter, plenty of fish, and probably plenty more we couldn't think of

-How does online dating make connecting easier or harder? It makes it easier by giving more opportunities for people you would not maybe normally meet, it's easier for introverts to meet new people. it can be awkward though, there are fake accounts and robots, conversations can drag on and never meet in person, it's not a good way to gauge chemistry, some folks are bad at responding.

-How and when do you disclose identities / interest (like kink)? Is waiting dishonest? Does your status (like married or single) matter? For apps like OkCupid it is important and you have enough room to share that kind of thing, but for apps like tinder, which are more hook-up based, maybe it is not as important or relevant. Beginning any relationship on a lie, even lying by omission, is a recipe for disaster. Why doom the relationship before it has even begun? 

-How do you get online conversations started? Read their profile! Ask questions. Keep asking questions. Get to know them. 

-What is creepy? Unicorn hunters, aggressively forward or sexually forward out of nowhere, objectifying/ only focusing on a certain body part of yours, zero info in their profile, headless picture or no picture at all, profile name refers to something sexual, conversation gets overly sexual immediately, all of their pictures have a Snapchat filter on them, kids or friends in their pictures who obviously did not give consent

-How do you navigate meeting people from dating sites safely? The glympse app can share your location with friends or partners, don't get overly intoxicated, maybe bring a buddy or have a hangout group date with multiple people, have a safety call from a friend, meet in a public space

-How do you handle shifting or ending connections when it's not working? What about ghosting when you haven't met the person yet? Depends on how long you have been chatting, you can give that person who is not interested an out if you feel the end is near, communicate without apologizing (folks socialized as women are taught to apologise for everything, don't feel like you owe a stranger on the internet anything. Sure treat others as you would like to be treated, but don't apologise for having preferences, feelings, or existing as you are), be direct but no need to be rude or mean, if the person you are ending the connection with begins to be rude or mean it is much easier to not give them your time of day and just block and move on. 

-What do you do if you get an unsolicited dick pic? Send them back a picture of a better looking dick 😜, block them, take screenshots and send it to their mom, get creative.