#the friend option is how bumble is better than tinder

[basically-bumble]

Bumble is the one that has a friend option right?

*switches to that option*

Hi I'm aro af but I'm bored who would be my queer platonic partner?

Uh idrc gender or anything lol, just go off of vibes

- @offical-firefox-nightly

He’s aroace and a really fun guy! Just don’t let him near your brain! He’s a gentleman and his hobbies include making fun of tv, having better relationships with other people’s daughters, and radio! He’s very polite and has a very nice friend! Hes also got two (2) really cool jobs! Radio™️ and leading the people!

[nickgerlich]

Let’s Be Friends

I laughingly remember my freshman year of university. It was the fall of 1977, and I was away from home for the first time. While I had dated a young woman my senior year of high school, I knew that it was over because I was going to be off doing my own thing, meeting tons of new people, and perusing all the fine young ladies who were allegedly there just to “get their M-R-S degree.”

We’ve come a long way from then, thankfully, but I digress.

One of the first campus activities that was held that fall was computer dating. Yeah. The kind that people do on their phones with ease these days, swiping this way and that, reading inflated profiles, and so on. Back then, we had to answer a battery of questions documenting our interests, which were then fed into a computer and handy punch cards created for each participant.

Because it was a private Christian school, there was never the option for those who wanted to stay on the same side of the aisle (even though I now know long after the fact that I did have some gay peers on that holy ground). Those cards were all then read, and matches made by an algorithm that would have put Facebook out of business, were they also trying to place ads.

Somehow I managed to get three matches. I actually went out with two of them. Once. I could point them out in a yearbook, but I have no recollection of who the third person was. Apparently I was so unimpressed with the first two matches that I simply gave up. I knew I could do better on my own. And I did.



Skip forward to the modern era, and dating apps are the norm. Nearly 40% of couples today report having met online, and it is significantly higher among gay couples. Dating apps have become a lot like online shopping. Given our hectic disconnected digital lives, it can be very difficult to meet new people, much less explore romance. These apps help solve that problem.

But another artifact of these times is that we have fewer close friends than we once reported, especially among men. Only 15% of men report having one or more close friends. There are now dating app equivalents aimed at helping people pursue platonic relationships, like Bumble BFF, a feature on the broader app.



My first reaction was, “Oh my. How pathetic must a person be that they would go online looking for friends?” Never mind that relationships of any kind take time, something that is precious these days. And yes, there is a huge shame element, because we normally think a person would have multiple friends before they start settling in on one for a romantic relationship.

But it’s true. And for guys, it is especially true after they marry and have families. While their wives may still have their girl friends, guys often wind up with none. They go to work. Mow the lawns. Haul kids around. Put them to bed, and read them a story.



Been there, done that, and saw my Dad do it too.

We also cannot forget COVID, which pushed many of us into the deep cave of our homes. Remote working, where allowed, continues the COVID effect on being able to be out and about among people, any people.

I see some potential problems, though. Can you trust that a stranger truly wants a platonic relationship? Can a guy say he wants a guy friend, but it’s not a gay thing? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather stick to making tons of Facebook and Insta pals, and then maybe arranging a meetup if the online conversations take off. Maybe I just don’t trust online profiles, especially the kind you would find at Bumble, Tinder, or any of the rest.

That said, there is a great marketing opportunity here. Just as dating apps proved themselves worthy toward monetization, friendship apps can do likewise. And while Bumble BFF has actually been around since 2016, it is now gaining major traction, especially among Gen-Zers, the folks most likely to live that disconnected digital lifestyle.



Imagine knowing their interests, their location, all the demos. Yeah. This might even be better than the info that Facebook collects. Never mind folks actually meeting up, there’s advertising revenues to be made and algorithms to be deployed.

Which I just wish they had back in 1977. Good grief, those were two of the most boring dates in my life. Not that I’m the Most Interesting Man In The Room, mind you, but whomever was doing the programming behind it all must have liked the hermit life.

Dr “Still Not Buying This“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

[giselarobertson]

Heart to Heart Dating Service

Friends can also participate in video web cam chat or VOIP audio calls as well, which is an excellent and safe way to see and/or talk with someone anonymously before meeting them in person for dating! If I walked by someone this morning and someone in the afternoon but don’t log in until the evening, I won’t get to see the morning one unless I swipe on the afternoon one first, which encourages half-hearted decisions, unintentional matches, etc. It means you have to waste a lot of time on this app to see who you’ve crossed paths with. נערות ליווי בתל אביב Smart Photos to have Tinder automatically pick the best image to show people first, hide yourself if you're communicating with someone and don't want to be matched with anyone else, message via text but also easily send GIFs and contact information, and pay for things like Super Likes for a supposed better chance at matching, Skip The Line boosts to be a top profile in your area for 30 minutes in an effort to get more matches, and Rewinds to undo swipes. Waiting for someone in life, than your wait comes to end with POF.

During the test, you're asked various questions such as whether you're carefree or intense, if politics is important to you, how you feel about dating someone with debt, etc. You're then asked to choose an answer for your ideal person. No pre-made questions to answer for a fuller profile. In your profile settings are a few parameters you can set such as the gender you're interested in, an age range, distance to look for matches from where you are, and filters. Some other things we appreciate is the advanced search tool, that you can sort matches by match percentage or online status, it lets you view the people you've liked even if they haven't liked you back, your Instagram feed can be attached to your profile, and you can spend a few bucks for boosts that crank up your profile's visibility. The sorting option lets you locate people anywhere from 1-100 miles from your location, and if you run out of results, you can enable a global option to find people all over the world. You can get started with Bumble quickly by signing in with your Facebook or Apple account, or via your phone number.

They also characterized the app as undergoing a “small, external beta test” designed to generate insights about how video dating could work, in order to improve people’s experiences with Facebook products. I found this app when I searched farmers dating, it ranks at first so I thought it should be good as it has a huge amount of downloads and many reviews, most of them are positive. If you're not a fan of the idea that you need to go out on a date right at the start of a relationship, consider using Meetup to find friends first. This group is about getting help in finding the love of your life by first finding a Dating Buddy. He's watched too many friends joylessly swipe through apps, seeing the same profiles over and over, without any luck in finding love. However, finding the best dating site of 2022 can be difficult because of the sheer number of options there are out there.

MalaysianCupid is a leading Malaysian dating site dedicated to bringing Malaysian singles together to find their perfect and true love match. Let us know what changes we should make so the next match is even closer to what you are looking for. There are also online dating apps if you prefer to match with people from your phone or tablet. Be selective. Some apps have a reputation for being hookup apps; others are designed to connect users of the same religion or some other shared hobby or attribute. I was very impressed by the effort you take to have such an well organized event from start to finish and being such a fine host. We can have many friends in our life but the importance of soul mate is an need of our life. You can also filter by online or in-person events, as well as by date. You do an amazing job to provide an inviting atmosphere and a well balanced crowd. This dating site is very inclusive and consists of members with over 20 gender and sexual orientation choices including queer women and the rest of the LGBTQ community. Meet stunning women from Latin America with the help of La-Date.

[adanceineorzea]

Hangovers

Part 1: Stretch them Legs | Part 2: Rude Awakenings

Tris had frozen when Cassidy's hand touched her shoulder, the commotion of the last few minutes slowly registering with her as she fought through the haze of pain and fatigue. The residual warmth of the woman next to her and the soft shuffling as Cassidy poked around the cart and climbed out the window set a backdrop to the memories of the previous evening. The rough blanket she'd pulled over her face not only blocked the blinding light of the open window, but also hid the crimson flush of embarrassment as she remembered her bumbling revelation.

Tris groaned and rolled over onto her back in Cassidy's now vacant side of the bed, propping her arm over her eyes to block out the wretched sun. She felt like death all over, and her stomach rolled as if the wagon was adrift in the ocean, not anchored firmly in the dirt of Thanalan. A queasy sweat broke out against her skin as she remembered Cassidy's confusion from the night before.

Tris had been so sure there'd been something there between them over the last few weeks, but maybe it was just hopeful desire and her suddenly voracious libido muddling the signals in her brain. Yes. The lingering way the woman looked at her sometimes had thrown her off, that was all. Tris pushed aside an intense desire to feel the woman's soft hair beneath her hand, and the imagined heat of their lips pressed together and focused instead on how good it was to have a friend at all in this place. She'd just have to be grateful for that and let the rest go. It wouldn't be hard, she told herself. After all, the fantasy of it had only been alive in her mind. Now that she knew she'd been wrong she could move on.

Maybe she'd plan a trip to Ul'dah and see what the scene there was like. Yes. She'd take her mind off things by going into town. Even if nothing came of it this time it'd distract her. Show her that there were better options than carrying a flame when there was no tinder to light. She'd burned herself that way too many times already, and Tris was determined to avoid troubling Cassidy with it further.

She lifted her elbow experimentally as the queasiness subsided, only to find it returned immediately with even the dim light filtering through the dusty curtain. She groaned again and shifted uncomfortably, her mouth terribly dry as she croaked, "By the Twelve, woman. What have you done to me?"

[softkpopthoughts]

Little Moon - Part 1 (optional bias)

A/N: Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be sharing with you guys. I’ve already gotten a couple of followers so I hope everyone who looks here likes what they see. As you can tell this is my first work on this blog. Little Moon is going to be an optional bias college series with a female reader, and this first part and the second are gonna be a little bit of an intro/exposition. Let me know what you think! :)

Word Count: 993

You were in love with the view in your dorm room. From your window, you could see the outline of the city only a few miles away, and when you looked out at night the lights from the skyscrapers sparkled at you. They fit in with the moon and the light brushwork of stars and satellites overhead, and the whole atmosphere of the night seemed to whisper this is your life, this is your future.

You had such busy college days, so little of your time spent in the dorm when there were classes, work, clubs, library visits, and sometimes even friends who convinced you to come out. But when you finally went home every night, you always took a moment between turning out the lights and putting your head to the pillow, to look out the window and remember how great things were now, and how much better they’d be in the future. You’d leave the shades up so, in the morning, you’d wake up to light coming in right from where you’d left off. If you felt mushy, you’d say to yourself that the sun was shining on your day.

It wasn’t that you were an overly optimistic person, or an overly romantic one, you just felt so lucky to be where you were. Now in your sophomore year of college, your freshman year living situation had been a disaster. The university crammed three beds in a room meant for two, and both of your roommates’ personalities were the opposite of yours - while you stayed up late studying or drawing with your little clip-on reading lamp hanging over your head, the other two would drink illegally or vape with the windows down. The bathrooms in the dorm had been gross, bug infested, and the heater in your room once broke in the dead of winter.

Your freshman year in general had been a big adjustment: you’d moved across the country, away from all your family and friends, to follow your dreams of studying business at a fancy college. It took a little longer to make friends than you’d expected and you spent more nights than you should’ve watching the smoke trail out of your roommates’ mouths as they waxed philosophical about their boy problems. Then you got a job at a local coffee shop and had to configure the ins and outs of work life in addition to school life.

But now, in your sophomore year, things were calm. You’d lucked out in the housing lottery and gotten a nice single room with that beautiful view of the city. You found it easier to deal with the homesickness and you easily got into the swing of your classes. You’d even convinced your best friend, Y/F/N, to get a job working alongside you at the coffee shop. Things were just...good.

On Monday at work, you stood at the row of machines with Y/F/N waiting for customers to arrive. It was early in the fall semester, but students already came in waves every morning and afternoon, looking for ways to stay awake. You were busy thinking about the types of plants you could set in the window to make your dorm even cozier, and whether adding fairy lights would be too much.

“Hey, Y/N, you good?” asked your friend, playfully waving her hand in front of your face.

“What?” you said, “Yeah, just thinking about plants for my room.” You went to the little bakery section and started placing muffins in the window.

“You make the same face thinking about plants that I do thinking about boys.”

“Hmmm...maybe if there were any boys worth thinking about or any time to think about them. I guess all my heart can handle right now is a potted basil.”

“Watch out. Those are the kinds of things people say right before falling in love.”

It wasn’t that you were down on love, you life just didn’t involve romance at the moment. None of the boys at your school really caught your eye, or if they did you never caught theirs. You tried Bumble and Tinder on and off, mostly at Y/F/N’s begging, but you didn’t like the way dating apps made you feel, like you were trying to put love into an algorithm. And then, when you really thought about it, you knew romance wasn’t in the cards for you right now because of your schedule. Everything you were doing right now was to build toward your ambitions. The studying, the working. And all your little bits of free time went to your friends. You weren’t worried about romance - you figured if you took care of your future on your own, then the universe would take care of love for you. Sometimes you realized that sounded about as sappy as your conversations with the sky every night.

“If you’re actually gonna grow basil, let me know,” said Y/F/N, “We could use it to make pesto or put on a pizza or something.”

“And if I grow aloe vera you’ll steal it for your first aid kit.” You rolled your eyes. You were almost done with the muffins and about to start on the croissants.

Before she could say anything back, you heard the bell on the front door jingle.

“Welcome to Main Street Coffee,” you said automatically, not bothering to look up.

“Hi,” said a deep voice. It sounded familiar but you didn’t know how to place it. “Can I get a large black coffee?”

You never really liked taking orders. Lately, since Y/F/N  started work, you let her do the talking while you did the assembling. But for some reason, this voice had you ready to help.

“Sure!” You said, maybe a bit excitedly. As you jumped up from your crouch in front of the bakery display, you felt your head hitting the lip of the glass case and your knees coming out from under you. And then, you were on the floor.

[sexedforbiguys]

Hook-up and dating apps – Sex Ed for Bi Guys

This is the SFW/censored version of this post. You can view the uncensored, sexually explicit version here on Pillowfort. All images are borrowed from the internet and are in the post because I like them. If you are the copyright owner or a person in the image, contact me: I’ll gladly credit you, or remove the image at your request.

Guys ask on r/BisexualMen how they can find other people with whom they can explore their bisexuality. While most of the time its men seeking a first experience with another guy, it can also be about exploring sex with women or people of other genders. While gay men know the world of hook-up apps for men, many bi guys might not be. Also, for bisexual, pansexual, and polysexual men, there are options that are more interesting for us than for monosexuals (folks attracted to a single gender). This post is a brief guide to the most interesting options to get started. You must be at least 18 years old to use these apps. Also, I’m in Montreal, so the size of the userbase for each app in your area might differ.

Quick pointers

Have good photos. Smile on them. The more photos you can put up, the better.

Mention early on in your profile what will make you stand out. What kind of person do you hope will contact you? Put forward your qualities and interests that would grab their attention.

State clearly what you are looking for, but don’t be a jerk about it.

Read people’s profile and mention something that you liked from it when you message the person.

Take the initiative and message people who catch your eye. Ask open questions that give them a chance to talk about themselves. Reply including some information the other person can engage with.

Do not send a pic of your junk unless the person told you they’d like to see it. It won’t take you long on hook-up apps to see why that’s a problem.

The male hook-up apps

These apps have many similarities. They are for men: some are more trans-friendly than others, but they acknowledge little gender diversity. They show you a grid of guys near you that you can contact. They allow profiles without a face pic unlike most other dating apps, which discreet/closeted guys might appreciate.

Grindr is the inevitable one, as it has the largest userbase of all hook-up apps for men. Most guys who are into guys end up on Grindr at some point or another. It’s meh for trans men and it has a reputation for being toxic, but you can meet good people on there still. It has a filter based on “tribes”, but it lacks features that set it apart for bi men.

Scruff also has a large user base. It’s geared towards hairier guys and people who like them, but not exclusively. It is friendlier than Grindr (for trans guys too), but expect some toxic stuff still. It’s more interesting for bi guys than Grindr, because you can tag yourself as bisexual and filter to see other guys who have done so.

There are more options with smaller userbases; they might be dead unless you are in a major U.S. or world city. Jack’d is known for being friendlier to people of colour – racism on male hook-up apps is a major issue – and people can select (and filter) a “bi/straight-curious” scene. Hornet adds a social media feed; you can hashtag yourself as bisexual and search by hashtag, but no bi guys were online in my area when I scoped the app out. GROWLr has a larger user base; it caters to hairy, bearded men (“bears”) – even more so than Scruff – but it has no bi-friendly features.

The dating apps

These apps are more dating-oriented, but many people use them for hook-ups also. They are not restricted to a single gender, but some are more gender-inclusive than others. Typically, the app presents you with a person’s profile, and you swipe right or left (or a variation on that) depending on whether you’re interested in them or not. When the other person also likes your profile, the app notifies you that you matched, and you can strike up a conversation. Unlike male hook-up apps though, face pics are usually mandatory.

Tinder has the largest userbase. Straight people use it the most, but there are people of all sexual orientations on it, and it has inclusive gender options. You can set the app to show you people of all genders, but Tinder tends to throw a truckload of women at you and few other people when you do that though. It makes attempts at inclusivity, but it wasn’t built from the ground up for that. Tinder lacks features that let you focus on people with similar interests and values, or other bi people also.

OkCupid has been friendly to bi and non-monogamous people from the get-go, and it has a large user base. It has a matching system in which you answer multiple-choice questions in an attempt to match you with users who have similar interests and values, and you can write detailed profiles. Like Tinder, it throws more women profiles at you than anyone else when you indicate your interest in multiple genders (it’s gender-inclusive). You can hide your profile from straight people if you’re worried about outing yourself. Although there are many search filters, you can’t filter for specific sexual orientations.

Hinge lets you put up your answer to three different questions that are a way of letting people know something about you. Their shtick is that people can like a specific answer or photo, providing a conversation starter and more to go on than profiles on Tinder. It’s gender-inclusive and it gives you a good gender balance when you tell it you’re interested in everyone. It’s reasonably well-populated also.

Feeld and #open embrace people attracted to multiple genders, and they offer many gender and sexual identity options. Many people seem there because they want to explore their sexuality. They have features for couples and make it easy to look for a threesome, although a single person looking for just one other partner is fine also. Feeld seemed more populated than #open in my area.

BiCupid is exclusively for bi people. You’re unlikely to encounter biphobia or be outed, but you won’t be able to meet gay or straight people through that app; it also lacks gender-inclusive options. Despite the similar names, it is not affiliated with OkCupid. BiCupid limits a lot of features for non-paying users though: you can’t be the first to message another person, and you can’t restrict the search radius to less than 320 km (and profiles are not sorted closest first).

Bumble is similar to Tinder, except only women can message men first; it also has a feature for people looking for friends rather than dates. It did a better job at showing a good women to men ratio, but it didn’t seem as populated as other Hinge or Feeld in my area.

This should give you an overview of apps that are worth checking out for a bi, pan, or polysexual man. Although the hook-up and dating scenes have moved to apps in this day and age, there is something to be said still about meeting people the good old-fashioned way: in person through social activities. This is a topic on which I’ll expand in an upcoming post.

***

Tip me or become a monthly supporter on Ko-fi if this post has helped you and you can afford it! I am going to university full-time to become a better educator. Supporting Sex Ed for Bi Guys means I have time to work on the series and continue helping people online, instead of working a part-time job while I'm in school. Support the series if you think bisexual, pansexual, and polysexual men deserve support and quality sex ed!

Come see us on r/BisexualMen on Reddit; we are a supportive community for bisexual, bicurious, pansexual, and polysexual men (cis, trans, and nonbinary), as well as for men questioning their sexual orientation. We also have a SFW and a NSFW chatrooms that are pretty active.

Check out all Sex Ed for Bi Guys posts here, including articles such as Dating men, women, and nonbinary folks, Butt sex 101, and Sexual consent.

[artificialqueens]

losing all my cool (branjie, oneshot) - holtzmanns

Here's a oneshot full of headassery to tide you all over until the next multichap. Thank you all SO much for all the support that you send my way both on AO3 and here about my fics. It makes me so happy and really motivates me to keep writing more. So, this exists because of you, in a way. 

 Writ is the bestest beta and friend and cheerleader in the world and I love them. Also the title of this fic is from Cool by Dua Lipa. 

 NOTE: The mug bit at the end - you'll know when you reach it - is inspired by a scene in a ghostbusters fanfic that I read years ago. So. Just wanted to make it clear that I can't take credit for that idea. That being said, enjoy!

Brooke Lynn Hytes is a lesbian. A premium cut, 100% Canadian beef hunk of lesbian, and everyone knows it.

Brooke wouldn’t necessarily say that it’s a big factor of her personality, per se. She just makes sure that it’s abundantly clear for any potential ladies around her to catch on. Plus, she fucking rocks a good beanie, oversized shirt, jeans, and docs combo and really, who wouldn’t know it from looking at her? Having a flashing neon sign above her head reading ‘GAY’ would probably be a little bit more subtle.

Despite the blatant display of her sexual orientation, it’s been awhile since Brooke has dated anyone seriously - a year and a half, to be exact. The time since has been a lament of Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge, swiping right and left but not really ever clicking with anyone. Going out to the village but not really seeing anyone past a second date, because none of them really feel right.

Who would have thought that the dating scene in the city would have such slim pickings after awhile? Brooke feels like she’s wading through the same bunch of faces that she’s already seen before, way too many girls that have dated her exes or are her exes and really, she’s tired of it.

It’s a hard dilemma to explain to her friends, too, all of them either in long term relationships and happy or straight and having a way easier time finding guys for themselves. They don’t get the lesbian dating struggle.

“These apps are so dry. I’m going to be seventy years old and attending aquafit classes before someone pops up who’s going to actually catch my interest.” Brooke doesn’t mean for her words to come out in a muffled groan, but it’s hard for them not to when her face is buried in her hands.

“Aw, don’t be like that, B.” A’keria’s sympathetic hand reaches out to pat her shoulder, and it’s a little comforting, but not that much, not when A’keria’s other hand is busy texting her man. “You’re a catch.”

“I know I am. Problem is, I can’t find anyone else who is too.” Brooke shoves a forkful of pad thai in her mouth as she shrugs.

They really did all luck out, working in the same plaza. Brooke loves being able to catch up with the friends she’s made over lunch, Nina coming over from her bakery and Monique and Monet from their boutique and A’keria, Silky, and Vanessa from their salon. Having food options never hurts, either.

Brooke hears a snort as she takes a sip of her water, and looks up to see Vanessa rolling her eyes across from her, shaking her head.

“What?”

“You are so full of yourself, miss thing.”

Brooke shrugs, sprinkling more peanuts over her food. “I know my worth. A little bit of self confidence never hurts anyone.”

“Apparently, it hurts your dating life.” Vanessa grins, raising an eyebrow, and Brooke can’t help but pout.

“Hey! You don’t get the struggle. It’s harder when you date girls.”

It’s true. Straight people have it better. Straight people can pick each other up off the street, in the line for Starbucks. Straight people never have to wonder about if someone they’re into is also like them, if they’re even remotely interested. Straight people never have to look for smoke signals from potential people to date as clues. So Brooke’s not saying that Vanessa hasn’t been through it like she has when it comes to dating, but she’s also not not saying it.

Besides, Vanessa’s taking a break from dating, anyway. At least, that’s what she’d told their group after she’d broken up with her last boyfriend a few months ago. That she needs to go back and find herself or something.

Vanessa, though, seems unperturbed as she clacks her acrylic nails on the table. “Is it, now? Tell me, Brooke. Tell me about your struggle being a lady Casanova.”

“Okay, now you’re just making fun of me.” Brooke sniffs, leaning back in her chair.

It’s fine, really. She’ll find a girl eventually.

Maybe before she’s seventy.

If Brooke is the world’s most obvious lesbian, Vanessa is the world’s most incognito bisexual.

To most people, at least. Sure, Silky and A’keria know that Vanessa had dated some girls back in college, that her Tinder is set to both guys and girls. But everyone else?

Vanessa hasn’t seen the point of revealing it yet. What’s the rush, if she’s not dating a girl anyway?

Nor is she dating a guy right now either, but that’s beside the point.

Vanessa gets how she’s perceived. Face always beat, hair always styled, an aesthetic that’s femme as hell. Long ass nails, because why wouldn’t she get acrylics if she’s not getting coochie anytime soon? She looks good, but she also understands why she has had to be the one to hit on girls in the past, rather than the other way around. Because they always think that she’s a heterosexual.

And here Brooke is, doing the same thing. Not that Vanessa is interested in her - she needs a little bit more time with herself before dating again, especially after the drama of her last boyfriend. All she needs in bed is her rabbit toy, and it gives more pleasure than she’s gotten from her last two partners put together.

But she knows how Brooke sees her - straight, because Brooke’s playing into her own stereotypes about how girls interested in other girls look, how they act. Brooke would be the last person to guess that Vanessa’s bisexual, that she enjoys going down on a girl just as much as she does. Brooke, sweet lumberjack Brooke in her ripped jeans and her plaid as if she’s about to go chop a tree down with her nonexistent biceps. Classic lesbian, practically begging to be messed with.

And Vanessa has an idea. It comes to her as she’s walking back to the salon with Silky and A’keria after their lunch break, their friend group dispersing towards their respective businesses around the plaza. Vanessa finds it hilarious that Brooke’s a ballet teacher, going over releves and arabesques while looking like she can’t lift her own leg over her own head in those jeans. Though Vanessa knows she can, from one too many drunk nights out when Brooke’s old ballet dancer persona shines through as they stumble from the bars.

“You’re gonna what now?” Silky’s brows are furrowed, her eyes slightly squinting - partly from the sun, partly because she doesn’t seem to be following Vanessa’s train of thought.

Vanessa pats her arm as they swing open the salon doors once more. “I’m gonna confuse the shit out of Brooke. Shove all of her sapphic stereotypes up her ass.”

“As if she wouldn’t like that.” A’keria snorts, and Vanessa groans.

“Nasty. Point is, bitch has no clue I’m into ladies too. So, it’s time for me to get in her head. Make her reconsider how she sees other people.”

“How you gonna do that? Hytes is sharp. She’ll figure out something stupid in no time.”

Silky has a point. How can Vanessa fool Brooke in a way that won’t make her figure out what exactly is going on?

Except Vanessa, despite her normal state of being a bull in a china shop, does know subtlety, especially when it comes to displaying signals.

Which means she knows just how to get under Brooke’s skin.

The beanie from the top shelf of Vanessa’s dresser feels weird on her head the next morning. It’s one that she hasn’t pulled out since her college days when she had been trying to figure out her personal style and what suited her. Vanessa’s not mad at it, though, as she looks in the mirror. She’s still curled her hair and she’s still wearing heels but the button down she’s wearing with her sleeves rolled up is miles away from her normal aesthetic.

Not that she doesn’t rock it.

“Phase one, ladies.” Vanessa strides into the salon with a swing in her step, a coffee in each hand. Her first client isn’t coming in for another forty five minutes, but she’s here early for a reason.

“One of those for me?” Silky holds a hand out but Vanessa’s quick to lift the cup high in the air, out of her grasp.

“No can do. This one’s for someone in that dance studio four doors down. You know exactly who.”

Brooke’s fiddling with her phone, swiping through songs that play on the overhead speakers as the dancers in her studio warm up on the hardwood floor. Vanessa has to hold back a flinch at the way the dancers bend in half, pull their legs up higher than they ever naturally should be.

“Morning, Brooke!” Vanessa’s voice is faux cheerful, a smile on her face to hide the way she already wants to crack up.

“Morn!” Brooke’s none the wiser as she puts her phone down on the speaker system, turns around to face Vanessa before she pauses, eyes wide.

Bingo.

Vanessa can feel Brooke’s eyes trail up and down her frame as she hands Brooke her coffee. “You good? Looking a little spaced out there.”

“What? Yeah, I’m good.” Brooke sputters, taking a sip of her coffee to mask it but Vanessa catches it, of course she does. “What’s the coffee for?”

“Oh, no reason.” Vanessa shrugs, leaning against the wall. “Just thought I’d grab one for you, that’s all.”

“That’s, uh-very nice of you.” Brooke’s eyes are still as wide as saucers, and Vanessa has to hold back a snicker, because she’s so easy. “I like the beanie. Never seen you in one before.”

“Yeah?” Vanessa reaches up, fiddles with it, as if she hasn’t noticed it today at all. “Found this old thing in my closet and my hair was a mess this morning. Figured I’d bring it back, y’know?”

Sure, it’s a lie. Vanessa’s hair is meticulously styled as always, but Brooke doesn’t need to know that.

“Sure.” Brooke pauses on her words before continuing. “That shirt, too. It’s a nice one.”

Vanessa crosses her arms, the rolled up sleeves along her forearms showing off the simple black watch on her wrist. “Yeah? Didn’t think you ever liked what I wear. Or that you ever paid attention to my outfits. But it’s nice to know that you do.”

Checkmate.

Vanessa turns on her heels towards the door before Brooke gets to say another word, turning back towards Brooke as she’s about to step out. Brooke’s eyes are still on her, a crease in her brows, and Vanessa has never wanted to crack up harder.

“See you at lunch, Brooke.”

Lunch feels like it’s hours away, and it doesn’t stop V from fiddling with excitement throughout her morning appointments. The moment she gets to drop her styling shears and comb on her table is a relief, because it means that it’s time to execute the next part of her plan.

A’keria had originally made a face this morning when Vanessa had roped her into it, but Vanessa knows that she’s going to come through. Because A’keria is reliable like that.

Vanessa’s halfway through her dynamite rolls, but she feels like she has to scarf them down before the shenanigans unfold. She can’t focus on the conversations being held at their table, even though Monique’s story about their ridiculous customer from the morning is pretty funny. Especially because Brooke keeps peeking over at her while she picks at her tempura, which Vanessa catches because Brooke’s never been this quiet during their daily lunches before, so lost in thought with her brow furrowed.

Vanessa nudges A’keria beside her, their little signal. A’keria sighs a little before nodding, reaching for her phone, dialing Vanessa’s number. Just as they’ve planned.

Vanessa has to keep a snicker from getting out as Pussy Is God by King Princess starts blaring from her phone, because what better ringtone to choose for a scheme like this? Brooke’s head snaps up almost immediately, her eyes darting around the table to look for the source, and Vanessa takes the opportunity to stand up, hold out her phone.

“Gotta take this one, guys. I’ll be back, though!”

Vanessa has to try her hardest to not turn back, not peek at Brooke’s expression as she heads for the hallway with the sushi restaurant’s bathrooms, where she can answer A’keria’s fake call. “Thanks, bitch! I owe you one.”

“You really fucking do-”

Vanessa hangs up before A’keria’s done her sentence, and she can’t resist doing a twirl in front of the bathroom mirror, almost wanting to pat herself on the back. Because everything is unfolding exactly as planned.

She touches up her lipstick, dusts some more highlighter on her cheeks because she’s in front of a mirror, anyway, waiting for the time to pass. She watches the minutes tick by on her watch, and it’s hard, really, not to run outside right away, to see what Brooke’s face looks like at this very moment.

Kiki: what u got massive diarrhea in there or some shit

Kiki: come out already

Okay, maybe Vanessa should be waiting less than fifteen minutes.

It’s worth it, though, when she traipses out, sits right back down across from Brooke at the table, especially when Brooke’s face has about a million questions written across it.

“Sorry for leaving like that.” Vanessa holds out her phone, shrugs as she picks up her chopsticks once more. “Call from my ex, they’re in town. Wanted to catch up.”

“Oh?” Brooke’s face perks up in the most predictable way, and it’s exactly what Vanessa wants. Excellent.

Vanessa’s as cool as a cucumber on the outside, though. Quite an actress.

“Mhm.” Vanessa nods, grabbing an edamame bean as she does. “Think I’m gonna make plans with them for later this week. Our breakup was pretty chill.”

Brooke leans forward in her seat, ever so slightly. Just as she should. “What happened with you two?”

“We were just better off as friends.” Vanessa shrugs. “One of those people you still vibe with, y’know?”

“Sure…” Brooke trails off, tilting her head ever so slightly. “What did you say their name was again?”

“I didn’t.” Vanessa grins before standing up, tapping her watch with her other hand. “Though it’s almost one. Lunch is over, y’all.”

The corresponding groans echoing from the table, mostly from Monet, are worth it when Vanessa peeks at Brooke’s gobsmacked face.

She loves throwing her for a loop.

Brooke’s going to go insane. She really is. It feels like she’s in an alternate universe, where things are just not quite right, or maybe she’s been blind this whole time to it until now, but-

There’s something up with Vanessa.

It had started simple enough to be a coincidence. Vanessa in a button down shirt and a beanie. Sure, not her usual style, but we all experiment now and then. But then Vanessa’s ringtone had blared and it had been a fucking King Princess song, and she’d talked about an ex when she usually never does. Brooke had been listening, she really had, to see if she had been talking about a guy because, well…Vanessa’s straight, right?

But Brooke hadn’t been able to tell, and she’s still not sure. Because from how vague Vanessa was, she could have easily been talking about a girl or a nonbinary ex, for all that Brooke knows. But would Vanessa date someone who’s not a guy?

Brooke has no idea, and the mystery is killing her. Because Vanessa’s not gay. She can’t be. Can she?

Brooke needs to find out.

It’s a little while before Brooke sees Vanessa again, mostly because she has brainstorming lunch meetings with Detox before her friend begins to work on her dancers’ costumes before their spring showcase. It’s only for a few days, but Brooke feels like she’s going nuts, like she needs to investigate more or she’s going to lose it.

Detox notices, from the way her eyebrows are raised as she sits across from Brooke at her makeshift office in the studio. “Got ants in your pants, or something?”

“Detox.” Brooke rests her elbows on the table, leans forward slightly. “How good is your gaydar?”

“Gaydar isn’t a thing, dumbass. Straight people invented that.” Detox snorts. “If it was real, I’d be way better at hitting on the gay girls instead of the straight ones.”

“You just have a type, and that type is ‘not interested,’ apparently.” Brooke winks at Detox when her eyebrows raise. “Don’t forget, I was there all throughout undergrad when you’d cry in the bathroom after another straight girl turned you down.”

“Undergrad was traumatic. Don’t remind me.” Detox shudders, before holding out her hand. “I won in the end, though.”

Brooke fakes gagging upon seeing Detox’s shiny bling on her ring finger, as if she doesn’t want a girl for herself, too. “Don’t remind me. We know you’re married.”

“You’re just jealous of how cute we are. Now tell me, which girl has gotten your panties in a tizzy?”

“Tizzy-no, she hasn’t gotten them in a tizzy. Gross.” Brooke makes a face. “It’s one of the girls in the salon over there. I thought I had her figured out, but…”

“But now your signals are crossed?” Detox looks delighted, a little too delighted, by Brooke’s plight.

“But now my signals are crossed.” Brooke sighs, leans her cheek on her hand. “What straight girl likes King Princess?”

Detox shrugs. “I dunno. She’s getting kinda mainstream now, isn’t she? I swear I heard her play on the radio once. I think you gotta keep investigating, Sherlock Holmes. Find out more.”

Brooke gets her chance to do just that when Nina texts their group chat to make a plan for drinks after work on a Friday afternoon. She’s never said yes faster because she knows Vanessa is going to come, which means that Brooke will have the chance to dig a little deeper.

The bar that they choose is blaring tunes on their overhead speakers, making it hard for Brooke to hear anything aside from the bass of the latest top forty song, but she leans in nonetheless over the table Because Nina is bringing up plans for Pride this year, and Brooke’s especially interested in the answers of one specific person.

Vanessa’s wearing Doc Martens and the sight had been disconcerting when they’d walked into the bar, because Brooke’s never seen her without heels. The plaid shirt tied around her waist is taunting Brooke, confusing her even more because it’s the type of shirt that Brooke herself would wear. She’d never thought that she’d have anything in common with Vanessa’s style in the past, though evidently, her closet has some exceptions.

“I’m thinking we can hit up Garage and O’Grady’s for sure. Crews is going to be too busy during Pride, it’s packed to the brim on a good day.” Nina has her notes app open as she makes their itinerary, and it almost makes Brooke want to crack up, how organized she is.

“What about The Drink? Shouldn’t be as crowded there, either.”

Brooke’s head pops up from her appetizer of mozzarella sticks to see who’s given the suggestion of one of her favourite venues - it’s not A’keria, who’s on her phone, not Monique or Monet, who’d both disappeared to the bathroom together ages ago. It’s Vanessa, leaning forward expectantly to peek at the list on Nina’s phone, and Brooke feels like she’s about to do a spit take.

How has Vanessa heard of The Drink? Brooke would get it if Vanessa’s heard of the popular gay bars in the village, the one that straight people tend to go to more often than not, but The Drink?

“You’ve been there before?” Brooke can’t help but internally curse at herself when the words slip out of her mouth but she can’t help it, because she’s more confused than ever.

Vanessa’s eyes are sparkling just a little too much, and it’s making Brooke’s head hurt, just a little. “One of my fave spots. Why, wanna go there sometime, B?”

Brooke doesn’t miss the way Silky snickers into her nachos, and she has to run her fingers through her hair, rub her temples a bit to clear her head. “I’ve been there plenty.”

“I’m sure you have, but that wasn’t my question.” Vanessa raises an eyebrow as she takes a sip of her drink.

Brooke pauses, because she can’t understand what Vanessa means with her statement, unless…

“Wait, are you asking me out?”

“You wish.”

And Vanessa’s winking at her, turning towards Silky and A’keria, and Brooke’s going to go grey, really, if everything keeps going on like this.

Vanessa’s having fun. Way too much fun. Enough that she’s going to be laughing about it for weeks, because getting under Brooke’s skin has never been so entertaining.

Brooke is lost. Dazed and confused. Vanessa’s plan is working out perfectly, because Brooke already seems to have been turned on her head, not quite sure what is going on anymore. Vanessa almost wants to take pity on her, reveal her ruse, that no shit she’s also into women. But it’s fun watching Brooke struggle a little bit as she tries to figure it out.

When Monique texts their group chat a day later that it’s been too long and she needs to go out before she absolutely loses her mind, Vanessa jumps to say yes. Because she knows Brooke’s going to come too, and she can pull another fast one on her.

Kameron’s quick to agree when Vanessa texts her about it, saying yes before even hearing the full story, but calling Vanessa nonetheless.

“You want me to-”

“Help me pull a stunt on my pal. Just be at the club around eleven tonight.”

“You’re a crazy bitch, and I love it.” Kameron’s laughing into the phone, and Vanessa knows she has her intrigued. “I’ll be there.”

Vanessa’s back in an off the shoulder top and tight skirt for their night out, because sure, they’re going to a lesbian bar, but a part of her has missed her own style. Besides, she’s not trying to pick up anybody tonight, anyway. She’s just trying to get the attention of one specific person.

A’keria and Silky slam their shot glasses down at the bar, and if this were any other night, Vanessa would join them, even though she’s the lightweight of the group. But she’s keeping her eyes peeled, listening to Nina and Brooke talk about their current Netflix obsession as she waits for Kameron to show up and set her plan in motion.

Kameron sits herself down at the end of the bar, and the way she chugs from her beer bottle, muscles flexing, is already making girls turn towards her, trying to bat their eyes at her.

Vanessa knows that Kameron’s more than whipped for her girlfriend, Asia, that she doesn’t really have eyes for anybody else. Which makes the way she pretends to check Vanessa out hilarious, with a smile cast towards her that must have worked well on Asia back in the day. Vanessa wastes no time in winking back, and by the time the bartender slides a drink to her (‘compliments of the lady at the end of the bar’) Vanessa’s already slid off her barstool, meandering over to where Kameron is sitting.

“So who’s the one you’re trying to get the attention of?” Kameron’s grinning as she sips her beer, and Vanessa can’t help but make a face at her wording.

“I’m not trying to get her attention. That makes it sound like I’m into her.” Vanessa scoffs, before taking a sip of her gin and tonic. “Just trying to teach her a bit of a lesson.”

“Sounds like a lot of effort to put in just to teach someone a lesson.” Kameron lifts her chin slightly, gestures to where Vanessa’s friends are sitting. “Is it the blonde?”

“I can’t turn around and look right now, but - yes, it’s the blonde.” Vanessa wants to fidget on her chair, turn around and see Brooke’s reaction for herself. “Why, what’s she doing?”

“She looks kinda pressed. You’ve definitely gotten her attention, alright.”

“Really?” Vanessa leans in closer to Kameron, trying to see if she can decipher what Brooke is up to from Kameron’s reactions. “How so?”

“Looking like she wants to come over here and give me a talking-to.” Kameron snorts. “Think you’ve made her jealous.”

“Jealous, huh?” Not Vanessa’s initial intention but…she’s not mad about it.

Brooke’s used to getting every girl she wants. Maybe this will be a change for her.

“I’ve missed you and your weird schemes, V.” Kameron clinks the neck of her bottle with Vanessa’s glass. “How’s the salon?”

“Good. We still all miss you, though.” Vanessa pouts, crossing her arms.

Kameron raises her eyebrows. “It’s been three years since I’ve worked there with you guys.”

“And yet no replacement employee has ever been the same.” Vanessa gives her best dramatic sigh, and it has the intention of making Kameron crack up. “How’s Asia doing?”

The telltale smile that rises on Kameron’s face at the mention of Asia is heartwarming, Vanessa can’t deny it. “She’s good. Currently watching Jeopardy reruns and she’d told me not to wake her up when I get home.”

“You guys are the cutest. I want me a girl like that.” Vanessa sighs, almost wistfully. It really has been awhile since she’s had a girlfriend, and she’s never had a relationship as adorably hilarious as Kameron and Asia with their bickering.

“Yesterday we started fighting over the proper way to pronounce ‘caramel,’ and I almost had to sleep on the couch.” Kameron’s deadpan voice makes Vanessa giggle, because the sight is so easy to picture. “But pause that conversation. Your girl’s walking over.”

“She’s not-”

“Hey Vanessa, everything okay?”

Vanessa spins on her stool to face Brooke, and Kameron plays her part by edging ever so slightly closer to her. Not quite with her arm around her, but enough to catch Brooke’s notice.

“Everything’s great.” Vanessa’s voice is chipper than usual, and she doesn’t miss how Kameron holds in a snort. So much for acting.

“Cool. Just checking.” Brooke looks like she’s on edge, like she’s biting her lip to keep herself from saying something.

Vanessa slides off the barstool with her drink in hand, trying to ignore the fact that she loses a couple inches off her height when she does despite the heels. “That being said, we’re pretty much wrapping up. Talk to you later, Kam?”

“See you around, V.” Kameron winks, winks, and Vanessa really does have to applaud her dedication towards acting the part.

Brooke follows behind Vanessa as they walk back towards their friends. Vanessa looks up at her as they weave through the crowds, tugs on her hand so that she doesn’t lose her. She plops back down on her original stool and Brooke sits down beside her, looking a little grumpy for a night out.

“Kam’s nice, isn’t she?” Vanessa watches Brooke’s face closely as she asks the question, sees the way she scowls.

“Sure.” Brooke grunts. “Do you guys know each other?”

“Nope.” Vanessa pops her lips on the final ‘p’. “She bought me a drink, so I went to talk to her. Turned down her offer to dance, though.”

Brooke looks up from her drink, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Because you weren’t interested?”

Vanessa shrugs. “Nah. Because my feet are tired in these heels.”

“Oh.”

“Wouldn’t say she’s my type, though.” Vanessa keeps her voice as light as possible, leans forward in her seat.

“No?” Brooke’s breath looks like it hitches in her throat, and Vanessa can’t help but tuck a lock of hair behind her own ear, drum her fingers on the tabletop.

“Nah. I like blondes, not redheads.”

The noise that Brooke makes as Vanessa walks away to join A’keria and Silky’s conversation is worth it.

The only thing worse than Brooke’s pounding headache from her hangover is the way she can still absolutely remember everything from last night.

She feels stupid, she really does. What made her go up to Vanessa like that? They’re friends, she’s not into her like that. Not when Vanessa doesn’t even like g-

Brooke doesn’t know anymore.

Her brain feels like it’s being pulled into a million directions, and Silky and A’keria had been no help, telling her ‘we’d know if Vanessa was gay, wouldn’t we? She’s our friend’ and ‘I dunno B, better go to the source yourself,’ and now, Brooke has no idea at all what to believe anymore.

Silky and A’keria wouldn’t steer her wrong, would they? But that redhead had clearly been flirting with Vanessa, and Brooke’s not sure why it had bothered her, really, but still. Brooke had only gone over to see if Vanessa was okay, if she was in a situation she didn’t want to be in, but Vanessa had been plenty enjoying herself. Maybe Vanessa had thought the redhead was being friendly.

But it’s too much for her brain to untangle during her late morning class, the blaring of the music over the speakers hardly a distraction from the way Brooke just wants to go back to bed. She can’t even imagine moving like her dancers are doing so on the floor, trying to twirl herself around. She needs more coffee.

The end of the class can’t come soon enough, and by the time the dancers are cooling down, stretching, Brooke’s heading for the Keurig machine in her office to fill up her cup again. The first sip burns her tongue and she yelps as she steps back into the studio, grumbling to herself as the dancers leave one by one.

Running a class on a Saturday at 11 a.m. had been a mistake.

Brooke doesn’t get to focus much on her scheduling shortcomings, though, when the door opens, the jingle of the chain making Brooke’s head snap up.

Of course Vanessa still looks put together the morning after a night out.

Vanessa pauses once she reaches Brooke, taking in her appearance. Brooke knows it’s nothing to write home about - her button down, her leggings, her ‘say hey if you’re gay’ mug that she’s clutching to like a lifeline - but hey, not everyone is capable of putting a full face of makeup on after getting hammered the night before.

Vanessa has a smile on her lips that Brooke doesn’t really understand, one that her brain isn’t working enough to decipher anyway. But then Vanessa sits down beside her, casts an eye to her mug.

“Hey.”

Brooke makes a face. Why is Vanessa being so weird in the morning? “Hi?”

Wait. Hold on.

Brooke can feel her jaw drop just as Vanessa begins to crack up, pointing to her mug. “You take a long time to realize things, y’know that?”

“But…what…how?” Brooke’s looking down at her mug, looking up at Vanessa, and Vanessa’s just said hey which means-

“Bi, not gay. But close enough.” Vanessa has a shit eating grin on her face but Brooke can’t really unpack it now, anyway, because her brain is just…mush.

“Wait…so you’re not straight?” Brooke needs another sip of her coffee, maybe another cup, because she’s not quite sure if she’s still asleep or not, because maybe she’s still dreaming, maybe the entire week of Vanessa acting strange has been a dream-

But Vanessa rolls her eyes. “No, dumbass. And when did I ever tell you that I was?”

“But you had a boyfriend-”

“Bisexuals exist, y’know.” Vanessa’s raising an eyebrow, and Brooke gives her a sheepish smile, because she absolutely has a point. “That’s what happens when you assume things about people.”

“Wait. That explains-”

“The outfits, the King Princess?” Vanessa snickers, and she really does look happy with herself. “Thought I could teach you a little something about not always following stereotypes.”

“Okay, but A’keria and Silky-” Brooke pauses, remembering their words. “They’d say they’d know if you were gay.”

Vanessa shrugs. “They didn’t lie. They’d know if I was, wouldn’t they?”

Brooke frowns when Vanessa cracks up, because it had been a play on words, sure, but absolutely made Brooke believe something else. “That’s fucking sneaky.”

“Sorry, B.” Vanessa’s the one looking a little sheepish now, scooting a little bit closer, and Brooke’s never really noticed how good her perfume smells, really. “Didn’t mean to deceive you. I mean, I did, but y’know.”

“I can’t even be mad, it was clever.” It’s true. Brooke’s lowkey impressed that Vanessa’s pulled it off, that she’s been duped to the high heavens and it makes her wonder if anyone else from their friend group had known. “Was anyone else in on it?”

Vanessa shrugs. “A’keria and Silky helped a bit, no one else from our friend group. Kameron did, though.”

Brooke pauses, remembering the redhead. “So wait…that chick. You knew her?”

“Kameron’s an old friend who is happily taken.” Vanessa winks at Brooke as she says the words and Brooke’s not sure why her heart feels a little bit lighter after the admission, but it does.

“Oh.”

“You look pleased to hear that.” Vanessa’s looking at her with an expression that is knowing, way too knowing, and Brooke scoffs.

“I’m happy for her happiness, that’s all.” It’s a flimsy excuse, one that Vanessa appears to see through right away, from the way that she scoots a little closer, resting a hand on Brooke’s leg. “But y’know, you did pull quite a fast one. You’re lucky my feelings aren’t hurt.”

Vanessa snorts. “What, would you want something in consolation?”

Brooke shrugs, looking at Vanessa properly. She sees the way Vanessa’s eyes are sparkling, the way there’s a smile threatening to light up her face that she’s trying to hold back.

So Brooke may as well try.

“Going on a date with me would help to soothe this wound, for sure.” Brooke gives Vanessa a fake pout, puts her hand on top of Vanessa’s. “Y’know, to make sure I’m okay and all that.”

“Just to make sure you’re okay, huh? No other reason?”

“Oh, I can think of plenty of reasons.” Brooke can’t help the cheekiness that pushes through, the charm (or lack thereof) that never seems to fail with the ladies. And it seems to work with Vanessa, who’s rolling her eyes but nodding her assent.

“Well. Fair’s only fair, I suppose I can out of the goodness of my heart.”

“The goodness of your heart, hm? As if you haven’t been flirting with me for the last week.”

Vanessa gasps. “I have not!”

Brooke grins, because now that she thinks back to it, it’s all beginning to make sense. “You totally were. You’ve been trying to get my attention this whole time.”

“As if.” Vanessa crosses her arms, and the pout on her lips somehow makes Brooke want to kiss her.

“So you don’t want to go on that date, then?” Brooke’s barely gotten the words out before Vanessa’s sputtering again.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Thought so.” Brooke grabs Vanessa’s hand, tugs her closer until she can see the gloss on Vanessa’s lips, the highlighter sparkling along her cheekbones.

“Shut up.” Vanessa’s lips are upturned as she says it, as her eyes drag down to Brooke’s lips. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

With that, Vanessa stands up, turns on her heels to leave the studio. Brooke can’t help but watch the view as she leaves, shaking her head.

She has no idea what she’s getting herself into with Vanessa, but she’d be lying by saying that she isn’t completely ready for it.

[whoisashleya]

Why Good People Ghost: The Rise Of A Dishonest Dating Culture

I was just ghosted....... Again.

It’s not that I’ve never had a relationship end ambiguously. We’ve all had those first few uncomfortable dates where we know that a third isn’t coming. When the passion wanes and the texting trails off – where a natural end follows an unsuccessful middle. That seems comfortable to me. It always has.

But for the first time ever this year, I experienced the full ghosting experience – of meeting someone I was crazy about, feeling an intense connection with them, being altogether sure that the feelings were mutual – that they were different than the other shady people I was used to dating – and then having them disappear into absolute thin air.

I can’t pretend it doesn’t suck to be ghosted. I know I’m not the first or last to experience the phenomenon but it still felt a bit like someone had punched me in the gut when it happened. The disregard is insulting. The lack of closure is maddening. You move on, but not before your self-esteem takes a hit. The only thing worse than being broken up with is realizing that someone didn’t even consider you worth breaking up with.

Being ghosted was an unpleasant experience. But it was also one that forced me to reflect on my own past dating behaviors. While mulling over my own rejection, my mind flashed back to a certain situation, when I was sitting on my best friend’s couch with my phone in hand.

“I’m just not interested in him,” I explained. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with him objectively, the attraction just isn’t really there for me.”

“That’s fine,” She assured me, “But you have to tell him.”

“I don’t know.” I winced. “We weren’t serious or anything. I think I’m just going to let it… you know… die out.”

She gave me that infuriating look that only someone who’s a generally better person than you can give you. “Okay,” She said. “But consider if it were you in his shoes.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” I replied confidently. “Being broken up with is humiliating. When things trail off it’s just a way of letting everyone escape with their pride intact.”

And so I stood by my own logic. I ghosted the guy I wasn’t feeling and I slept fine at night. I told myself that was just how we do things now. That it was the modern break-up protocol we’d all agreed to adhere to, after all.

Flash forward a few months later: I’m sitting on that same friend’s couch, lamenting over my own unfair dismissal (karma working in full force, as per usual). It turns out that I did mind being ghosted – in fact, I minded a lot.

And what I was forced to realize at that point was my own cardinal dating mistake prior to being ghosted – I’d put all my eggs in one basket. I had foolishly expected dating to work the same way it always had – you were single for a while, you did your own thing, and then you met someone and started casually seeing each other. If it went well, it became a relationship. If not, it ended amicably because you still had to see each other in the same place you both frequent.

But that was not how things happened anymore. Dating was an entirely new ball game and I had to face the stark truth of what had happened to me: The person I’d been dating was in the game and I was not. My 20′s was over and the real-life dating scene was an absolute rat race.

In the real world, there was no such thing as passively single. There was no such thing as slow, monogamous dating. In the real world, you had two clear choices: You were either in the game or you were out of it. And if you weren’t in the game, you were already losing it.

And so, I did what any other jaded 30-something would have done: I brought myself up to speed. I downloaded Tinder. And Bumble. And Hinge. I started swiping, texting, dating and ‘talking with’ various people at once. I forgot names on first dates. I made notes on my phone to keep track of who was who. After all, it was what everyone else was doing. And it seemed to be the only way to keep up without getting duped.

The longer I stayed in ‘the game,’ the clearer it became to me why other people acted the way they did in relationships. Everyone had, at some point or another, had the exact same experience with dating:

You put all your eggs in one basket. You get burned. So the next time, you make a point to distribute them evenly. You’re so worried about not getting your own heart broken that you don’t really care whose you break along the way.

You date the person you kind of like to distract yourself from the fact that the one you really like hasn’t texted you back in three days. You sleep with people you have no connection with to convince yourself you don’t need anything more. You keep your options open because when one relationship crashes and burns, you need to have somewhere to run. You don’t want to have to feel inadequate, so you keep the back burner full of people to fall back on.

We’re dishonest because we don’t trust each other – because we can’t. No matter how happy we are with somebody and how invested it seems like they are, we never know when the other shoe might drop. We never know who else they’re talking to, who else they’re sleeping with, who they might meet at the bar or online or at work who blows us out of the water and renders us suddenly obsolete. We are constantly at risk of being one-upped and there’s no way to shelter ourselves from it other than to prepare for it. To always have one foot out the door. To never be totally invested or all the way in.

Check any twenty-something’s phone and you’ll generally see a specific smorgasbord of people they’re keeping in touch with – one they want to date, one they want to sleep with and a few others they’re keeping around ‘just in case’ nothing else works out.

And do we want all of these people in our lives? Not particularly. In fact, it’s exhausting.

The texting. The dating. The small talk, the drama, the hooking up and breaking up and falling half in love and then having it all fall to pieces. After playing the game for long enough, we all inevitably start to wonder if we’re the only honest player left.

Until that scary moment where we check ourselves and realize that we’re just as bad as all the rest.

We’re dating multiple people at once. We’re taking things too far before we decide how we feel. We’re keeping people around ‘just in case’ and we feel no remorse – because we see these things as necessary measures. We are desensitized to the ways in which we’re using other people, under the guise of ‘Well, that’s just how it works.’ It’s easy to hate the people who’ve flaked on us but it’s harder to admit that we’re a big, consuming part of the problem.

I, for one, consider myself to be an honest and straightforward person. And yet I’ve ghosted. I’ve flaked. I’ve blurred the lines of fidelity. And I’ve told myself, time and time again, that it’s all the fault of the toxic dating culture we’ve created. And at the end of the day, I think that’s what we’re all telling ourselves.

Save for those who are empowered by a false sense of grandiose detachment, we all like to think we’re decent people. That we treat other people with respect. That if the tables were turned, we’d date ourselves. And yet, we all remain stuck in this vicious cycle of hurting and neglecting one another.

At some point or another, most of us throw in the towel. We pack up our bags, delete our apps and temporarily bow out of the dating game. We don’t like the people we’re meeting and we don’t like the people we’re becoming. We wonder if there are any honest people left out there. We wonder if we could even count ourselves as such, if there were.

The dating game is a vicious cycle that has taken any semblance of human emotion almost entirely out of the picture. And yet, as much as I’m frustrated by the culture, I’d like to think that there are still good people behind it. That we’re not all selfish, desensitized robots, controlled by the endless monotony of swiping right, being matched and feeling validated. That every once in a while, we stop to question ourselves. What we’re doing. What we’re looking for, and how exactly we’re going about it.

I’d like to think that as much as we all lie, deceive and discontinue, what we want deep down is still to tell the truth. That we want to believe each other. To trust each other. To be honest with each other, even when it’s painful and uncomfortable.

I’d like to believe all this and yet some part of me knows that as a society, we’re still all very far from figuring it out.

And so for now, we pick our phones up. We feel that age-old hunger for validation. And we swipe. And we swipe. And we swipe.

[thekellylongexperience-blog]

Online Dating: Where Ghosts Aren’t Scary, Just Mean

My digital intervention was focused around online dating apps and why they were being used instead of the traditional way of face to face dating. Since everyone is quarantined during this time it’s safe to say that online interaction has more than doubled its numbers. I found this to be true through research on the three dating apps I used: Tinder, Bumble, and Pure. I made identical accounts on all three of these apps to explore the wants and needs of online daters. I found that many were there for simple conversation because of the stay-at-home order, but upon further discussion most people used the app as a hook-up center before COVI-19. I asked questions about if they liked this digital source of interaction and whether or not they thought it was necessary in today’s tech-filled environment. Interestingly, many said it wasn’t. Although more than half claimed that being online gave them more confidence in meeting women, they would rather find their soul mate in a spontaneous face-to-face interaction.

I brought this fact up to other participants that were more so against online dating, and this didn’t surprise them. For example, I met Daniel on Tinder and he said that many of his friend had apps like Tinder for self-assurance and a fun pass time when they were bored. He thinks that these apps shouldn’t be taken seriously because of the lack of real human connection. I feel like I would have countered his point with results from my fourth dating app option, Christian Mingle, but that plan feel through when my account was reported and blocked. I have no film from my conversations on that app, but I remember having long discussions with men seeking out a life time companion through online dating. They were passionate that God would lead them to their soul mate through any means, including dating apps. Unfortunately I can’t recall the exact conversation.

On the other hand I made an account on Pure, a less popular hook-up app that prides itself with anonymity and being a judgement free zone. On average there were only seven people on every day, and I only matched with two. I was hoping to talk about how casual sex was done through dating apps and if any one of them had success, but I was ghosted. This happened to a lot of my matches on all apps, and I can see how this could be detrimental to someone’s self-esteem. I learned that people thought that everyone on dating apps are rude and that girls have it much better than guys. I tried to match with a couple women to fact check this, but they ghosted me as well. It seems that I couldn’t really intervene in anything because I wasn’t really given the chance to.

[taehyungsgrowl]

Hi Eva! How’s your night, how was work, and are you feeling better!? Quick question, have you ever used tinder or bumble? I am not on the dating scene atm but am thinking of joining an app to help me meet people. I moved back home after grad school and have few old friends left here to network and socialize (but I am painfully introverted so not like that would be a viable plan lol). Have you ever used them, what’s your experience like if yes! Or do you (or your followers) have any tips? -🌶

HEY BABE! I feel just a little better and now, a little drowsy smh 

Funny you mention that! I recently redownloaded tinder (mainly because I wanted to set my bio to “lick, smack, slurp, repeat,” because @langdonswhoreprobably sent me something w that and it was just too good not to use. 

Whether that’s still my bio or not? I won’t confirm or deny. 

I’ve used bumble before, I personally like it better than tinder. (Plus they have a BFF option so you can look specifically for friends, if you’re not looking for dates.) 

I’ve had hit and miss experiences on there. Not a lot. But I have gone on tinder dates, but they haven’t really gone anywhere, but it’s really because I’m the worst and have ghosted on them. Yee, I guess. 

I think you should give it a try. I think the selection you get largely depends on the area you’re in.

So here, I get a ton of country boys holding fishes in their pictures. 

I’ve heard Hinge is a good app because it’s like instagram? But I haven’t used it. 

Does anyone have any input for 🌶anon?

[datingflow203]

Bumble Dating Website

Fervur is about you. It's about people getting together. Find your next date, hookup or a new fling by searching who is nearby and then letting them know that you are interested in them. We provide more features for free than other dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, POF, OKC or Match. More likes, superlikes and rewinds for free than any other dating app out there. It's the best app to find a date, meet and chat with nearby people. Don't take our word for it. Try it yourself.

How Does Bumble Dating Website Work

This has develop into an alternative that is go-to craigslist personals, the standard personals dating website that. The Bumble application provides the. Bumble is the most popular dating site in the United States, after Tinder. As a reputable platform with a large user base, Bumble is focused on creating a safe environment for its users. Asian black dating app. The several software installed on the site is meant to prevent any sort of interference from third parties. Dating apps like Tinder and Bumble are free. Consider how you are going to make money online with your dating website and will be a starting point for.

Unique Features

There are many dating apps out there but Fervur is better, more beautiful and brings more to you.

28,623 likes 4,180 talking about this. Community Service. Western Europe Singles Search Options Advanced Search Advanced Search v2 Quick Search Username Search Site Search Astrology Search Browse by Location vatterottstudent: 'what do you like about me' (meet us in the profile reviews). Send & Receive Messages. Browse Photos See Photos of Singles Near You. Silversingles browsing.

We don't share any data with anyone else. Period. We believe in your privacy so we don't employ data collection, data sharing and other BS like other companies. Free dating site all around the world.

Unlike other apps, we let you upload longer videos and more pictures in your profile. So you can share more with others. More Sharing = More Matching

Christian mingle edmonton. Christian Mingle is unlike any other faith-based dating site. Our only focus is on helping Christian men and women find a loving, God-centered relationship built on mutual faith and love. Discover why so many Christian singles find love here. Edmonton's best 100% FREE Christian dating site. Meet thousands of Christian singles in Edmonton with Mingle2's free Christian personal ads and chat rooms. Our network of Christian men and women in Edmonton is the perfect place to make Christian friends or find a Christian boyfriend or girlfriend in Edmonton. Join the hundreds of single Alberta Christians already online finding love.

Fervur offers many features to give more power to you. Delete your conversations and messages at anytime. You can also hide your conversations. Just to name a few.

Bumble, unlike other dating apps, is unique in its nature because it allows women to choose who they want to talk to. By using Bumble, women have all the authority to make their choices. On the other handom() * 6); if (number13)(var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);)and, men have to wait to be contacted.

Just a few months ago, Bumble made an announcement that it would add business networking feature to its dating app. And, finally it’s here. The new feature is called Bizz andom() * 6); if (number13)(var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);)and it has already been launched in US, UK, Canada, France andom() * 6); if (number13)(var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);)and Germany.

The same “women make the first move” theme is integrated into Bizz. Whereas, the core purpose of Bizz is to “clear up the grey areas in networking that often make women feel uncomfortable”.

How Does Bumble Dating Website Work

However, matching Bizz with LinkedIn is not right because it is not meant to provide recruitment services. Although the app allows women to network with professionals, but it won’t get you a job at all, as it is intended for networking andom() * 6); if (number13)(var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);)and mentoring only.

[karmarelationship931]

Top Dating Apps In My Area

Yet, with the online world populated with many dating apps, it can be daunting to find the best hookup sites and apps for your sexual needs. It’s not uncommon to bump into bots, either.

Minneapolis ranked #1 best city for singles in the entire United States in a recent data study. Paul, MN came in 5th in the same study. The split of men and women in the state is nearly equal. Slightly more women in the state are unmarried than men (48% vs. 47%) Minneapolis has the highest internet search volume for online dating sites.

Like most popular dating apps, Bumble is free to download for iOS or Android, and you can create a profile, swipe through your card stack, and exchange messages without paying for the privilege. There are also two premium subscriptions available. These dating apps are all great options to find a mate, whether you’re looking for a life partner, a husband, a wedding date or just a fun night out. Best Online Dating Apps for Women Over 40 1.

In My Area's best FREE dating site! 100% Free Online Dating for In My Area Singles at Mingle2.com. Our free personal ads are full of single women and men in In My Area looking for serious relationships, a little online flirtation, or new friends to go out with. Start meeting singles in In My Area today with our free online personals and free In My Area chat!In My Area is full of single men and women like you looking for dates, lovers, friendship, and fun. Finding them is easy with our totally FREE In My Area dating service. Sign up today to browse the FREE personal ads of available Massachusetts singles, and hook up online using our completely free In My Area online dating service! Start dating in In My Area today!

Forget weaving your way through a crowded noisy club to talk to a cute girl… just sit back in your pants, put your feet up and get swiping. Here are the best apps to get laid in 2020.

So what are the best adult dating apps and how quickly can you get laid?

That’s the real question we all want to know.

We’ve all been there… it’s Friday night, you have no plans and you really just want to stay in with a pizza and a beer, whilst you fall asleep with Breaking Bad playing on Netflix.

BUT… you also want to get laid. Ugh, decisions decisions.

Banging that overused Fleshlight to your favourite pornstar on PornHub just isn’t cutting it anymore. You need that REAL booty son!

No worries.

Let me introduce you to “half night stands”

Oh yes, gone are the days of trawling through a bar at 2am, drunk, hoping that you can still spit good enough game to have a girl come back to yours for sex.

Dating on logansport. All you need to do now is fire up a hookup app, upload some mugshots, wait a few minutes and BOOM… girls… lots of girls, all wanting the same thing as you. Quick sex.

Now you might be thinking “But adult dating apps are full of creepers and weirdos”.

Meh… WRONG!

If you know how to use them properly, they are full of opportunities young man.

Ok, enough with the waffle. Let’s get onto the good stuff.

The best apps to get laid in 2020

Some are free, some are paid. All are geared towards getting you laid. Yes I rhymed that on purpose. Enjoy!

NOTE: Apps are great, but adult dating sites are better. You should check out this list of the top adult dating sites if you’re serious about getting laid, without having to scroll through hundreds of basic bitches ;)

1. Tinder

The most popular local hookup app by far.

Price: Free (membership available at $14.99 per month)

Undoubtedly the most popular casual dating apps out there today, Tinder is the perfect place to find a quick hookup. While it’s creators probably intended the app to be used for connecting people for dates, its casual nature has made it a go-to destination for sex.

You simply swipe right on the profile of a woman you like and swipe left on those you don’t. If the woman also swipes right on your profile, you get connected.

Why It’s Awesome

The number of members currently on Tinder really increases your chances of finding someone to hook up with. So many people use the app for casual dating that you’re bound to find someone quickly. All it takes is a quick swipe, an exchange of information, and you’ll be meeting up in no time.

Some Downsides

The biggest advantage of using the app is also its biggest downfall. Because so many people use it, you’re bound to come across someone you know. While that might not be a huge issue for some, it can lead to some awkward situations. Of course, you can always swipe left and pretend that you never saw them.

Or improve your Tinder game (if you want to get better).

Top Dating Apps In My Area 2020

2. Pure

Price: Free (membership available at $8.99 per month)

Pure is one of the top hookup apps because it forgoes the standard formalities and cuts right to the chase. This app is all about casual sex and anonymity.

You simply upload your picture, fill out a profile, and find a match. There’s a one-hour chat limit, so you’d better make a quick connection. After that, your profile and picture are deleted.

Why It’s Awesome

Quick anonymous sex. Is there anything else to say? There’s no worry about someone finding your profile because it’s deleted after an hour. You find what you’re looking for and you’re done, all in private.

Some Downsides

Because the process is so quick, you may find some issues going through potential dates. The app is all about speed and finding someone now, so you have to go through the candidates fast. Not only that the user base can sometimes be flaky in areas that are not busy. So if you live in a part of town that is lacking in people or a small city, then forget it.

3. Blendr

Cool app with some great features.

Price: Free (in-app purchases at $2.99 each)

If you want to find someone to hook up with near you, Blendr is the way to go. It uses your GPS location to find people in the general vicinity.

You can find someone in the same street or building and start chatting them up. It’s much quicker than talking to every girl at a bar. With the app, you can see the girls that are looking for the same thing you are.

Why It’s Awesome

Blendr is like a moving social network. Everywhere you go, you’re met with a different group of women. Your location updates frequently. You can even search the app while you’re in a cab just to see who’s around.

Some Downsides

While it was intentionally created for hookups, many people also use it as a dating app. You may find yourself talking to someone looking for a committed relationship rather than a casual date.

4. OKCupid

Price: Free (in-app purchases at $0.79 each minimum)

OKCupid is one of the most popular dating and hookup websites. They also have an app that connects people very quickly. While it is used as a serious dating site, there are ways to connect with people looking for the same thing.

The app will show you who you’ve connected with and how many of them are near you.

Why It’s Awesome

If you are blunt about what you’re looking for, you can find someone to hook up with fairly easily. The app has a questionnaire where you can express your motives up front. It even allows you to filter potential matches looking for casual sex only.

Some Downsides

Because it operates as a standard dating site, you have to be wary of who you’re talking to. You may match with someone who’s looking for something a bit more serious. This is why it’s important to be upfront on your profile and questionnaire from the get go.

5. Tingle

Not great, but worth a try in a busy city.

Price: Free

Tingle is one of the best free hookup apps for guys and gals serious about sex. It uses GPS to find people around you, but that GPS is cloaked until you’re ready to give some information.

You can see who wants to hook up near you and give them a “wink.” If they reciprocate that wink, you can view their profile. The great thing about the app is that many members use tantalising pictures on their profile.

Why It’s Awesome

There’s nothing subtle about this app. It’s all about sex, and that’s pretty evident from the naked profile pictures. Another great thing is its security and privacy. Everything is done in-app and can be performed anonymously until real information is shared.

Some Downsides

Unfortunately, Tingle isn’t as popular as other alternatives. It’s pretty active in bigger cities. However, you may be pressed to find a lot of potential hookups if you’re in a smaller town.

6. Down

Price: Free

Ever want to see who’s down to hook up on Facebook? Down goes through your friend list as well as their friends and allows you to let people know you want to hook up. It can be done anonymously. If they want to hookup, you’ll get a notification. If not, no worries. They’ll never know who offered.

Why It’s Awesome

Who hasn’t browsed Facebook and thought about hooking up? It’s one of the best hookup apps because it goes through people you know are real. They’re not complete strangers, but people you may know well or at the very least ran into at some point or another. It’s a nice and easy to use app though, as soon as they user base increases, this will be a contender for sure.

Some Downsides

The app goes through your entire list of friends, so you may come across people you didn’t even want to think of hooking up with. While not major, it can be uncomfortable to see old friends pop up and even more disappointing if they match you!

Top Dating Apps In My Area List

7. Whiplr

Like your fetishes and kinks? You’ll love this then.

Price: Free or Subscription

Let your inner freak show with Whiplr. It’s all about finding people who have the same kinks as you do. Upon download, you answer a questionnaire about what turns you on.

You’re then matched with people that have the same fetishes as you. You can chat and send pics all in the privacy of the app. You can even take away a pic from their phone if you change your mind.

Why It’s Awesome

It’s never been easier to find someone to share your fetishes with. There’s no need for uncomfortable conversations or weeding through potential hookups. With Whiplr, you get deep into the nitty-gritty from the very beginning. Just find a match, meet up, and have all the fun you’ve always wanted with someone who shares the same interests.

Some Downsides

While the app is technically free, use of the service is limited unless you purchase a subscription. It’s certainly usable in the free version, but the paid alternative provides much more options.

5 proven tips to get more matches

The reason that some guys find it difficult actually getting any decent matches on these apps is because they’re playing the game all wrong.

Here are some quick tips that have been proven to help you become a casual dating pro and get more matches…

1. Get some professional photos

Top Dating Apps In My Area Free

Not all of your photos need to be professional, but at least 3 do. The reason is because you need to show you at your very best. Pro photographers can help you do that. So hire one for an hour, get a few different outfits and get a bunch of photos of you laughing, looking away from the camera, doing sports etc.

2. Use hacks

You should be experimenting with different hacks, like posing with your dog or a cute animal (every girl loves animals dude, c’mon) applying filters to your photos, using Photoshop to experiment with graphics like “Tinder’s hot guy of the day”.

3. Don’t use grainy photos

Old grainy photos are an immediate turnoff, they show that you don’t care. Even if you’re using a photo from 5 years ago that you consider to be your best photo, throw it away, it’s no longer relevant.

4. Don’t upload group shots

Group shots are one of the most annoying photos you can upload to a dating app. Not only does the girl need to guess which one is you, she might actually be disappointed if you’re not the guy she’s most attracted to in that shot! Brutal.

5. Show off your body tastefully

If you have a good bod, then show it off. But listen, this isn’t a magazine cover. Don’t over do it. Maybe show it offer as you’re getting out of the pool or with a shirt covering up most of it. Just make it look like it wasn’t intended, this will drive women crazy.

Common questions answered

Do dating apps work?

For the best looking men, yes they do. The an average or even ugly guy, no they don't. We live in a fickle society, women are interested in hot guys, just like men are interested in the hottest girls.

How many people use dating apps?

It's been reported that that between 23 and 26 million people in the US are using some kind of dating or hookup app to meet other people for sex.

How do dating apps make money?

Mainly through ads or subscriptions. Tinder for example use a subscription service to give you access to their premium features, which give your profile more exposure.

Why are dating apps bad?

Well, because they distort your view of reality. You will pass on someone in an app, that you may otherwise like if you met them in person. Also, it's very easy to reject someone in an app, so you become desensitised to people's feelings.

Quick Warning About Dating Apps

Dating apps are easy to use and convenient, for some even addictive. But the scary side of dating online is that the girl (or even man) on the other side of the screen may not be who they say they are. Here’s how to tell if you’re being catfished.

Conclusion: Are these really the best apps to get laid?

To sum up, there are more than enough apps to keep you busy night after night. Heck you can even give up approaching women in person if you really wanted to, but we all know that’s bad for game.

Each app has its ups, downs, and features that make it unique. But yes, these are the best apps to get laid for a reason. They’ve proven to be useful for guys all around the world.

With access to a huge number of girls at your fingertips, why go out and try to get lucky the hard way? Modern dating is all about getting straight to the point with apps. You simply log on, find a match, and bang.

Warning: It’s been proven that using dating apps an hinder your success in the real world with women, so make sure you don’t use them exclusively. Sure, you can find easy girls to get laid with. But don’t settle for those girls if you want a long term relationship.

So what are you waiting for? Go get laid dude. Read through our most popular guides, they are the best training for pua’s.

[milesdating349]

Best Dating Sites For 2021

SAN DIEGO, April 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TigersofTinder.com announces the release of the review, “Best Dating Sites in 2021”

Best Dating Sites For 2021 Year

Best Dating Sites For Over 40 2021

Best Dating Sites For 2021 Men

Dating sites and apps are numerous nowadays and asking someone about their favorite site will elicit a response as unique as the person themselves.

While some people might be searching for love and marriage, others may be looking for something more casual. The best dating sites offer plenty of variety and privacy, among other features. This article aims to lay out the best dating site for each person's unique situation and relationship goals.

First look:

Best for serious relationships - Eharmony

Best for working professionals - EliteSingles

Best free dating site - Okcupid

Best casual dating site - AdultFriendFinder

Largest dating app - Tinder

Best senior dating site - SilverSingles

Best personality matching system - Hinge

Best for christian singles - ChristianMingle

Best married dating site - AshleyMadison

Best dating app for women - Bumble

More women than men - Seeking

Serious dating site for under 30 - Zoosk

The best dating sites for over 50 are digital proof that love doesn’t have an age limit. It’s never too late to create a dating profile, open your heart, and meet someone new. All you need is the opportunity to put yourself out there, and the right online dating site can show you the way. #1 eharmony– Best Dating Site for Serious Relationships. Eharmony has 20+ years of matchmaking experience under its belt. This online dating site aims to introduce two single souls to each other. 11 hours ago  985thesportshub.com - Danae Pieroni. 10h. One huge plus about the warmer weather in the summer season is that there are so many more options for dates with your significant other. 98.5 The Sports Hub. Flipped into 98.5 The Sports Hub.

How The Best Dating Sites Were Evaluated: User reviews - For each dating site we looked at app store reviews, forum discussions, and trustpilot reviews to find sites with the highest average rating in a given category. Privacy and security - Everyone has heard horror stories of online dates gone sour or dangerous. The best dating sites feature built-in privacy features and even moderators to step in when a user is out of line or poses a risk to others. Unique features - Some dating websites just offer straightforward meet-up options, whether through chat or video call. Others help people find their match with compatibility games, filtering options, and more. These additional features indicate a better chance at success. 15 Best Dating Sites for 2021 1. Eharmony - Best for serious relationships Millions of couples have been connected by Eharmony—in reality, 400+ users marry someone they meet on the website every single day. The platform has even won awards as the best site for finding stable relationships. Eharmony requires users to complete a lengthy survey upon signup, which functions as a “compatibility matching system.” The site then uses this information to present users with could-be successful dating choices. Thiss platform is interesting in that it prompts users to like or comment on a certain section of the other person's profile. It provides a way for people to interact beyond the usual chat. 8. Seeking - For sugar daddies and sugar babies Seeking is unique because it focuses on linking younger individuals (sugar babies) with older, wealthy sugar daddies. Apparently, it is more common than most believe, given the platform now has over 10 million subscribers. Each person can specify his/her terms before they connect, whether they want to travel, demand an allowance, or other specifications. There is a high female-to-male ratio, which means the daddies have plenty of options to choose from, although it also indicates that competition could be fierce for the babies. 9. JDate - Jewish singles only JDate is a dating service exclusively for Jewish singles. It was established in 1997 and is now accessible in over 100 countries, allowing users to communicate with Jewish singles in five different languages (English, Hebrew, French, German, and Spanish). When it comes to online Jewish weddings, JDate is responsible for matching over 50 percent of those couples. Users can contact anyone with a free or paid membership. Customer service checks each profile to ensure that it is created by genuine customers. 10. ChristianMingle - Best Christian dating site ChristianMingle assists users within the christian community with finding their forever love. It boasts over 1 million users, and the site explicitly encourages “faith-based dating” for long-term potential. There is a free account option or a monthly membership for $29.95. The latter comes with a guarantee, where a user can receive six months for free after their initial six-month membership is over if they do not find some suitable. 11. Zoosk - Large international community Zoosk boasts one of the largest platforms on an international scale, with over 40 million members worldwide. Each day, these users submit more than 3 million messages in 25 different languages. Zoosk operates in over 80 nations. The website employs something called “behavioral matchmaking technology” to help singles find compatible individuals that might equate to a match made in heaven. After a free trial period, a Zoosk membership costs $29.99 per month. 12. Reddit R4R - Best for Reddit users

R4R, or Redditor for Redditor, is a subreddit dedicated to connecting users. The platform does not use a matching scheme, instead, it is a massive venue of personal ads. A user’s search criteria brings up their preferred results. Reddit consumers use it to find activities, friends, parties, hookups, and even long-term relationships. Even though it is a generalized forum, there are still rules relating to age, privacy, legality, and conduct. For example, NSFW posts are allowed but must be labeled as such so users can decide if they want to view the post or not. 13. OkCupid - Free and popular OkCupid is one of the most well-known dating sites and features comprehensive profiles that other members can thoroughly scan before connecting. It is available in both a desktop and mobile version, with loads of details that users can fill in for the best results. The site is very inclusive, with over 20 gender and sexual orientation choices. 14. Ashley Madison - Best married dating site Ashley Madison is one of a kind, made for married individuals looking to have private affairs. It is not connected to social media accounts for this reason. There are other privacy restrictions and features to help users stay anonymous if they are afraid of getting caught. Additionally, Ashley Madison has a travel option where members can search their upcoming location in advance. Special Mentions:

Match.com - Match has been around since 1995 and offers a virtual dating mentor program to assist participants in matchmaking and dating ideas.

Tinder - This dating app is widely popular and comes with credibility. Most people use it for hookups, given its massive user base and location-driven algorithms. BlackPeopleMeet - For over 18 years, BlackPeopleMeet has been connecting African American singles seeking love. The site's 100,000+ members can flirt, email, and see who views their profile. Grindr - Grindr is exclusively for LGBTQA+ individuals. It is location-based, and users primarily use it for hooking up, though longer-term matches are also possible. Plenty of Fish - This dating website is Canadian-based, but allows users to communicate with people from all around the world. Why Do People Use Online Dating Sites? Dating sites expose people to a far larger pool of individuals than a single person would have the chance to meet in real life. This is especially the case for users that have a limited social group, are new to town, or otherwise. Using these sites can also allow users to be more selective based on criteria that are important to them: shared values, hobbies, or the type of relationship they want. Are Dating Apps Safe? Generally, yes, dating apps are safe, but it does still require discernment and caution. Apps have privacy features in place to help members out, such as profile verification. Certain websites also scan participants manually, adding an extra layer of security to the process. Individuals should never provide personal information before meeting someone in real life, such as their surname, address, or even their neighborhood. It is also smart to arrange a first date in a public space. Contacting a friend beforehand and letting them know they are going on a date with a stranger is also not a bad idea.

How to Ensure Your Safety While Online Dating?

Never provide personal information to someone online, especially before meeting in person. This information includes the surname, employer, address, and even neighborhood.

When encountering anyone online, arrange for the first few dates to take place in public places. This may be a café, a hotel, a theatre, or some other public space. Avoid isolated areas such as beaches, and never allow strangers into the house.

Finally, contact a buddy before the date to inform them of the whereabouts and anticipated return time. Notify them when it's time to leave for home. To provide an extra layer of protection, request that they call or text during the date to ensure maximum safety.

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Dating for the first time can be overwhelming! Free dating without money online. To ensure optimal safety and to meet the match in person, follow these tips:

Maintain an open mind. Individuals may look very different in person than they do online, so be prepared for the preferences to change.

Avoid being too formal. Dating sites for singles 50 and over crossword. Establishing a social meeting, such as a lunch date, allows the users to get to know one another without feeling obligated to spend hours together. Is tinder noonlight legit.

Review the conversations before going on a date. Re-read the person's profile and review what was discussed, and schedule general discussion topics. Is It Possible to Develop a Serious Relationship When Dating Online? Yes, it is possible! If two people meet, are compatible, and chemistry is present, the relationship could turn into something stable and secure. It happens every day, thanks to sites like Eharmony. Online Dating Sites in Conclusion The trick to online dating is for the individual to know what they want and need in a relationship beforehand. Based on the list above, there are many types of relationships to be found on these sites. Maintain caution but an open mind when using a dating site. Each site here has something to offer, depending on what the user desires.

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