Tinder. Grinder. Hinge. OkCupid. With
these dating apps taking over the relationship world, is there room in this era
for the old-fashioned dating style?
Dating apps are meant to match you with
potential daters with similar interests as you and with specific character
traits you desire in a dating partner. Old-fashioned dating in this case refers
to the old-fashioned way of meeting people, which is through networking, clubs,
parties, bars or lounges, or going on random blind dates set up by
acquaintances or family members.
Dating
apps allegedly make dating decisions easy by either swiping left or right to a
potential’s picture. While this dating method certainly saves you time going to
singles’ events or bars to meet fellow singles, it supposedly makes it
difficult to choose just one person among so many potential options. Let’s take
a look at the pros and cons of using these dating apps:
Pros
- The pool of dating partners is wider than that of old-fashioned dating, and it gives you the freedom to be picky and filter characteristics or interests you don’t desire in a dating partner, whereas with old-fashioned dating, you’d have to go on a few dates with the individual before figuring out what about them you like or don’t like
- You also have the ability to filter specific regions and locations
- Whereas the fear of rejection is prevalent with old-fashioned 'blind' dating when communicating and meeting face-to-face for the first time, with online dating there is no immediate pressure to meet your matches right away or even talk on the phone. You can gauge their responses and interaction through chat first before making your decision.
Cons
- It’s hard to evaluate physical chemistry based on text or calls alone. Two matched potentials can chat all they want, but if they meet IRL (in real life) and there’s no chemistry, then all that time spent on online conversations is wasted. With old-fashioned dating however, you can tell right off if there’s chemistry or not within the first meet, and you can gauge their interaction, body language and responses to you all in that one IRL interaction.
- For women, it can be difficult to filter the guys’ intentions, whether they’re ready for real relationships or just on there for a casual fling.
- Some people fill up their profiles with lies or exaggerated truths (especially about their physique) simply to get matches, thus misleading innocent potentials who don’t find out the truth until much later when they eventually meet.
There isn’t any immediate threat
to these dating apps, although individuals are always advised to be careful and
to be safe when meeting matches IRL for the first time. The online world is
filled with creepers, perverts and socio paths, and even though one is equally
as likely to meet such creepers via the old-fashioned dating way, online dating
has provided a quicker, less obvious means to hide their intentions. It’s always suggested that you...
- meet matches in an open space -- avoid giving them your home address, and avoid meeting them at their place of residence
- make the first date brief, inexpensive, and in an open space
- only agree on a second date if you felt chemistry, liked what you saw, and engaged in great conversation
- don’t schedule a second date for the following day; give at least a week or two before meeting again
Whichever dating route you choose
to engage or continue on, remember to stay safe and always let a friend or
loved one know where exactly you are when going on your first dates.