My first attempt at online dating was three years ago when I was living in Charlotte, North Carolina. New to the city, and not having any friends, I created a Tinder account so that I could meet guys in the area. My intention at that time wasn’t to find love, but I did want to meet people to have fun and explore the city with. After matching with a few of the men on the app, I quickly grew tired of inconsistent conversations, meeting CRAZIES, and interacting with men who had inflated egos. After only a month, I deleted my account and told myself I was done using dating apps.
Fast forward four years later, and I found myself back in the online dating world. This time I’m in a new city. ATL! The rumor that Atlanta is one of the worst cities for dating is not far fetched.
I’m not pressed for a relationship, but now that I’m in my 30s, I do want to make a better effort to meet guys. I’ve been so focused on advancing my career that I let an entire year pass by without going on a date. Although I would prefer to meet someone in person, dating apps are just much more convenient.
I tried Bumble a few months ago, and I had the same experience as Tinder. I matched with a few guys, the conversations went nowhere, and I eventually lost interest. I created a Hinge account shortly after, and it’s the same men from Bumble! I did go on a few dates, but I didn’t find the connection that I was looking for.
One of the issues with online dating is that you can’t get a real feel of someone’s personality or aura. In a virtual environment, people are more prone to reflect a facade rather than being their authentic selves.
My sister and I were recently having one of our many conversations about dating, and we were discussing the fact that since men have more dating options in Atlanta, we should be more proactive when pursuing relationships. We also discussed dating outside of our race, which is something that I’m open to.
I don’t consider myself picky, but now that I’m older, I’m not going to get involved with someone if I don’t see a long term future with them. At times dating can get discouraging, but I refuse to settle for a man that I’m not happy with.
I haven’t deleted my dating apps just yet. I might give them another week or two LOL!
