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Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

fairytrail.app

1–10 of 28 posts

Re: Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

#4
My dating app idea is this: Men can only message 1 woman per day, but they get 1 more message coupon if they microblog about their day based on the premise that women are more interested in how men operate in the world than just good looks. If women don't respond after like 40 messages, then boot them off the platform because they are just using it for an ego boost with no intention of dating.

Re: Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

#5

Not to lead off sounding sour, but did I just read that they want strangers to book travel / adventures together? In hopes of maybe eventually dating? Provided half of the pair isn't a psychopath and kills the other? :) Feels like a big ask.

This is a form of dating I would much more likely choose, if I had to. Worst case is that you don't like each other but you still can have a nice holiday, perhaps then with people you meet locally. It is a bit crazy, but nobody can say you lack the effort. I had people move in my shared apartment without ever meeting me, so I believe the risk isn't too real. You have to take a risk or two in life and the chance of meeting a serial killer is pretty low.

To be honest, the people in my life with successful relationships often have in common that they never once dated in their lives. At least not to get to know a potential partner, they all have met through other means.

Of course not everybody is that lucky, but the people that do dating as a leisure activity and those that do not might simply not fit together and many only use online dating because they cannot find connections elsewhere. Perhaps I am lost in translation here, but none of those couples I know would ever say or have said "I am dating someone". They would do things together and maybe end up in a relationship. There is a difference and I think this approach might offer something better.

Re: Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

#6
I've been thinking about "dating" services that revolve around structured activities, pretty obviously chatting on OkCupid is for the birds but you'd imagine you could put people through activities that would build intimacy. I am thinking about things like Aron's 36 questions but this camping idea sounds great.

I recently had a "meet cute" with someone on the bus that was out of the blue, the next time we rode it was kindof awkward: after something like that for instance you might not want to sit right next to them because it would be too close.

The day after that she brought along a close friend and we hung out in a group and that's what happens most mornings, it is a no-stress way to hang out that doesn't put any pressure on me to be smart or funny or smooth or not put my foot on my mouth. When we ride back we often end up sitting in adjacent seats and talking just a little if at all but I really relish that because I get to enjoy her presence without the pressure that I need to do or be anything.

I can't imagine that we're not going to go on a "date" someday because clearly the attraction is there and we have shared interests to explore. I do know though by the time it happens we are going to actually know quite a bit about each other and already had quite a bit of closeness so if my heart is pounding it's not going to be out of anxiety.

I don't know if this method is repeatable or scalable but I think it's the right idea. I remember hanging out with friends in college and some couples would break out of the group and it seems we're somewhat deliberately recreating that experience for people who are a bit further along in life.

Re: Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

#7

Not to lead off sounding sour, but did I just read that they want strangers to book travel / adventures together? In hopes of maybe eventually dating? Provided half of the pair isn't a psychopath and kills the other? :) Feels like a big ask.

This is a form of dating I would much more likely choose, if I had to. Worst case is that you don't like each other but you still can have a nice holiday, perhaps then with people you meet locally. It is a bit crazy, but nobody can say you lack the effort. I had people move in my shared apartment without ever meeting me, so I believe the risk isn't too real. You have to take a risk or two in life and the chance of me…

i refuse to have a first date with any more commitment than drinks or coffee. way too many too-long dinner dates where leaving a clearly bad match is way too awkward

Re: Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

#8
post #4

My dating app idea is this: Men can only message 1 woman per day, but they get 1 more message coupon if they microblog about their day based on the premise that women are more interested in how men operate in the world than just good looks. If women don't respond after like 40 messages, then boot them off the platform because they are just using it for an ego boost with no intention of dating.

I don't know if this is exactly it, but your idea for designing a system that encourages fewer but much higher-quality interactions is a good one.

Re: Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

#9
Dating apps have problems for the businesses that own them or try to make them, but they still overall make a lot of money when you get it right. And the user experience, while full of annoying money grabs, is honestly perfectly functional if you're attractive and present yourself well to the people you want to attract. If you don't, that's not really a problem with the app, it's just a problem with not liking your dating experience.

I don't think you can claim they don't work well when the number one way people meet these days is via apps.

Re: Why Dating Apps Don't Work Well

#10
I keep reading about how dating apps don’t work, but at least from my own personal experience and from my friends’ experience, they work very well.

The key, I think, is to

1. live in a big city with lots of single people your age

2. pay (if you’re a guy)

I don’t consider myself anything special, but following these 2 steps I literally had more dates than I could handle (with women I actually wanted to meet). 3 of those ended up being long term 1y+ relationships.

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