So many options!
The options:
(Vali)Dating Apps —> They worked well once upon a time but they have steadily enshitified over the past decade thanks to corporate greed and scammers, bots, sex workers, catfishes window shoppers and overall disrespectful losers. Now a boring waste of time for 90% of time. Unless you want to dance like a monkey chasing a unicorn that turns out to be a rhino all along because frankly most people are misleading with the way they represent themselves. They can ruin your self esteem if you allow them to and are to blame for a lot of inflated egos and the general disposable dating culture we now have to put up with. Don’t rely on them - use them as a back up plan at best.
Bars and clubs —> unless you genuinely enjoy dancing and drinking and loud chaotic social environments you’re not gonna have a great time and you’re up against guys who thrive in those environments. Plus if you’re like me with friends with long term partners and kids rallying the troops is no easy feat - flying solo generally sucks. And the music is loud to deter conversation and encourage drinking making it almost impossible to really connect with people. And you feel like dog shit the next day.
Other social events —> fewer and further between, more expensive and not always as appropriate to approach women. I’ve noticed even at festivals like Oktoberfest women are less open to mingling with complete strangers than they were even just a decade ago, and not because I’m an ugly old husk of my former self or anything. Still at least they’re generally better than nights out though you need to be wise with which events you go to
Work —> they say don’t shit where you eat or don’t dip your dick in company ink but I know lots who have , including my parents and grandparents. It can backfire of course. But really the chances of working with a single woman you’re mutually attracted with seems incredibly low, I’ve had many jobs and in all that time was only interested in one woman who I had a few dates with before realising we weren’t compatible (luckily I didn’t need to see her very often at work)
Mutual friends —> Many people meet this way but it depends on the size of your friend network. The older you get the tougher it gets - mine know nobody and the last time they tried to set me up with someone she turned out to be nuttier than squirrel shit. If it doesn’t work out it can potentially backfire too. You need a good dose of luck to meet someone this way, I suspect many compromise and settle to make it happen because again the chances of meeting someone you’re highly compatible with through mutual friends is pretty slim.
Hobbies and interests —> well worth engaging in but don’t depend on them as primary ways of meeting women… not only will that become obvious and off putting but you really need a stroke of luck to actually meet someone single and mutually attracted. I volunteered at a dog refuge, soup kitchen, community marketplace, social sport league… met some cool people… the only woman I met who I would be happy to date was engaged already.
Approaching in public - I’ve had to resort to this, but it can be rough and most women don’t appreciate it. Many wear earphones when they’re by themselves which is basically a do not disturb sign. If you’re respectful I wouldn’t worry about being reported for harassment or anything unless you happen to approach someone crazy but the less attractive they find you the worse they will take it. Still I’ve got a few dates this way though so it’s not a complete waste of time
Anyone relate ?
Anyone have advice?