Let me first say that I never, ever intended to download Tinder. I'd always poked fun at friends who had Tinder accounts, recognizing its colloquially accepted identity as a "hook-up site." I'm certainly invested in the idea that it's what's on the inside that truly matters, so signing up for a solely looks-based dating site wasn't exactly at the top of my list. Unfortunately, the peer pressure was intense, it was 2 a.m., and I was feeling adventurous, so after promises of "masses of hot men" and "the sweetest guys you'll ever meet," I begrudgingly entered my Facebook information and was online in minutes.
For those who might not know, Tinder is a dating app that connects (or "matches") people based on spur-of-the-moment first impressions. The user sees images of a potential match, can read their bio, and then has the option to "swipe right" to indicate interest, or "swipe left" to decline. So, if you see someone you're attracted to, you swipe right, and if they've done the same, then you have the option to start chatting. It's essentially a dating app for our generation, boasting quick access and an easy-to-understand interface.
After having thrown a few photos up onto my profile, I realized that these were the images people were going to be judging me by -- this was the entire basis of their potential interest. So, I went back and selected a few of my favorite photos of myself, making sure to include some that showed my interests. I figured if I was going to be judged in two seconds, I would try to put my best foot forward. Of course, I was going against every principle about "not judging a book by it's cover," but I figured I relinquished the rights to complain about that the moment I signed up. Once all my photos were up, I added a short bio and some cute emojis, and I was ready to tinder (I think I can use this as a verb, right?).
The first thing I noticed about Tinder was that there were a lot of different types of people. I supposed that if a relatively normal person like me decided to use Tinder, then other relatively normal people would also be on Tinder... and I was right. For as many shirtless, perfectly lit, sexually suggestive photos there were, there were equally as many photos of regular-looking people, leading seemingly regular lives. As much as my mother would like me (and you) to believe that all men on the internet are predators, there are many guys who are perfectly normal. Like me, they chose to include pictures of themselves that showed their interests and hobbies.
The first guy who showed up looked normal, happy, and well-adjusted, so I looked through all his pictures to see what he was like. His bio was short and sweet... a few lines about his love for hiking and a quote from a TV show. He was also super cute, so I figured he was a good first swipe. Lo and behold, we matched, which meant we then had the option to message each other. It was at this point that I realized I now had a platform to test out the ridiculous number of corny pickup lines I'd always wanted to use but never had.
"Is your name Coronary?... 'Cause you're making my heart stop."
"Are you Google?... 'Cause I've just found what I'm looking for."
"I hope you know CPR, 'cause you take my breath away."
You get the picture.
So I messaged this guy one of my fabulous pickup lines, and (to my shock and dismay) he replied. Lucky for me, he had a sense of humor so he replied with an equally corny answer and we then ended up having an interesting conversation about Stephen King, a mutual favorite author of ours. And, after a couple days, the conversation died and that was that.
This is actually how a lot of conversations on Tinder look. Just normal, random, fun, and sometimes flirty conversation. Not to say I don't get the creeps and freaks, because I certainly do. As long as I shut it down, report them, or un-match them, I'm not too worried. Look, my point here is not to bore you with my riveting Tinder adventures, but to insist that there are some good things that can come out of doing something like this. If you're usually shy around your crushes, this can be a fun, easy way to flirt with people. Of course, flirting online is not the same as in person, but trust me, it's good practice. Having a Tinder account can also encourage you to be a little bit more spontaneous and test your boundaries. If you're usually reserved and shy (like me) around dating, Tinder gives you chance to challenge that. You have the choice to go and grab coffee with a stranger... which may sound weird but can be a cool experience.
I should also add as a general disclaimer that Internet safety is enormously important, and you should always trust your gut. Never put too-personal information on your profile, and be careful about who you might give your number to. If you go to meet someone, let your friends know where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you'll be back. Just be smart.
You don't have to go on dates if you don't want to, and you don't ever have to message anyone if you don't want to. That's the beauty of this app... you're in control of how much you interact with others. Tinder is what you make it: a dating app, a time-waster, or a platform to test various pickup lines. Don't be afraid to give it a try!
TL;DR -- If you're single and ready to mingle or if you're bored of JellySplash and want a new time-waster, get yourself on Tinder. It's fun!
