My First Tinder Date...

So I'd been tindering for about two weeks and thought it was time to meet up with someone. 

After chatting to this guy I decided it was time to meet in person. He obliged and we chose one Friday night.

I arrived first, watching each guy walk past like he could be my date. I smiled (with a question mark at the end) but noone stopped.

Soon my date walked up, hands in his jumper pockets, generally not looking like he wanted to be there. I had made an effort and he was severely under dressed.

He stopped - we looked at each other a few seconds before I asked his name.

From this first glimpse of the guy, I wanted to run in the opposite direction.

Now I know this sounds mean, but I can't help the way I felt. To start with, he didn't look like the (very) vague photo in his profile and he was wearing what can only described as a hoodie without the hood, jeans and jogger-type casual shoes.

His hands in his pockets gave the wrong impression. It said to me 'I don't want to be here'.

But I decided to make the best of the situation so we grabbed a table and quickly ordered our respective drinks.

But even hard liquor didn't help us.

Conversation was boring. That's all I can say about it. I was the one making the effort, he was like a small child who'd gotten in trouble and was sitting in the corner not talking to anyone.

And when he did say something, it would be to do with what we'd messaged about. He couldn't think of anything else he wanted to know.

I had the feeling this guy didn't get out much and I was right. It was almost like he'd forgotten how to talk to a girl.

So we ordered some tapas and had more drinks but one-and-a-half hours in, I went to the bathroom and started messaging friends about how I could make my quick exit!

I went back, lasted another half an hour before asking for the bill when there was a lull (read: awkward silence) in the conversation.

He offered to pay, which was nice, and we quickly said our goodbyes out the front of the restaurant.

I think we both knew it wasn't going to work so there wasn't any of the usual 'thanks for the date, we'll have to do it again sometime' lie.

There wasn't.

We talked about our weekend plans, then went our separate ways.

Turns out we'd both caught the train in but luckily it was to different stations.

Can you imagine how awkward it would have been if we were both sitting on the platform waiting for our trains to arrive???!!

Thank goodness it didn't come to that.

Oh well, got the first Tinder date under my belt. Let's hope the next one is a little better.

I've Joined Tinder!

So I finally joined the Tinder revolution!

I'd been thinking about it for a few weeks and one Sunday night I decided to do it.

It's relatively easy - it's connected to Facebook so all you need to do is choose which Facebook pics you'll use, what age group you're searching for and what kilometre radius you want the guys.

The second guy I was chatting to was pretty forthcoming about what he was looking for.

His reply?

Him: what do u want from this

Me: that's a bit forward, I'm not after a one night stand if that's what you mean?

Him: your no good to me then

Wow. Glad we sorted that out. So you're what people warned me about.

Others had the whole 'hi, how are you' while I tried starting with 'I'm new to this, how's it been for you' kinda thing.

I hate nothing more than someone asking me a lame question about how my day was! 

Photos range from the vague, to the typical bathroom selfies, ones with them and their dogs and of course the tighty whitey ones.

I mean, if you're putting those sorts of photos out there I guess you're going to attract those sorts of people, right?

Tinder is different from other online dating sites. You take the person on face value; if you don't like their photos you swipe one way, if you like them, you swipe the other. If you've both 'liked' each other, Tinder messages you both and lets you know you are a match. Then you're free to start messaging through the app.

I've heard Tinder referred to as 'tindering' and 'tinderella'!

The guys on Tinder (well, the ones I've come across) generally don't write a spiel to go with their pics. You'll know their name, age and how many kms away they are.  

This is a sign of our times - how cut-throat things can be and how we're such a "now" generation. And Tinder is good for this - a simple swipe and you could start chatting to someone you may never have met.

I did come across a couple of guys I went on dates with last year, ones I met through another site. They had the same spiel from before. Think they're missing the point of Tinder.

It's all about the attraction you have with someone, purely by looking at their photo on your phone. Noone wants to read about your hopes and dreams and what you're looking for in a partner...that comes later.

Stay tuned for my first Tinder date...