Dating in Southwest Michigan can be… interesting. Typically I can make one of my friends or co-workers laugh by simply reading them opening lines that guys have sent me online. The majority of my friends and co-workers are people in happily committed relationships, and most of the time want proof. After having a discussion about this very topic last night at a Young Professionals outing, I thought it as fitting to immediately write a blog about it. Because, let’s face it, online dating can be fun, and gross.
The fun part, literally having a worlds worth of potential perfect matches right at your finger tips! Meeting these people, and perhaps hitting it off. The gross part is… well below.
I’m not sure if guys have gotten more courageous or direct as I’ve gotten older, or if they simply are braver because of the internet. Either way, I get on average two hilariously disgusting messages each week. Messages directed at specific parts of my body, or giving me “tips” on how to find some one. By tips, I mean, some guy actually messaged me saying I’d be the perfect catch if I lost weight. Granted, I do agree, I could use dropping some pounds, and am working on it, but wow, seriously dude? Thanks. He proceeded, still in this opening message to me, to ask if I’d like to “Netflix and Chill” sometime because he thought I “needed it.” Ahhh… Nope.
As for those messages directed at specific parts of me, they usually follow that wonderful pic that I’m convinced every girl who’s ever online dated has gotten by now… The unasked for, unrequested, Richard. Really guys?! At no point in time have I looked at a pic I’ve randomly received and thought to myself, “Must drop everything and go see him, NOW!”
A guy friend of mine tried to break it down as to why guys do this, explaining guys get super excited at the thought of getting pics from girls, so they figure sending one of them will create the same reaction in the opposite sex. I might be speaking out of turn, or I might be broken, but that’s not the reaction I have. I’m going to sound mean, but I laugh, and block them.
Let’s not even get started on the guys who get angry with you for not responding quickly, or saying “no thanks, not interested.” But if you’d like to check THOSE out… Follow Bye Felipe on Instagram. It’s eye opening to how things can go down.
If you’re wondering why I’m still doing the online dating thing, some days I wonder the exact same thing. Then I remember, dating in SWMI wasn’t exactly easy peasy for me before I logged on. Not sure if it’s the better of two evils, or that I’m not done searching there yet.
I’m always open to trade stories, or ideas: Sarah@983thecoast.com
