According to some, my hilarious lack of a love life needs to be spiced up. What was suggested as a solution, you ask? Tinder.
Tinder, an extremely shallow and superficial smartphone app, is the new and improved way for someone to connect with other desperate or bored peers in the same area. I’d heard of the app once or twice in passing, but had never felt it necessary to actually partake. That was until I heard the funny stories of friends’ experiences.
As one friend explained, Tinder is a huge confidence boost. Strangers tell you that you’re beautiful, gorgeous and stunning. However, some strangers use the app to suggest extremely inappropriate acts or make hilariously unsuitable statements.
Out of curiosity, last week, I downloaded Tinder. It took me a few minutes to get the hang of it, but the gist is that you see pictures and shared interests of people within a set distance (mine is 30 miles) and a set age (mine is 19-25). Then you swipe the photo right if you’re interested and left if you aren’t. If you like them, and they at some point swipe right for you as well, it’s a match and you can then message each other.
That’s it. You literally judge someone based on his or her appearance.
So I did it. I judged people. I felt so bad, but it came so naturally. Not interested, not interested, creepy smile, not interested, he’s kind of cute, not interested. And so it continued. I swiped through for what seemed like hours. It’s really unhealthy, but I couldn’t stop. Then the matches began.
“Congratulations! It’s A Match!” read the screen of my phone. Again and again, the screen lit up signifying that I had another interested party. A few friends told me that after a day or so, the messages would start to appear. I was prepared for the worst.
However, the first message I received was an emoji sunflower, followed by a smile. It was kind of nice (especially since sunflowers are the key to my heart).
Then the conversations crossed a bridge to include words. I received a few, “Hey! What’s up?”s, as well as multiple guys asking what I’m looking at in my profile picture (I’m looking up at a window). But I wasn’t receiving any messages that were rude or gross. What the heck? Where were all the jerks when I wanted them?
I continued to get simple greetings and questions, which gave me an idea. I made a deal with myself that I would reply to every message I received, regardless of topic. Fortunately for me, because of this little self-pact, I met some really interesting people.
I talked to a guy from Brazil and another from Scotland. Several guys were studying engineering. One was a recently graduated social worker. And not a single one said something offensive.
Except yesterday when an ill-fated guy tried to win my heart by stating, “You’re beautiful. Let’s destroy stuff sometime.” I asked him if that’s how he usually gets girls and discovered that he’s actually just a normal guy with a great sense of humor.
The most recent conversation I’ve had is with a guy from North Carolina (I’m in NC for spring break). We’ve been talking for two days about life and interests, and not once has a superficial comment been made. We’re presently planning to backpack across Europe soon. Details to come.
So if things follow the current trend, how am I supposed to tell a funny story when all these guys are being genuine human beings? What has the world come to when talking to perfect strangers via love app is so easy?
I’ve come to two conclusions. Either A) I have phenomenal taste in guys, or B) the guys of the world aren’t as terrible as I imagined. To be perfectly honest, I think it is a bit of both.
More importantly though, I think Tinder has been stereotyped as an app that produces unsuccessful relationships and drunken hookups, when in reality, it’s just a bunch of bored people looking to make a few new friends.