Pottery class. You are a dirty mess, every one is a dirty mess and y’all have something in common. Plus it is an artistic expression and as long as you are willing to talk about artistic struggles being “bad” isn’t detriment at all. And worst comes to show you now have a new coffee cup.
Replace Pottery with whatever is offered locally.
I had a friend who tried the same thing, bars and such. He didn’t try anybody in his friend group and he was more ir less isolated at work, so there was no real pool of people to look into. I suggested getting a cheap seat at the ballpark and he balked saying he didn’t like sports. I told him even if he walked the concourse, there were still folks he could interact with. He ended up finding some girl who was an actual prostitute and got him hooked on drugs.
He ended up finding some girl who was an actual prostitute and got him hooked on drugs.
That last line hits like a truck.
she probably looked like one.
Or like cocaine
I suggested getting a cheap seat at the ballpark
He ended up finding some girl who was an actual prostitute and got him hooked on drugs.
Oof
Is he still with the girl tho?
No, once he kicked his heroin habit, he kicked her to the curb.
Back to inceldom then. He should have remained a friend.
Woah that story took a turn I Did not expect
Ez secks and drugs. That’s better than a relationship.
Wild.
You have to leverage the situation you’re in, but something that works well for me is go climbing gym > compliment someone on their climb > strike conversation > if it goes well, ask for their insta (semi-public info) > slip into DMs (wanna go climbing again?) > make a move
Between each >, it’s obviously only a step you can do if the vibes check, but it’s one example of something that works. Also I won’t lie doing this is a bit difficult, but you get better with practice. It also works great if you go to busy climbing gyms in different places at different times, since you’ll always see new people. Final caveat is I do this for friends, since I’m already dating, but it works the same way to catch a bf/gf
I go out and interact with strangers all the time, make acquaintances and friends, and when I was interested, even met women to date. I’m autistic, awkward, and have anxiety. If I can do it, most neurotypicals should be able to as well. I think the problem most people have is that they expect things to happen instantaneously. It takes time to build rapport with an individual or group, but consistency is key. You’ll often be surprised by the people who look forward to seeing you.
The true key is…counterintuitive as this sounds, not looking.
Try enjoying yourself, meeting people, doing things you like. People can sense desperation or dishonesty in you when you’re feigning interest or trying to get in their pants. Just…be a decent person, and you can find people who you get along with. It happens more naturally that way and you’re more likely to find…yknow, people you like and who like you.
And plus, once you do have a relationship, it’ll be a lot stronger because you won’t desperately need to be in that relationship at any costs.
The true key is…counterintuitive as this sounds, not looking.
I agree with your overall comment but would also expand on this point. It’s ok to be looking (and open about that fact) but you’re right that looking for a romantic/sexual relationship is a lot easier when it’s combined with looking for other things at the same time, like the other things you’re talking about: people to share conversations with, to share hobbies with, to do things with, to learn from, to accomplish things with. Because after all, even if you do find someone to be a romantic partner, you’ll want all those other things as part of it, too.
Most people who share your interests or want to do things with you won’t be potential partners. I’m a straight cis guy with a lot of stereotypical straight guy interests, which means that the majority of people I meet through my hobbies are other straight guys, and none of us want to date each other. Even most of the women aren’t in the dating pool (age, relationship status, other factors).
Being social creates opportunities to meet partners. For people who are able to do that, being social is the easiest way to create the environment where potential partners want to talk to you and want to explore compatibility with you.
I think the problem most people have is that they expect things to happen instantaneously
In my experience it’s oftentimes men that are looking to date women way more attractive than them. Like some fat slob incel that refuses to date or bang a chubby chick and then gets mad they’re not picking up women that are hot AF and upset “nobody will date [them].”
It’s stupid, I know a guy on discord just like that. Unattractive fat guy and when I mentioned I think the biggest thing to coupling is being realistic and dating people about the same attractive level … Dude balked at that. Was like “what about a guy that has a great personality,” the man is delusional. No job, on food stamps and just getting by, living in a one bedroom (maybe studio?) apt, slobby and fat then hits the surprise Pikachu face that women don’t want to date him. Not to mention his social skills. Talk about a total lack of self awareness.
Sure maybe if you were extremely rich a woman might overlook your physical appearance but let’s be realistic here.
That to me is the problem most people have but I agree with the instantaneous thing too - it takes time to get in the groove so to speak. I’ve seen it go both ways gender wise just picking on my fellow dudes here.
It’s not just totally unattractive guys trying to punch above their weight, it’s also mid range guys who pick the hottest girl in the group and then sulk when she goes home with sometime else after doing nothing to make themselves her best option. And the sulking is pretty transparent which further lowers their attractiveness, and that kind of behavior definitely makes it back to everyone in the group. Guys really say no one will date me and literally only mean their first top choice won’t date them.
If you are a man, do not go to bars or clubs alone and expect anything unless you are like, insanely hot or charming. But if you are either of those things you don’t need my advice. Either go with friends or do something more actively social, like a class or outright social group.
Bruh just find a group activity - fuck I don’t know, instead of paying $30 for a beer, take a painting class or something…
Just did a class and I was the only guy in it.
It was a welding class.
… Maybe choose floristry next time?
Studied electronic engineering for two years - the group I went in was like 111 dudes and 7 girls. Some dudes enrolled in electives from faculties like nursery or dentistry because the boys/girls ratio there was inversely proportional as in our faculty.
Do electrical engineer with renewable or environmental focus and you’ll have a more even ratio.
When I was growing up, my dad gave me a hard time because I wasn’t very manly. The funny thing is that all the stuff I like is as manly as things get, in the sense that very few women have any interest in it. Too bad I’m not gay. It’s not PC to say this, but I think I would have been happier if I was.
… Have you gone to a painting class? It’s only couples
I’m not your mother, be creative and come up with a better idea 🤝
Get a part time job at Hobby Lobby or Michele’s. Those places ooze dating-type single woman vibes. There were many things I needed for various projects that have only been locally available from these stores. I get a ton of looks going in there, and I’m like the most oblivious of dudes for that kind of attention.
Skip Hobby Lobby since their health care doesn’t include abortions.
Or even birth control
Manager: “Why do you want to work here?”
Dude: “Trying to bang a co-worker.”
Manager: “At least you’re not just here for the paycheck. Welcome aboard!”
Single experienced woman who can take their teeth out 😏
Who doesn’t like a good gummie?
Hey, my wife and I noticed you from across the canvas and just really like your vibe.
The local city reddit/discord is gonna have regular hangouts if your city is big enough. That’s been my go-to starting point everytime I move.
I managed to get an in-person DND group going by visiting the local game store. There’s also the other card / roleplay games available too.
Depending on your age, there’s also the local college groups. You could join a cycling group, or a running geoup. Hell, the queer group in my town has a first Sunday coffee meetup.
It’s easy to shut down any suggestions but damn, if all you ever do is naysay shit, then you’re never gonna get anywhere. Do you want to find friends and romantic partners, or do you want to spend your time crapping on online dating?
The local city reddit/discord is gonna have regular hangouts if your city is big enough.
The problem with that is you’re going to meet reddit/discord people that way.
I went to a Reddit meet up in 2012 and never went back. Was way too nerdy for me. I presume that’s changed though as the site grew so much since then. But I still wouldn’t go cuz fuck Reddit
For what it’s worth, r/Bogota has never had those - and if it had, it would be just incels living with their mommy who barely know their own neighborhood. It’s ridiculous how they’re so detached from the reality of our city and country.
or something
You can pick whatever you want. It’s almost like everyone likes something different and there’s no one answer for finding a romantic partner.
B i n g o
Bro, I’m sure one of them want a third.
Church events work fine, too. My buddy and me went to one in a damp basement and it was about 30 people. 100% women. Average age about 22 I guess. All were dancing. They all immediately started staring at us as if we were edible. Within the hour, my buddy met what would soon become his GF, and I was approached by this amazing girl. I then went on a string of remarkable dates with her.
The kicker: It was a Christian event, but the girls we hooked up with weren’t Christians at all.ikr a lot of people go to Church events for “safer” socializing, even if they only attend the services on Christmas and Easter if that. If you’re Catholic or Orthodox, it’s more like a cultural thing. (this may vary by area. Also it’s not really safer, but your grandmother will say it is.)
Lame
Dating is a complete shit show. People that say to just work on your self are only telling half the story. Of course it’s important to be open and actively willing to improve, but it’s equally as important to identify the kind of people in your life. Legit, the only reason I’m not a complete fucking incel today is because I was lucky enough to have a friend to connected me with someone I wouldn’t have ever met otherwise.
I was convinced that all my self-improvement was pointless as I kept getting shoved away as a monster for simply being a man and getting cucked by literal rapists. Felt like what I believed in must have been fundamentally flawed somehow, that I was just broken. Turns out I was just used to attracting shit people.
This is the key that too many straight men who use words like “friend zone” and “game” and “incel” just don’t realise… don’t go hunting for a bride like some caveman. Go make friends. Live your life by doing the things you like, treat women like women not like a prize to be won. Make male and female friends, don’t just talk to women who you’re attracted to. Find friends, and not with the anticipation that one of them will turn into a girlfriend. “Friend zoned” is what people say when they don’t get that they’re not owed a relationship, and think that being friends with women is a waste of time. Find friends. Be who you are, be genuine. That’s the only way you’ll find people who are genuinely interested in spending time with you and not some persona you’ve adopted. If you want an actual good match of a partner, it’s more likely that a friend of yours will match you up with someone than you finding the one by going out like you’re on the hunt.
Ireland is the only place where pubs are actual genuine places to meet and chat with strangers. And even then it can be difficult. Came back to France after 13 years and I was just flabbergasted at the difference. Everyone is out with their little group and no one seems to talk with anyone outside that little sphere. Only spot where it’s socially acceptable to engage strangers is the counter itself and that’s about it; and if you do it feels like you’re a freak, honestly. I tried a few times to just meet people that way, and gave up.
Only way that worked for me was joining a hobby or sport or some other group like that. Volleyball got me a job within like two weeks of joining! Couchsurfing got me great friends, girlfriends and eventually my wife.
Couchsurfing got me great friends, girlfriends and eventually my wife.
I should totally try that. It’d be like: “Honey? How long is Rolando going to be staying on our couch? He spends all his time on his laptop giggling at that weird website full of communists and furries…” / “I don’t know… Let’s… Let’s set him up with that friend of yours, I bet that’ll get him out of here!”
Idk, I’ve made lots of friends at bars and pubs in the US
That’s good to hear!
America in general has become just a hostile place to live and interact in. I think people really underestimate how detrimental to ones mental health living in a country that allows people to own guns is and it’s a rl big tragedy. I think it’s the biggest difference between u.s and other countries and it shows culturally. If we got rid of all guns in the U.S. we would probably win the world cup and no one would even come close.
To be clear… you’re afraid to talk to people because guns exist? If this is true, you may need to speak to someone about this professionally.
All I said was that a gun in the room makes everything a little more tense and maybe we should just see how banning them for a year goes and instead of telling why it wouldn’t work you took that as a chance to come at the dude online. What I said just sounds like common sense. But yeah maybe I need to talk to someone and def not the guy targeting people. What a terrible comment.
Sort of reductive.
Violence is bad in America. People feel it appropriate to start arguments about politics in public with strangers. Those people are allowed to have guns on them and in their cars. An angry person with a gun on their hip is just different.
Thats just as a man too, women deal with worse, and I would argue even have a reason to need a gun themselves in some situations.
Its violent all around here and it comes from regular ass people, like your neighbors.
Dude get off the Internet, real life is not full of violent strangers looking to start arguments. Go outdoors, meet some people, enjoy a nice hobby with them and stop watching internet ragebait
Not what I said but sorry I scared you.
Actually, yeah, if you try to talk to someone’s girlfriend in the wrong place you probably won’t get shot, but you would be in pretty big danger. Violence is extremely prevalent in the u.s.
Are you competing for the Olympic long jump? Because that’s quite a leap, holy shit. What do guns have to do with it? I understand you may have some preoccupations about it that interfere in this way, but most people don’t
It’s really not that big of a leap, guns tense things up. This tenseness leads to more devisive people and less communication comes about. When you think of a gun chances are what comes to mind first isn’t going to be something you want to think about. Now multiply that for the amount of people whose familys been affected from one. That’s alot of bad vibes spreading around, a lot of depressed people not going out. If we can take those thoughts away and replace them with good ones yeah I think we would be better off. Kinda interesting you chose to make this about me when there are many other ways this convo could have gone. Also Australia did it and every one of those fuckers I run into are hilarious and idk if it’s correlated or not but hey maybe let’s just try it out and see.
guns tense things up.
Not typically among people who are regularly exposed to them
When you think of a gun chances are what comes to mind first isn’t going to be something you want to think about.
No, I think of the handgun in my nightstand, my father’s hunting rifle, my cop brother’s electronic gun safe, my friend’s revolver, and my former drug dealer’s shotgun
… a lot of depressed people not going out.
I’ve held that same handgun to my head and contemplated pulling the trigger, and I’m no closer to understanding what you mean by this
If we can take those thoughts away and replace them with good ones yeah I think we would be better off.
Seems like we could accomplish the same with universal gun safety classes/ positive exposure in k-12 (and greater access to no-cost therapy)
Kinda interesting you chose to make this about me when there are many other ways this convo could have gone.
I think you’re in the minority for feeling this way. Just because you’re stating it as if it’s a universal truth doesn’t make it so. It’s a personal feeling you shared- I didn’t make it about you.
Australia did it and every one of those fuckers I run into are hilarious and idk if it’s correlated or not but hey maybe let’s just try it out and see.
You got me there- if it makes everyone funny, that might be worth it
It would be worth. You could of bought a jet ski for the amount you spent on guns and if you have one already, what’s better than one jet ski? Two jet ski’s! And that sounds like a lot more fun than what ever the best thing you’ve accomplished with your hobby is.
Lol, time-share jet ski (ik you’re joking, but jet skis are a lot more expensive than guns)
The way you’re defending them sounds like you’ve invested a whole lot.
I legit have no idea how I meet people but some how I have friends and occasionally girlfriends. I can’t control when it happens I just have to wait until I get a friend join event.
Yeah, my experience, too. People hang out with their friends in their friend groups. Just sucks that they don’t seem to mix anymore. Networking doesn’t work if there’s neither opportunity nor interest.
Do them same - hang out with your friend group, just have fun and don’t press finding a relationship. You first get to know people through that group and later interest and maybe a relationship forms.
You do realize that in most cases it’s lack of that friends group the whole problem?
Then go with your colleagues or any group for that matter, book a class about something as someone suggested. 90% of life is showing up.
If you’re too disgusting for anyone to have around, work on yourself first (basic hygiene and not being an asshole is usually enough though).
Just get a girlfriend and join her friend group. Then after you’ve made enough friends, dump her and then you’ll have your own friends.
It can be very relaxing to hang without outsiders
I’m part of a social activity meetup group that also does a bit of volunteer stuff for folks In need. I’m already with someone but I’ve watched people meet and pair off in that group several times. It happens.
If you smell shit everywhere you go, check your shoes.
Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend a bar either. Try taking a class, joining some sort of athletic thing (jogging, cycling, yoga) volunteering somewhere. Go to a place where you’re doing an activity with a group, and the focus isn’t dating. Takes the pressure off and allows for getting to know people naturally.
And, the important second part to that, is to join a club without looking to date. Men (and very occasionally women) who join clubs or teams or whatever with dating as the first priority smell like desperation and end up making the experience worse for everyone, including themselves.
“I do a lot of really cool stuff with fun people maybe the problem is YOU FUCKING SUCK FIX YOURSELF”
This but unironically, everyone should fix themselves
With a reaction like that I would say yes, you need to pay some attention to yourself. By the way, a lot of that “cool stuff” is very ordinary shit like trivia night at a local sports bar.
You sound like you have a skill issue.
It’s actually kind of reductive. Maybe this person has just been unlucky when they have tried to meet friends? Then they read a highly voted comment “Maybe the problem is YOU!” and then they just get down on themselves. I feel like the better advice is “keep trying, cause building deep relationships is hard and actually a lot more rare than people think”.
Such is life if you don’t follow rule 1&2.
- Be good looking;
- Born rich.
?
- Be attractive
- Don’t be unattractive
*woosh*
Surprisingly, real world isn’t world of Warcraft, people won’t have marks over their heads indicating something to you
They should.
Ever seen a name tag with a logo on it?
In The Metaverse™ they will! (…for a price…)
I’ve got news for you. People absolutely mark themselves to make indications for how to interact with them. It’s just that the people who want interactions are usually trying to exploit you one way or another and that conditions is all to stick to our little bubble. Sweet dreams!
The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth
- Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
“Do not give off mating signals unless you are given mating signals” how is that gonna work if nobody is supposed to initiate anything?
That’s…not what they wrote
Find pubs with karaoke, and do it. If you’re decent, someone will compliment you. Strike up a conversation with them.
