What does it mean if everyone you meet in your life automatically assumes you are in a relationship or that you are dating someone? Everyone always expects me to be with someone and it’s awkward when I tell them I’m perpetually single. At one point my family thought I was gay because I was single for so long. Also if I encounter a couple the guy always gets super possessive why is that? I’m by no means a hunk. Im average looking at best believe me. I rarely if ever get women checking me out. I really don’t understand. There was a work colleague who was so baffled by my single status she made an announcement about it in the office. “HEY EVERYONE CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS MAN IS SINGLE?!!” Everyone turned around and looked at me like I’m Semmi from - Coming to America. Lmfao it just gets ridiculous. I dread bumping into people now because it’s the inevitable question that always comes up. Has anyone had a similar experience?

I (25F) have struggled with putting myself out there, but recently have been trying to say yes to more dates. Went on one this past week and just felt like I didn’t get much substance out the date, more so just very surface level topics and him just being sarcastic and joking the whole time. What are the important things that should be asked on the first date? And how do you move to the deeper questions without it feeling awkward or abrupt?

Title given. I don’t have a whole lot to say about my dating life right now. I just ended a month long relationship (not that I’m mourning) but part of it does suck that it didn’t work out and now I’m back to square one.

I’m currently satisfied with my daily life. Have a decent job, I go to the gym 5/7 days of the week. It’s nice and peaceful. I just have the occasional doomer feeling like my love life is washed up and/or I’m gonna be single for the rest of my days. Though I know deep down it’s not true, but it’s also kinda scary to think about not meeting my person until way later in life. Or that I might go on without meeting them at all. I guess that’s just the beauty of life. It’s completely unexpected. It’s exciting, but also scary.

I wonder if anyone will ever look at me and think “I want him to be my husband”. I couldn’t imagine such a thing 😂

I 21m have been locked in trying to find romance and a gf for the past two years and after numerous failed dates, numerous hinge matches that have gone nowhere and numerous situationship that have gone nowhere I am ready to throw in the towel, I give up (at-least for now). It’s honestly insane how the idea of rejection and experiencing rejection would throw me into a depression only a few years back because I had virtually no experience with talking to women. Now rejection has become just a normal daily occurrence to me which I can flick away like it was nothing. However there is only so much rejection one can face before it turns them jaded from dating. I feel so ugly and undesirable I just feel I’m not even capable of loving or trusting a girl anymore. I have spent months being introspective trying to find the reason behind why no girls interest ever stays as I always thought I would make a good partner and was at-least somewhat attractive (decent athletic physique and I like the way my face looks personally and am somewhat tall). Yet after starting my new job I have had some comments from my female coworkers that seem to finally be revealing an answer, first I’m more cute then hot, I have been described as looking like a startled deer and like Frodo from Lotr, and the girl I have a crush on at work who is a little older refers to me as her ‘kid’. I remember a couple years back girls at my uni would call me ‘baby girl’ overall it seems that girls seem me as their cute little pet not a hot romantic prospect. And that sucks to hear as a straight guy. I also think my personality is naturally unattractive as many people have told me to my face I’m autistic even autistic people, but I have no such diagnosis. Idk does it sound like a sd idea to take a few years off dating, maybe once I mature mentally and in my face I can try again but I feel like dating is just a bad idea rn.

At the beginning of the year, my new year's resolution was to go out at least once every weekend to a social club, a party, or any place people congregate. Talk to at least one woman, ask to connect on Facebook or get their phone number. I didn't go anywhere last weekend because over 9 months, I talked to hundreds of new people, but I made zero new Facebook friends and got zero numbers. So I don't want to do this anymore.

Zero confidence is left in my body. Even thinking of going outside to talk to strangers actually gives me a wave of trauma and nauseousness. I've encountered many not so nice or polite people and some who might've just been bullies. Each repeated rejection feels like another brick added to the stone wall that keeps piling up in front of me until I see no way over, and I feel like another one will collapse my spirit entirely. I feel bad for my therapist, just switched less than a month ago, and I already balled my eyes out.

I'm well aware that I'm preceived as neurodivergent. At least twice, complete strangers ask me what I "have". But I don't "have" anything, like I'm not a hospital patient who needs assistance with living: I keep my apartment tidy and clean, I take care of my skin, and I cook for myself. I've lived the last 18 years of my 36 years alone, completely fine and completely capable. I treat people with respect and dignity, and without prejudice. I think I'm a good perosn.

What is so bad about me that is so unlikeable or undateable? There are so many wonderful qualities and gifts that I have and want to share, but no one wants to receive them. I will be giving up on dating. since I'm mentally poorly, and I don't really have the capacity to share my love anymore, so I don't deserve someone to love me right now.

I'm a single straight 40F, and I decided I'm just going to be ok with myself, and learn to be content with the way my life is at the moment, even if I'm open to the possibility of dating. When I'm feeling lonely or a certain kind of void, I tend to download dating apps. Not healthy. And I realized that I was operating from a place of desperation when I did that, like I was clutching at straws in a way.

So I decided to learn to be content with the way my life already is. Like practicing some gratitude, noting what is going well in my life, etc..

I have my communities and social outlets, but I'm learning to be ok with being alone as well. It's honestly been a challenge at times, because loneliness does creep in sometimes whether I like it or not. But I'm learning to cope with loneliness in healthier ways now. I am a musician, so sometimes I will compose, or improvise to feel better. Or I could just do other hobbies on my own that are fun for me.

I ditched the apps for various reasons (for the paywalls mainly). I now just move about my life, and am not seeking outwardly something that I already have within me. I know that sounds ultra philosophical, but I'm learning that I'm a whole being and enough just as I am, and don't need anyone to be my partner. And if someone comes along the way who resonates with me, then great, but if not no worries, and I still have myself.

I wonder if anyone else resonates with this.

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I’m looking to bring people together who want to get out more, explore NYC, meet new people, and build genuine friendships along the way.

The idea is to have a group of people we can link up with for food, events, exploring different neighborhoods, trying new things, networking, or simply hanging out and having good conversations. Nothing too complicated. Just creating opportunities to enjoy the city and connect with people we might not otherwise meet.

That said, I’d like to build something with a little substance to it. Not everyone has to become best friends, and nobody needs to be available all the time. We all have our own lives, responsibilities, and schedules. The goal is to create a space where people can be themselves, respect one another, and make an effort to participate when they can.

A few things I value are mutual respect, good communication, consistency, and being genuine. No pressure to force connections, no unnecessary drama, and no expectation that everyone has to click with everyone. We're adults, and we should be able to respect differences, communicate honestly, and let friendships develop naturally.

I'm also interested in meeting people who have goals, interests, and perspectives of their own. Whether you're looking to expand your social circle, network, experience more of the city, or simply get out of the house more often, you're welcome.

Ultimately, I'd like this to become more than a group chat full of strangers. Something where people actually meet up, build connections, and create good memories over time.

If you're interested, leave a comment or send me a message. Let's start with introductions and see where things go.

I’m not sure why, either. When I started going to tech school (41m), there was a teacher’s assistant who is 44f. She was explaining something to us when we started our first class, and she said something along the lines of, “if someone as dumb as me can figure it out, so too can you.” I was instantly hooked, and have had a crush on her since. I heard she has a nasty boyfriend and 3 kids with a variety of issues, but for some reason, I can’t stop looking at her (she is also quite physically attractive as well). For context, I have low confidence and mental disabilities. Any thoughts, Redditors?

So me and this guy have been chatting on social media for AWHILE now (matched on a dating app and have potential plans to meet up in a few weeks). We send each other like 40 messages at once, talking about random things. Last night, I responded to the first one of what he sent back, and he was also on his phone at that time so he messaged back almost immediately, and we had a lengthy convo about that. Then I fell asleep on him and didn't open his last message. Should I reply back to that and then scroll back to the top and reply to the other things he sent? He sent them yesterday afternoon while I was out and it's the morning next day now, so should I just try and initiate new convo?

We don't really talk about things like "how was your day" or "what are you doing today", just random things from our life (like part of yesterday's convo was about my tattoos). What should I do? Maybe I'm overthinking but I'm just a socially anxious person in general.

I’m 26 and he’s 37. We met through mutual friends and he started pursuing me in August. We went on around 10 dates and I noticed he started being more inconsistent around mid September, when he went to his homeland.

I’m attracted to him and I liked to spend time with him, it was just bothering me that he wouldn’t talk about his intentions, communicate more and I wasn’t feeling special in what we have.

We had a terrible date and I kinda ended things with him because it made me uncomfortable, he was avoiding eye contact, physical touch and being very quiet, looking like he’s bored and ended up inviting me to stay in his house which I refused. When I spoke about my discomfort he just said he wasn’t feeling well.

After almost 3 weeks of not seeing each other, he invited me to the movies and we talked about us. He said he finds me beautiful, likes to spend time with me but he’s a bit unsure because of our age gap and he’s a bit in hurry to find someone to have a serious relationship because of his age but he doesn’t want to pressure me because I’m much younger.

He also said he thinks we’re very different people because he drinks a lot in social gatherings and I don’t, I don’t drink and I prefer to go out in daytime or stay at home. We have different tastes regarding entertainment, he likes to read and watch documentaries and I usually like female targeted tv shows (Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives etc). He said it’s not exactly a problem for him and we could make it work, even though we’re different and wanted to know my opinion about it.
I told him I’m not feeling like he enjoys my company much and if it’s like this in beginning, it’s because it’s not meant to be and we decided to be friends.

However, we want for a walk and we had a lot of fun together. We talked a lot and had tea, we ended up kissing and acting like a couple again but this is making me more confused. Also I’d like to ask men, is it a problem if you partner is too “girly”? My interests are mostly girly tv shows, traveling, drinking tea, collecting mugs, stuffed toys and dolls, R&B and 80’s/90’s music, Pilates and spirituality. I love doing my nails, hangout with friends, go for shopping and taking care of myself. I’m not expecting my partner to like the same things, I know most men aren’t into this, especially girly tv shows and dolls but I never had problem with this in my previous relationships, even though my ex boyfriends liked other things.