Even now, technology is even playing a role in how we meet potential boyfriends. Dating websites have changed the way people meet others.
Of course there's the usual match.com and eHarmony websites, but obviously those are not meant for people in college. There really isn't anything for college students to meet other students on the internet. Or is there?
What most college students by now are thinking about is Tinder. Tinder is an app that is similar to the very beginning of Facebook. It's essentially a Hot or Not app that shows the people around you and you can swipe right or left depending on who you like and who you don't. If you like someone who likes you back, you have a match. Tinder also pulls information from your Facebook page and shows if you have interests similar to people on the app.
I've read some articles on what people think about this app, and it is clearly not something that you use to find a serious relationship. It's essentially something college students can use to find someone to hook up with. Well, I was definitely not up for that.
Some of my friends had met up with guys from Tinder, and I had only talked to a few guys from it. I certainly wasn't comfortable with meeting up with anyone from this app.
This summer I came across this one guy who seemed really nice and was obviously cute. We had talked for a while before he asked me out. I was terrified. I wanted to go out with him, sure, but it was Tinder...
I decided to keep an open mind and meet up with him. I did, and it was the opposite of what I was expecting. I expected to be totally weirded out and scared. I wasn't. I was relaxed and was really glad I was dating again. It had been forever since I had been on a date. He even asked me out on another date.
I thought I had broken the Tinder stereotype.
Well, I knew deep down that I hadn't. The next day he told me he didn't want a relationship at all and wanted to be friends. Yeah, okay, we've all heard that before.
I was upset, naturally. I felt something for him. But then I think, was this just me creating feelings because I was so lonely? I still don't know.
Plus, after really thinking about it, I knew there were red flags all over the place. I mean, who invites a girl back to his house to "watch a movie" after the first date?
The Tinder dynamic is interesting, why are we so willing to go and meet people on this meaningless app that really is only meant for hookups?
It's simple, really. Tinder is easy. There is no way to get hurt. You don't have to put yourself out there. It's easier than seeing someone out and asking for their number and have the possibility of getting rejected.
Unfortunately, this is the way our society is heading. I don't agree with it. Technology is so good for so many things, but a way to meet people is not one of them.
This all ties in to one of my favorite parts about Sex and the City. People in that time, which honestly was not that long ago, took the chance and possible rejection to meet someone. Of course men were afraid, everyone is afraid of rejection. But, if they weren't going to take the chance, then how would they ever meet anyone? What would have happened if Mr. Big had never taken the chance and met Carrie and finally asked her out? We wouldn't have a show people.
Sometimes I think my life would be better without social media or the internet. I couldn't tell you how much I hate my phone sometimes. I wish I could throw it out the window at some points during the day.
However, if a man who I had met and completely loved, sent me the Love Letters of Great Men to me in an email, I wouldn't be too upset.
Computers come in handy for expressing yourself to your loved ones. And that's just it, it is something to use for communication with those you know and love. Not as a tool for meeting people you would never otherwise meet. I just hope that I can find someone in real life and not through a computer screen.
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