Could You Find Your Tinder Surprise?

Apart from if you fit into the following categories:

a) You already have a valentines date

b) You’re really cool and alternative and don’t have a smart phone

c) You’re a caveman

 

Almost all of us have either become familiar with, love, or acquired RSI from swiping at our phones.

Left seems to be the most common swipe, or if you do ‘match’, you might find yourself in a similar situation to this:

So why is it that there is less stigma attached to Tinder than dating sites such as match.com/uniform dating? Generally it’s because  it’s effortless, you don’t have to make a profile, and it’s fun to swipe.

However, the most common appeal of Tinder is that it’s free.

That’s student life summed up: the cheaper the better. So long as it’s free, it’s good.

Or is it as simple as that? Is it because as students, we’re unwilling to pay for virtual company when we can have real company at a bar, and spend less too? Indeed, it’s common to see as a Tinder caption: ‘we met at a bar’.

However, is it also that paying for a dating website account equates with paying for companionship? Is this more desperate? Does it remind us of those men/women that buy drinks in exchange for conversation?

Referring back to the Tinderella video, the word ‘modern’ is so pertinent – Tinder not only reflects the superficiality of our image-based society but it’s laziness too. It’s just another app, along with Angry Birds (or the more outdated Temple Run) that removes actual human interaction from the equation.

Although it might feel uncomfortable having someone buy you a drink at a bar, at least there’s some effort and conversation involved. After asking around, only about 1/5 of these ‘matches’ actually lead to anything beyond a ‘hey’.

But then, there are some first date success stories…

Date 1:

 Where: Revenge Bar, then numerous other gay bars in Brighton

 She wore: Skinny jeans with a wavey top and patent brogues.  

Her date wore: Skinny jeans, a navy top and converses.  

Extra info: They went to different bars next door to each other. My friend was waiting alone when she got hit on by an older couple and had to text her date to come and save her. Being rescued – now that’s a fairytale.

Rating/10: 6

Date 2:

 Where: Drinks at the Prince Albert Pub, Brighton  

She wore: Leggings and a t-shirt  

Her date wore: Work-wear  

Extra Info: He wasn’t drinking because he was driving, and paid for all the drinks  

Rating /10: Steady 7

Date 3:

 Where: Fishbowl Bar, Brighton

 She wore: Denim dress  

Her date wore: Checked shirt and Jeans  

Rating /10: 7

Maybe there’s hope after all…

For more from The Tab, take a look at our Facebook or Twitter.