What to Do If You Hate Online Dating

Phase one: learn to laugh

You probably still nurse resentment about the complete disaster that was your last online dating adventure. First and foremost, let go of the bitter past. Spend some quality time with friends and family members and let those wounds heal. After some time, consider sharing your story – anonymously – online.

There are numerous Reddit groups dedicated to this topic, full of educational stories about dates gone hilariously wrong. Adding your own piece to the mix might have a therapeutic effect. The same could be achieved with a blog post about it.

Phase two: salvage the past

Now that the bad memories are no longer a thorn in your side, it’s time to think through what went wrong. Go through your memories with a clear head and figure out which mistakes and missteps lead to the problem in the first place. And more importantly, find out what should be done differently next time.

For example, if your religion or ethnicity is a cornerstone of your life and yet end up with matches who have issues with your faith or culture, then consider ditching general dating sites and switch to a platform that focuses solely on your community or interests. There are numerous dating sites dedicated to African American, Christian or Jewish singles.

If the cause of concern was the money wasted on a subscription, choose a site that doesn’t restrict you as much. OkCupid, for example, allows free members to chat too.

Phase three: make yourself better

Bear in mind that ending up with an aggressive or creepy partner online is not necessarily the site’s fault. Don’t let an unsuccessful date discourage you. Instead, double your efforts! Upload studio-quality pictures for your profile, add a captivating description and read some articles on common dating mistakes. We also recommend switching to mobile apps, where the most buzz for dating services seems to happen nowadays. It’s easier to chat, empty hours while traveling can be better used, all while matching the same quality as the app’s parent site.

Alternatives for dating sites

If you are hellbent on never setting foot on a dating site ever again, then there are a couple of other routes to consider. Speed dating is a viable option, for example, as is blind dating, although this poses an even greater risk than meeting someone from an online service. You could also join the aforementioned Reddit groups where people like you go to mend their hearts. Who knows, maybe you find love there…