• Socsa@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    The bigger problem is everyone has kids already. But by 45 or so you can start looking for people with adult kids.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I had my first kid at 40, which was on the later side but not at all unusual.

        I came from a more rural area and occasionally here about people my age back there being grandparents already and just have to shake my head at those choices. It just doesn’t happen here

        • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          yeah i grew up rural and by mid twenties all my HS peers were married w/ kids or doing drugs/prison. I was in graduate school on the other side of the country at 25 and marriage kids was a decade away in my mind.

          least to i haven’t been back there since i was 19 years old and never kept any HS friends.

        • Trainguyrom@reddthat.com
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          3 months ago

          I speedran adulthood and while on one hand I wish I had waited, on the other I’ll be in my mid 40s with an empty nest which is pretty sweet if you ask me

      • Larry@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        If you’re still looking for good men at 35 you’re also single for a reason

        • Trainguyrom@reddthat.com
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          3 months ago

          I mean there’s plenty of reasons to be single at 35 that aren’t necessarily a knock against you as a potential partner. Long term partner cheated on you, long term partner died, long term partner grew apart, active duty in the military for 18 years, maybe the person threw themselves into work and was too focused on work to date or maybe they were caring for a declining family member and too busy to date, or maybe they were going through shit and they’re finally ready to date again after a lot of time healing and climbing out. You get the picture

        • peopleproblems@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          Not necessarily. If she was an anxious attached style she’d be more likely to fall for avoidant men. She could either:

          1. Now recognize the red flags of avoidants and not subject herself to that.
          2. Be unaware of the red flags of avoidants and keep making the same mistake
          3. Recently left a long term relationship as an secure individual and discover how many avoidants really exist.

          Of course you are right, she could be avoidant to, in which case hopefully she’ll learn sooner rather than later that fearing intimacy and vulnerability is detrimental, and that healthy codependency is actually a thing. But it’s not easy for them to do so.

          I don’t like to think that everyone is incapable of finding someone, people just need to figure out why. Pointing out “single for a reason” seems counterproductive and a bit disrespectful.

      • peopleproblems@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Or we became so insecure in our previous relationship that we’re terrified of meeting new people :).

        Can’t get hurt that way.

      • pyre@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        single for a reason

        is the reason maybe that it’s hard dating after 35 or is that only a valid excuse for women?

        • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          is the reason maybe that it’s hard dating after 35 or is that only a valid excuse for women?

          it’s easier to blame other people than realize you aren’t a catch either.

    • BruceTwarzen@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      True, in reality everyone in the ghoul. Dating does become harder the older you get. When you’re 18 and you date an 18 year old, both have very little life and dating experience. You basically mix water with water. When you’re 35, you’re vinegar and even if you like your date, she might be oil and you just don’t mix. You have to compromise, which only gets harder and harder.

      • Carl@sh.itjust.works
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        3 months ago

        I know a 30yo woman that I am interested in, and is 40mins away. The problem is she is not interested. She likes guys that are 20yo and live long distance(other countries), and they all end disastrously. I am just her 34yo friend.

      • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        It’s not harder, objectively.

        It’s just that people’s expectations aren’t realistic. And nobody is more bitter than average folks who think they are the top 1% of the dating pool, which is what the average person thinks. So many people in the dating pool make like 50k/yr and think you should be a millionaire to date them.

        I’ve met so many women who are complete average looking, average income, etc. who think they DESERVE Don Draper and anything less is ‘below them’. They’d rather be alone with their fantasy TV boyfriend then be in a real relationship with a person who is their equal. and plenty of dudes do the same with porn.

        I’m a medium successful dude, and when I go out dating all I seem to encounter women who are worse than me in pretty much every metric who dunk on me for not being the top 1% man of their dreams. It’s wild.

        • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
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          3 months ago

          Date leftists? Like, actual leftists. I know, it’s a small pool in America, but you’d be surprised what’s out there if you join the right community.

          You’re going after people who buy into the capitalist heirarchy and being surprised it’s all just shallow self-delusions. Idk, just seems self defeating.

          • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            A good chunk of the people I’m talking about identify as leftists.

            Your political ideals also have nothing to do with your personal expectations and habits in relationships. Plenty of ‘leftist’ women I have met 100% expect traditional gender roles and aspire to be SAHM. And a lot of leftists I knew in my 20s are now hardcore right wingers now.

            Hell half my liberal/leftie graduate school cohort is now support Trump/Republicans.

              • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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                3 months ago

                sorry, is there a test i can perform on people to know if they are ‘true leftist’?

                if not, you should create a ‘leftist testing kit’ like they have for covid so i can bring it on dates and swab them and know in 15 minutes if they are a leftist or not!

        • fleetwheels@walledgarden.xyz
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          3 months ago

          The attitude of assuming all women you meet are inferior to you (and they’re the ones who have too-high standards?) can also make your dating life miserable, just saying

          • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            I’m not assuming anything. I’m reporting how people behave. If I meet someone who is a middle class job and they are telling me I’m a ‘POS loser’ for not driving car that is worth more than their annual salary, the issue isn’t me. I think my Subaru is pretty dope.

            Just go on any dating tiktok or dating advice community. You will find tons and tons of people with these attitudes.

          • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            some of it is good. some social media has great/good advice… but that social media isn’t popular.

            because 99% of it is ‘fix your own shit and stop expecting someone else to fix it for you’

  • TwinkleToes@lemmy.ca
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    3 months ago

    I worked for one of the major dating sites about a decade ago. Let me assure you, that people act like debased hyperhormonal chimps in heat when they think nobody is watching. Oh, and by the way - someone is ALWAYS watching.

    If you’re a male who has some combination of a steady job, are remotely reliable, not drug or booze addled, have most of your teeth and hair and can tell a joke and hold a conversation - you’re golden. It is UTTERLY unfair to ladies, but just being able to hold that low bar will get you much farther than you might think.

    It’s a strange dilemma - for a dating site to suceed, you have to protect the women. From the guys’ perspective, it’s shouting into the void, on the off chance you might EVER stand out enough to get a reply a week. From a woman’s perspective, it’s like the ozone layer protecting a constant bombardment of radiation and lethal rocks from space. A cornucopia of typically BAD CHOICES that manage to slip through the various cracks that the sites/apps put up to protect them.

    But - the women ARE the site. If you have the WOMEN, then the men would follow you buck naked through the flaming tar pits of hell to get to them. But - the average male is a monosyllabic goblin with skeletons in his closet and bad intentions much more often than you’d think. It’s why Bumble tried female-only communication initiation. The women on dating sites have an invisible shield tbey don’t even realize exists around them to prevent bots, unsolicited dick pics, one word messages, repeat-offense harassers, and wide-net-casting quagmires who have more deeply held mysoginstic beliefs than they do good pick up lines.

      • Carl@sh.itjust.works
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        3 months ago

        I can’t keep jobs because of my agoraphobia, and anxiety. I was thinking of volunteering at the library, but transportation sucks in my city, and I don’t drive. I have mental rumination, and depression, while I also suck at keeping a good conversation. I do a lot of sucking, but not the good kind, except when I have a bowl of noodles.

      • TwinkleToes@lemmy.ca
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        3 months ago

        Of course. How do you investigate harassment and identify site-killing lunatics without keyword searching.

        It’s all stored and anyone who needs to see stuff their site hosts can get it. Plus - you’d be surprised how much criminal activity people are willing to discuss with strangers.

      • bitfucker@programming.dev
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        3 months ago

        Anything not advertised as E2EE can be assumed to have some 3rd party able to look at the conversation, malicious or not.

  • KyuubiNoKitsune@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    3 months ago

    The solution is to just stop bothering trying and accept that you’ll always be alone, or that at some point you’ll stumble upon a person who you like and likes you back.

    Im lesbian and know 2 lesbians, so like, I doubt that’s going to happen, so I just do the former.

  • HexesofVexes@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    The real secret to dating after 35 - don’t.

    Folks are not looking to “date”: they’re after long term commitment OR quick hook ups. The middle ground really vanishes when you get older!

      • HexesofVexes@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Yes and no; I’ve met some people who were great to date but hell to live with.

        A good relationship starts with both people knowing what they want - and continual contact helps determine if the other person is being honest about what they want. Post 35/30, this process is often a lot faster, and dating skill matters less than ability not to annoy the person you’re suddenly around 24/7.

        If it matches from the start, or a compromise grows, you’re in for a winner. Otherwise, back to the sea of the undead you go, no matter how good your dating skill!

    • orcrist@lemm.ee
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      3 months ago

      Sorry, no. Source: life experiences. It’s just you should clarify up front.

      • HexesofVexes@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I think it goes further than that - post 35 (post 30 really) there is a lot more pressure to shift from casual dating to a relationship at a faster pace.

        Life experience talking here too, it isn’t just “being upfront”, it’s also being willing to move at a faster pace.

    • Encrypt-Keeper@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      That’s all dating is before 35 too. I mean what middle ground? Do you think people are going out with the intention of dating for a year or two?

      • HexesofVexes@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Intention and reality are two different things - although I can’t say I ever managed casual dating for 2 years! Usually most folks are in a relationship after 1.

  • remer@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I know you’re not from the South because down there the first wave of divorces is at about 21 years old with three kids

    • VinnyDaCat@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I hate how true this is.

      What’s worse is that many of the people who didn’t fall into that trap have been waiting to responsibly have children later, which I also don’t want. Finding anyone down here that is interested in being child free down here is a challenge and finding someone who doesn’t expect to have a busy life to make up for it is even more difficult.

    • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      And you know they’re not from NYC, LA, or SF - because there are tons of good looking single people over 35.

    • Facebones@reddthat.com
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      3 months ago

      Southerner here to confirm. I’m 36, graduated in 2004, I know a few people my age with 20 year olds now. 🙄

    • buttfarts@lemy.lol
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      3 months ago

      Marrying the first person you ever fuck and breeding uncontrollably only to become deeply miserable and unfulfilled in your locked down life is very human and not at all a good idea. Every success story of first love is a random aberration that fuels the myth that this should be the status quo.

      Most people are a lot sluttier than that

    • I'm back on my BS 🤪@lemmy.autism.place
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      3 months ago

      I find it much easier!

      • People are less shy
      • They have more experience
      • They know better what they are looking for
      • Their fantasy marriage/life has been renounced
      • People are much more chill about sex matters
      • Their romantic histories are quite telling
      • Most people have their own place
      • Careers are mostly stable

      /

      Cons

      • Much smaller dating pool
      • Many have kids already
      • More difficult to make friends/meet people in general
      • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        speak for yourself. i have found dating as a 30+ adult to be way more dramatic and miserable than it was in my 20s.

        nobody in my 20s was having a temper tantrum at dinner because the restaurant isn’t expensive enough for their ‘brand’.

          • TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            nah it’s multiple dates. it’s also a common attitude that men need to ‘impress’ dates by spending a lot at restaurants otherwise they ‘devalue’ a woman. asking someone out on a cheap date to get to know them isn’t the point… the point is to win them over by spending money on them.

            basically a lot of people see dating as prostitution with extra steps. and wonder why they are single.

            • Doesntpostmuch@possumpat.io
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              3 months ago

              Dude, I’ve been on many, many dates in my 30s. I have never experienced this in the least and I am a frugle date. I recommend reevaluating your “type” of women if this is a recurring thing.

        • TonyOstrich@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          Not OP, but I was sterilized in my mid 20s. Not only am I not interested in having kids, but I would not be a good parent. I have still dated people with kids who made it clear there would never be an expectation that I become a parent or interact with their kids, which does address those issues, but there are others. Understandably their kids take priority over basically everything except for maybe the factors that effect their ability to provide for their kids (or at least I think they should). That often means they don’t have nearly as much time to hang out and build a connection, nor are they able to be as free to do other things due to constraints on their time, finances, or both like going on fun trips. Another factor I have run into that is that usually the reason someone is single and has kids due to entirely positive reasons, and there is often at least some amount of trauma in their past that is often not entirely behind them.

          To be clear the above is in no way an absolute and are merely my anecdotal experience and correlations in the given area I live. It is also always worth keeping in mind that I am in no way perfect myself and that it’s possible there is something about me that results in the above being my experience.

        • I'm back on my BS 🤪@lemmy.autism.place
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          3 months ago

          It introduces more factors to consider. One, the kids will be involved in the relationship, so that’s more people that have to get along well. Two, they take up time, energy, and resources that could otherwise go to the relationship. Three, the parents are more anchored to their current life, so things like going on vacation or moving become much more complex and expensive. Four, the person will almost certainly have to maintain a relationship with their ex/other parent of the children. Five, if you yourself want to have kids, they may not be willing to do so anymore.

          I acknowledge that having kids has its benefits too though. It’s not all bad.

        • mortemtyrannis@lemmy.ml
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          3 months ago

          Ahhh they are inextricably linked to a previous partner and you’re expected to become a parental figure if the relationship goes anywhere serious.

          Some people (like me) really don’t want an instant family.

          I take my hat off to those who don’t have kids but date parents; they are better people than I.

          • I'm back on my BS 🤪@lemmy.autism.place
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            3 months ago

            I wouldn’t mind doing it, but I would have to know the partner really well and feel confident that it would be a stable relationship. I remember having a hard time as a kid when I lost my aunt because her and my uncle had a nasty divorce where she went no contact.

            Pros of dating a parent:

            • You can see how they treat those that are vulnerable and dependent on them
            • They’re typically more stable, conscientious, and responsible
            • Good parents know that they have to model healthy behavior, so they practice those
            • You already know what you are getting with the kids, so it’s not a surprise
            • The kids inadvertently tell on the parent if the parent is misrepresenting themselves up front
            • Can do family activities that would normally be considered odd for only adults to partake
            • The many benefits of being a parent
            • If there’s shared custody, you regularly get time off from being a parent
            • oatscoop@midwest.social
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              3 months ago

              Getting older, with an established career makes spontaneity harder as it is. Add kids to the mix and it’s pretty much impossible.

              I … don’t want that. I like making last minutes plans, 1-2 week long trips, etc. The most limiting factor for me is dropping off my cat at one of my many friends/family members that can watch it (and I reciprocate with their pets).

              If I’m going to date it’s going to be with someone with a compatible lifestyle.

  • BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    This is where I have massive respect for gay guys who just use Sniffies for outright hookups and sometimes don’t even bother to learn the other guy’s name. Listening to drag queen podcasts has taught me a lot, and that a sex life can be pretty straightforward for gay guys.