For numerous boring reasons, I have been out of the dating game for quite a few months now. I’m getting to the point where I want to ease myself back into it again, if only so I have some mildly entertaining gossip to tell my friends. However, every time I summon the energy to try and get back out there, I hesitate. I honestly don’t know if I have the emotional strength to suffer through using dating apps again.

Some of this is because of my own shortcomings; I’ve never been a ‘talking stage’ enjoyer, and I am nitpicky with the qualities of people that I would want to spend time with (and this doesn’t involve height or money!). At the same time, even with cautious use, the weirdos and audacious jerks never fail to make the whole experience even worse. We’ve got to take the opportunity to laugh at some of them, because there are many that need taking down a peg. At least I’m not as repellent as some of these examples.