Published 11:24 05 Feb 2018 GMT

Meet the man who travels around Europe for free by charming women on Tinder

When Tinder first hit the market, it attracted mixed reviews. Some people thought it was a shallow way to approach online dating, and that finding a partner should involve more than simply swiping left or right on a selection of mugshots. Others, meanwhile, saw it as the perfect model for modern dating: it's quick, it's easy, and people are usually quite up-front about what they want to get out of a match. After all, some people want something serious, while others are after a laid-back Netflix and Chill sort of deal. Oh, and some people just want to travel the world for free by Couchsurfing their way through the homes of dozens of their Tinder matches. No, seriously. [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bck9vvvFjj0/?taken-by=zebotta]] Anthony Botta, a 25-year-old Belgian man from Brussels, has traveled to 20 European cities and stayed with 21 different women using a method he calls "Tindersurfing". By using the premium version of the app, Tinder Plus, Botta is able to contact matches from different countries. Once he's matched with a lady he finds appealing, he explains what he's doing and waits for their response. When he first embarked on the mission, he didn't really know how to bring up the subject. This led to Botta wasting a lot of his time - something he wasn't really intent on when you consider that his mission was to traverse the continent. "After a few days I found out I couldn’t spend three hours a day just chatting on Tinder explaining what I was doing," he said. "So I came up with the following game plan: break the ice with ‘You are my first match in the city’ and then whatever the lady would text back I would send her the link of the trailer video that is on my Youtube channel followed by ‘wanna be my host?’" Understandably, he gets some mixed responses. [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc73WYRlU8j/?taken-by=zebotta]] "The most common one was ‘wow that’s cool but not for me, I wish you luck in your travels’," Botta explained. "But of course a guy that only travels with Tinder was never going to please everyone so yes I had negative comments, insults, ladies deleting the match etc. And of course ladies that would just say yes before we even started talking." It's not what the app was intended for, obviously, but Botta is being totally upfront about his intentions - and it probably doesn't hurt that he's a fairly good looking dude, too. However, the Tinder nomad doesn't always hook-up with his hosts. "In the end it is like a regular Tinder date: sometimes you go to bed together, sometimes not," he said. "If you don't click, if the magic doesn't happen, then I sleep happily on the sofa." [[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BWQKTQOlsoT/?taken-by=zebotta]] Botta also realizes that it's a lot easier for him, as a man, to go traveling the world in this way than it would be for a woman. "Tinder is full of creepy guys that will send you dick pics even before saying hello," he admitted. However, he is grateful for all the opportunities and experiences he's been given and doesn't intend on ending his journey anytime soon. In the near future, he plans on heading to North America and New Zealand. So, ladies, if you like the look of this guy (and you've got a free couch for him to crash on), get your swiping finger at the ready - you could just end up being his latest host.

uncategorised3 min(s) read

Published 00:06 10 Nov 2017 GMT

Experts reveal the best methods of success for online dating

Tom Wood

Our generation has seen the birth of a completely new form of dating, one that is conducted largely from our fingertips. Certainly, we log onto apps such as Tinder and Bumble and accept or reject potential love interests on the basis of their Facebook photos and a 300 word bio, which is somehow supposed to sum up the person in question. Now, it goes without saying, but this is a completely different landscape from the dinner-and-a-movie type affair that the generation before us enjoyed. But it is incredibly popular. I mean, do your friends even use social media if they haven't had a stab at using the popular dating app, Tinder? I don't think so, as Tinder has an estimated 50 million users worldwide. And as such, we go through social situations hearing tales about dating apps either leading to long fulfilling relationships, or you know, leaving people traumatised. But the latter doesn't have to be your story. Experts have recently concluded that men have more success on dating apps if they create profiles that mirror the type of woman that they are trying to attract. While we've heard everyone wax lyrical about how important to include realistic images, and a comprehensive list of your interests and hobbies on your dating profile, researchers from the University of Michigan are the first to claim that it's more important to browse the profiles of the type of person that you want to attract before you start to put together your own bio. The researchers specifically looked at how women perceived the text included in men's profiles, and whether it either helped or hindered their chances at securing a date. They analysed three months' worth of anonymous data from dating applications, including the profiles of 410,000 active users from 10 different cities. Altogether, these users penned 25 million messages and rated other users' profiles an eye-watering 864 million times.

Researchers discovered that not only did men account for 62 per cent of the messages seen on dating apps, but that they also initiated 86 per cent of the communication.

The study surmised that men were most successful when they honed in on the similarities they shared with the women that they wished to attract.

The lead author of the study, Danaja Maldeniya has asserted, "Our findings suggest that when males craft their profiles, they should attempt to highlight their perceived similarities with the females they are hoping to attract, while highlighting what they think makes them stand out from the competition". "Depending on the particular pair of users, these two factors may be at odds."

"The results of our study offer insights that could be useful for improving the recommendations made by dating sites to their users.For example, at any given time, a dating site would know the set of males who are competing for the attention of a female.

The site can then adjust recommendations so that the female is linked to a more diverse set of men who are different from her current suitors, but still similar to her, which our results suggest would lead to more successful matches."

Well, there you have it: it really does pay to do your research.

lifestyle1 min(s) read

Published 16:43 09 Apr 2018 GMT

Girl's Tinder match story is a reminder not to judge anyone too quickly

Tom Wood

It feels like it wasn't that long ago that Tinder was a niche hobby for some single people out there. I remember having to describe it to people in their twenties who hadn't heard of it at all. But now, just over five years after it was released onto the dating scene, it has completely revolutionized how we interact with one another.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/TheDreamGhoul/status/668500294599180288]]

Online dating was definitely a thing before apps got involved, but it was nowhere near as accessible or as accepted as it is now. Using the likes of Match.com or OK Cupid was something associated primarily with those who had tried their hand at dating for years and were now looking to cut the BS and find someone to settle down with for good.

Making it as easy as a swipe of the finger has changed how easy it is to get a date, but those benefits have come with a fair amount of negatives too. Whether it's your friends' experiences or the countless nightmare stories proliferating on the internet, it's clear that Tinder doesn't always bring out the best in humanity.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/DaddyJew/status/557950825478492160]]

For a lot of women, there is an awareness that while you may land a good guy through the app, you've got to wade through an ocean of d**k pics and insulting comments before you get to a genuine conversation.

And even when you do find someone who will pay you a little respect, that doesn't mean they're going to be completely normal.

So it's fair to say that a lot of people have their guard up even when they're looking for a partner on the sight, but not all of them will come across someone quite like this guy, who surprised his Tinder match with some unconventional methods of socializing. In fact, he's got far more important things on his mind than hooking up.

A woman named Lyra tweeted some screenshots of their conversation on Twitter. She was obviously interested as they had matched based on their photos, but was a little taken aback when he asked her to "play". No, this isn't slang, he was actually looking to play a game. And unlike Lyra initially thought, it wasn't about football either.

When she did check out his bio, however, she found something a little unexpected.

This wasn't some guy running some flirting game - he just wanted someone to join him playing Words With Friends - and, let's not forget, it has to be the sequel.

Once she posted the tweet out, it went viral with over 3,000 likes as of the time of writing.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/LyraD_/status/981614813641134080]]

But it's not like the story ended there. One woman replied to the tweet to report she was actually playing the same guy on Words With Friends right at that moment.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/abbyburgelin/status/981621295405203456]]

And so did this woman, too.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/heyitsjulianaa/status/981962221822541824]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/LyraD_/status/981621965596319745]]

While it looks like this guy was simply looking for some people to play a game with, it might actually work in the long run. After all, I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that are looking for a partner to play Words With Friends.

Tags:

doordash

relationships3 min(s) read

Published 16:40 18 Jan 2019 GMT

This guy got a girl's number on Tinder by telling her a story all about a duck

Tom Wood

Dating was never simple, but with the rise of online dating and apps such as Tinder and Bumble, it all became incredibly easy to navigate, right? Well, it does make certain things easier - but to say that dating is a breeze in 2019 would be a massive overstatement.

Finding the right person to go on a date with is pretty hard when you're doing it all face-to-face, but at least when you can really see who you're talking to and understand what sort of person they are, you can find out whether it's worth the trouble. On the likes of Tinder, however, you can check what they look like, ask them questions about their jobs, their outlook on life and their general interests - but you still need to meet them in person before you know whether it was worth it.

Tinder on a phone

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

The problem with match-making on these apps is that you've got to sell yourself pretty quickly, and there are countless pitfalls to avoid along the way. There's plenty of people out there who are probably so desperate to look appealing to a prospective partner they end up acting unlike themselves, potentially putting off their best matches. So that's when people start looking out of the box for alternate techniques - though few are as out-there as this one.

One man had a... let's say "unique" approach to the dating problem, and somehow it paid off. After all, I suppose showing a little creativity is an attractive feature to many, even when it all comes down to a story about a duck.

duck

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels]]

After matching with a woman on Tinder, one man avoided all the usual cliches and started to spin a yarn about a duck walking through the forest. But this wasn't just a one-sided conversation, but a choose-your-own adventure narrative. Move over Bandersnatch, because this was a story that not only got her invested in the conversation, but landed him her number before too long.

First of all, he starts off with a "lost duck walking through the forest," asking his match which way she wants to go - and even providing some emojis for a visual aid. Then he starts giving her more options as the story continues...

fbad tin

He even starts to bring in her joking question, making it part of the lore.

bfe tin

She's getting invested in the duck's story now, choosing to be a little curious even there is risk involved.

afe tin

edcb screen shot at ..

And that's when it all comes to a head, and his plan comes to fruition...

b tin

That's right, she sent him her number, and it was worth all the effort for this brave Tinder user.

It's mad, but in a way it kind of makes sense. After all, what people really want from a date a lot of the time is fun, and what better way to let someone know you're fun to hang out with than with a creative story like this?

Tags:

doordash

uncategorised2 min(s) read

Published 11:32 16 Aug 2017 GMT

30 Questionable Tinder Profiles That Prove True Love Is Hard To Find

Tom Wood

I've said it before, and I'll probably end up saying it many more times before the end of my life: dating is hard. In theory, finding someone you don't despise to cuddle up and spend the majority of your time with should be pretty simple, but in practice, countless time and money is spent trying to find the right person to settle down with. Tinder is meant to facilitate that. You go on Tinder, add a few photos, and swipe on people you like or don't quite fancy. Your metric of judgement for that is the Tinder profile, and some of them are... let's say, more creative than others. That can work to your advantage in standing out from the crowd, but these unlucky-in-love ladies and gents stand out in a way that's maybe not so good.

1. I wonder what's on her mind...

2. How does she get them to stay on?

3. Seductive pose

4. Happens to the best of us

5. Aaah! A tongue full of babies!

6. *Swipes right immediately*

7. Maybe we'll go out to breakfast instead

8. Pretty self-explanatory

9. At least she's honest

10. Nice melons

11. Fish puns are the way to my heart, as they should be yours

12. Ew

13. She sounds like fun

14. That's a pretty nice tractor she's got there

15. On second thought, I think Emilia here has won Tinder

16. Didn't see that coming

17. When you see them...

18. Pretty charming profile, but what on Earth are you doing in the picture?!

19. Do you think her chest and butt have been Photoshopped? I can't tell

20. No, you're really not a typical Asian girl

21. He can't hear the haters through those stacks of cash, so mock him in his left ear, I guess?

22. To each their own

23. LeftCroc might be looking for a while...

24. You know, nothing special

25. Here's Amanda, apparently taken before she ascended to heaven on a cloud of farts

26. That took a turn

27. Sounds like a fun evening of activities either way

28. Charming

29. I'm not sure what's happening here... but I think I like it

30. I love a girl with strong bowel movements

No matter how many apps, articles or dates we indulge in, finding the one. These guys and girls have gone the extra mile in a different direction to find their perfect match, but I think that with enough patience, they'll be successful. They may not get a lot of matches, but the ones they do are more likely to blossom into something beautiful. Weird, maybe, but beautiful. [Image Credit: Imgur/Tinder]

uncategorised3 min(s) read

Published 10:46 19 Feb 2018 GMT

Tinder have revealed a brand new option which will blow the dating scene wide open

Tom Wood

Since online dating first emerged more than 20 years ago, the ways in which people attempt to find a partner have evolved significantly. No longer do we have to rely on friends setting us up on dates with "this really nice guy they know from the office", or putting a lonely hearts advert in the back pages of a newspaper, or drunkenly eyeing up someone in a bar without knowing whether or not they'll agree to have a drink with you. In fact, with apps such as Tinder, you don't need to risk any embarrassment or awkward conversation at all. You just swipe right on the people you like - et voila - if they've swiped you too, you've got yourself a starting point. There's no obligation to meet with people you don't get along with, no rules saying you have to reply to that awkward chat up line, and no time wasted by going on "blind dates" with people who turn out not to be your type at all. But now the infamous dating app has upped its game even further - and it might just help you find that special someone. As most people know, Tinder's main rival is Bumble - the app which only permits women to start the conversation. This feature has worked really well for them, as guys don't feel the pressure of having to initiate a chat, and women don't have to put up with pestering guys who won't leave them alone when they don't respond to the first "heyyyyyyyy :)". So, in a stroke of genius (or plagiarism - you decide), Tinder has decided to adopt this same format for their own platform. However, they've set it as an option rather than a built-in feature. This means that, if you're a woman on Tinder, you can basically choose to have your DMs open or closed. "Often, women don’t really want the pressure of kicking off the conversation, but if they want it, that’s great," said Mandy Ginsberg, the CEO of the company that owns Tinder. "Giving people the choice versus telling people how to engage is the big difference." This is a clear effort by Tinder to close the gap between the number of users their platform has, and the amount of people who are signed up to Bumble. At the moment, a lot of women have Tinder and Bumble, so this option would essentially negate the need for someone to have more than one account. Tinder also tried to buy Bumble recently, but their offer wasn't enough. Clearly, this is their way of getting their own back. Then again, there's nothing stopping men and women from still using Bumble, so it all just seems to be down to personal preference. So, if you're a man who isn't too confident with opening lines, or a woman who likes to have the first say in a conversation, keep an eye out for the new Tinder update. It's sure to be a talking point with your new matches.