After seeing some threads it's clear that there are chapos here who need a mentor in the romantic arts (tm). Pitch me your best Q's and I'll spit my best A's.
I've been a professional dating coach and matchmaker for the last 6 years.
edit: Wrapped up for now. Thanks everyone and good luck out there, you can do it!
Would you recommend one dating app over the others for people looking for LTRs?
What are your thoughts on the depictions of matchmakers in media? Have you seen Indian Matchmaking on Netflix what are your thoughts about their practices and methods?
At this point, no one app is really far and away the best for LTRs. I've had clients who have had success with Coffee Meets Bagel, but being on there is not a guarantee that the person is looking for an LTR. A lot of folks start with casual hook ups and then build from there over time as they get a feel for the person. This is the path my partner and I took and I tend to recommend it.
The quality between apps can very much differ between cities, so I generally recommend starting off by downloading 3 or so of them that you like and then getting a feel for them in your city. Examples include Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, Bumble, Match, and CMB.
I haven't seen that show on Netflix, but will need to check it out this weekend. I have a lot of respect for cultures that have a more formal tradition of matchmaking. Not particularly well read on those cultures, but I always appreciate when I see intention and structure built around the ways humans help one another.
I think in general depictions of matchmakers tend to be a reflection of the misogyny and classism in our culture, so not great. There are some relationship advice columnists I do recommend such as Dan Savage. He's politically a liberal, so doesn't always have great takes there, but is very sex positive and straight to the point.