I've always been hesitant to try online dating because 1.) I'm a guy 2.) I look like hell 3.) the algorithm prioritizes profit.
But lately I feel like it may be easier to throw my expectations out there and cross my fingers. Seems easier than trying to speak to people in person. But then again, the human aspect sorta just disappears too and I'm now stuck in a game of numbers, and perhaps quite literally as apps line Tinder gamify their services.
Anyway, I don't have anyone I could call a close friend. Hell, I don't even have anyone to call in general lol. I'm thinking it's a bad idea to dip my toes in that crap because I have nowhere to turn when the rejections inevitably come in. Plus at least with face-to-face interactions, I can have some sort of closure (I don't really know how to articulate this part. I guess being able to read faces will give me a better chance of understanding what I did wrong vs. emotionless text on a screen).
I love to be the bad guy so I'm going to ask a mean question in an assholeish way:
If you don't have anything to offer in the way of friendship, what makes you think you have something to offer to a lover?
You need to make friends. Dating is a game of social interactions on hard mode. Friends are social interactions on easy mode. When you get better at making friends, dating will become a lot easier.
Surely you know people. What's your strategy for turning acquaintances into friends?
That's a bold assumption.
I was going to genuinely ask a similar question, what is the purpose of finding a date if one does not have friends, muh nakama if yknow what I mean? Because isnt being part of a group that supports each other more important?
However why do you make friendship sound cheap in a way? Sounds kinda cringe but arent friends special? Like you can have acquaintances who you work well with and get along generally with, but Id assume (from experience) that making genuine friends is much harder than just talking to your normie acquaintances more. There also needs to be a somewhat common humanity too no?
*Also youre adding causality where there is none. Just because someone is friendless doesnt mean that they had nothing to offer in the friend market.
If we talk regularly outside of school, I'd consider us friends. But other than that, there is no strategy
I think that's basically the only way people make friends
Looking at your post about friends and contacts it sounds like you are doing things right. You might consider making plans to go places or events and invite those contacts to come. Can you make yourself sound excited about events happening in your town?