BEN LEANDER Design Studio

+43 650 707 9191
hello@benleander.com

Tinder is a game show. First price is a penis.

A couple of weeks ago, I was strolling through the city when I went past a church. In a glass bowl, they offered free blessings for take-away. The first thing that came to mind was the question of how the little pieces of paper were blessed. They probably threw their favorite inspirational quotes in a glass bowl, sprayed some holy water in and mixed it around in the style of a lottery draw.

Why didn’t the church just join the 21st century and sent out blessings via an app? ‘Sinnr! Don’t like today’s blessing? Just swipe left!’ That again got me thinking about Tinder. In a world where God’s blessing is just a grab inside a bowl away (followed by some Purell), is it really that bizarre to swipe through potential new partners? I always thought that Tinder was stupid. Compatibility being judged by a single photo – is this the new dating process or an application for a job at Hollister? But maybe I got it all wrong, maybe – just maybe – it’s a good idea. Don’t we judge others based on their image anyways?

So, I went home and decided to download Tinder. ‘Why didn’t you get Grindr?’, you ask? Well, Grindr might be the ‘gay’ Tinder but it does not have a cool swiping mode. It’s more like going on Google Maps, typing in your current location, and searching for available dicks in the near area. Where’s the fun in that? So, I started swiping and was surprised when I saw a couple of people that I used to know who I thought were straight. Dammit,  if only I would have known… Some fantastic things might’ve happened. Anyways, none of them matched with me, so nothing fantastic would have happened.

katy perry wink flirt

Playing around on Tinder makes it very clear that this is no serious dating app. It’s more like a game show. You are a contestant but everyone else is competing too. It’s a game of numbers as you’re matching with as many people as possible while never getting to know any of them. When you match, you play the game of who-writes-first. In most cases, no one will. And if, for some miraculous reason, you get a message, it’s probably not by the guy by who you wanted to get messaged. It’s the guy who had a hangover and took a photo wearing sunglasses, that guy you swiped right accidentally.

The first prize on Tinder is a penis. But don’t worry, the second prize is another penis. Third price too. And so on. Tinder is like the politically correct games played in kindergartens where no one’s a loser and everyone’s a winner. Just with sex. It never begins to feel real. It never begins to feel like anything more than a gimmick. However, I do know a couple of people who mysteriously found someone on Tinder. They are all straight though and I don’t know if they play Tinder by the same rules.

I have absolutely nothing against online dating. In fact, that’s how I got to know most people I’ve gotten closer to. Tinder just isn’t my cup of tea. I wanna read what someone has to say, find out what they think. I like to chat and flirt and exchange sweet nothings before I decide if I wanna meet someone. I don’t like the fast pace of Tinder. I don’t like when people get annoyed with me wanting to have a conversation. It makes me question what people’s intentions are. Do they all just wanna have sex with a nameless and faceless stranger and get on with their lives? Are they all so busy that anything demanding more than 10 minutes of their time is too much to ask? If that’s the case, I don’t think I wanna play.

 

BenLeander

 

 

Can’t get enough of Tinder stories? You might enjoy these ones too:
Tinder and the ‘Wanna Hang’-Conundrum
Is Online Dating the Serial Killer Romance?
Last Night’s First Date
Tinder Horror Stories

Compulsive nonconformist who left the 9-to-5 world after studying psychology and has since then devoted himself to design and writing on a freelance basis. Has at least four different kinds of chips at home at any given time.

Comments

  • 28. February 2018
    reply

    Haha, tech and apps like this have revolutionized how we in our society date, meet and talk/don\’t talk with our wanted sexual partners.

    • 1. March 2018
      reply

      True that! I just wonder if it\’s changed the game for the better or worse. It\’s funny because as a gay man I\’ve always been kinda dependent on social media for dating. Now I see straight friends struggling with the same things I\’ve struggled with for years lol

  • 27. February 2018
    reply

    Thank you for making me watch the video. It was gold. It also sums up my thoughts on the topic of Tinder.

    • 27. February 2018
      reply

      Glad you liked it – hope you enjoyed the rest as well haha

  • 24. February 2018
    reply

    I have heard of a few positive experiences about Tinder although it did not work out for one of my close friends. She met some real characters who were not at all serious about long term relationships. She didn\’t stick around.

  • 23. February 2018
    reply

    I have heard of tinder but I never download such apps. Never mind the fact I am happily married, I really don\’t like machine match making

  • 22. February 2018
    reply

    I\’ve never tried tinder, but I know people who have and they do not like it! I have yet to have meet someone who\’s been in a long term relationship because of tinder, it seemed like a good app. But I\’ve heard such bad things about it. Hey, to each there own. Thanks for sharing!

  • 22. February 2018
    reply

    I\’ve never tested Tinder and I don\’t think I ever will, ha!

  • 22. February 2018
    reply

    I have yet to wander onto tinder. Not sure if I\’m cut or ready for that. Some people can find love on Social Media dating sites but I don\’t think that I am wired that way.

  • 22. February 2018
    reply

    I have yet to wander onto to tinder. Not sure if I\’m cut or ready for that. Some people can find love on Social Media dating sites but I don\’t think that I am wired that way.

  • 21. February 2018
    reply

    Oh no. I was on tinder for like two weeks and that was it. I\’m shy for that

  • 21. February 2018
    reply

    Oh no. I was on tinder for like two weeks and that was it. I\’m shy for that

  • 21. February 2018
    reply

    Well, I did meet my husband on Tinder, so it can be used for good.
    We did meet 4 years ago on Tinder though. I feel as though the APP has changed SOOOOOO MUCH since he and I were on it. Sometimes we joke about going back on to see wtf it\’s like, but we never actually do – haha! Trust me, prior to swiping right on my husband, everyone was a fucking joke.

    • 5. March 2018
      reply

      Probably not the best idea to go back 😉

  • 21. February 2018
    reply

    Honestly I have never used Tinder and for that I really am sometimes thankful! The stories I\’ve heard about it make me laugh (OK and some have made me cry) it seems like a game of Russian Roulette.

    • 5. March 2018
      reply

      I\’d summarize by saying you never know what you get 😉

  • 20. February 2018
    reply

    I prefer tinder to the other \”dating\” apps,
    I feel it offers more in the sense of more pics and a bigger profile if they choose to actually fill it in. Tho you are correct about the mating dance of who messages first or even at all.

    • 5. March 2018
      reply

      In Europe there\’s another site called PlanetRomeo, I don\’t know if that\’s available worldwide but I prefer that to Tinder. Though you are right, in comparison to Grindr etc. there is more room for text and stuff on Tinder.

      • 5. March 2018
        reply

        I think planetromeo is available but don’t think it is widely used over here.

  • 20. February 2018
    reply

    Oh I think I\’ve used tinder once and was a bit scared and deleted it haha

    • 20. February 2018
      reply

      Totally understandable! haha

Do you have something to say?