I too have given up on looking for a significant other. Most of the men my age in my area are conservative trump supporters. I've had too many bad experiences with online dating so have decided that being alone is best.

I think people are too picky these days. I feel men are more picky than women, but women definitely do it too. Everyone seems to think they either have to have someone perfect or be alone. No one is perfect. People don't take the time to really get to know each other. "Oh, you have a tiny flaw or like something I don't or don't want to get close on the first date? Next!" Get over yourself! (Not you personally, people in general) I live in the boonies so my options are extremely limited. I never meet anyone where I live. I'm also not conventionally attractive so I don't get a second look, plus I'm physically and mentally strong and probably look like I could kick your ass if you cross me so I think I intimidate guys. The only guys I've been interested in on this site live way too far away. Right now I have an exclusive FWB thing going on with a guy I've known forever who is almost the exact opposite of me. Never would have happened if I had insisted on perfect match. In fact, it could have happened years sooner, but I was hung up on our differences. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't get hung up on differences and give people a chance. But don't compromise yourself either. There's a big difference between having an annoying laugh being a deal breaker and doing drugs being a deal breaker.

I don't really enjoy the process of dating. All my relationships have come about through men I'd already befriended. It's far less exhausting and annoying when I already know something about them beforehand.

Got 2 dates upcoming. One with a life insurance rep and the 2nd with a viagra salesperson. Talk about being prepared! LOL!!! J/K

I have not dated in years. I am now 72 years old, so not the young, thin, sexy girl I was in the past. So, if I was to date, I would want to date someone around my age. The men that I have met, who are around my age, seem to have morphed from the open minded, free thinking, fun, liberal guys when they were younger, to dour, ultra conservative, ultra religious, judgmental asses who vote for trump, and are in many cases xenophobic, misogynist, old farts, who, in spite of being ultra religious, are old horndogs that make every word uttered into sexual innuendo. Many are also looking for a wife. I was married for 25 years and never want to get married again. I have many male friends, but they are mostly younger than me. I admit that being my age, the fact that I am atheist/pagan, tattooed, and that I am liberal, make me a challenge to a lot of men. Of course, I am overweight, with some saggy skin, and, although I am not an ogre, I am not a beauty, so I think that is another factor. Most men want an attractive, younger woman. So, since I never meet a man who is my age, that is a match for me, and most men my age, do not find me to be a match with them, I just don't date. If the right guy comes along, I would probably think about it, but it does get exhausting to go out with me who are so totally different than me.

You are absolutely correct about the chemistry part. I met someone on this site. Our words intermingled in exciting ways. Our phone conversations were like a firework shows. I flew out of state to meet him. No chemistry!!!

I feel the same way. A friend of mine tells me my "last chance" might be the local Senior Center. He's religious and goes there to give them support. I went there with him once to check it out and what I found was a group who prays over food and also does the pledge of allegiance. Then I discovered that if you get into a conversation with any of them you will quickly be told what is "fake news." I almost wanted to puke!

This post resonates strongly with me. Though I would say I am lonely. However, I've learned through harsh experience that is better than being with a bad partner.

People tell me to settle. Forget it.

The last man I met, Mitch, kissed me without saying he has oral herpes (cold sores). It's extremely contagious. I found out when I asked him.

Also, Mitch lied about being a hiker. He feels exhausted and achy every day from Lyme Disease and genetic Ankylosing Spondylitis.

We do not make a good match. Period. Not willing to settle.

I understand everything you said, and I agree.
I am undatable at this point.
I don't even like people all that much.

Online dating is the bane of this century.

Friend, just an observation here, but you referred to yourself 16 times in a single paragraph, using personal pronouns. Perhaps you need to whittle down your ego and reduce that number to 3 or 4 in order to relate with and be accepted by others.

You see, years ago I told a friend that we were both "Legends in our own minds." His angry, defensive reply included 44 personal pronouns in reference to himself! I cited that as proof positive of my assertion about our egos and that REALLY pissed him off and our friendship withered quickly... oh, well... truth is a bitch sometimes.

Same here. Thank goodness I am not lonely, because it's a desert out there.

There are several women on this site that I deem "worth pursuing". Distance is a mitigating factor, though. I think long-distance relationships are a bit more difficult. I'd rather have "more frequent encounters, of shorter duration"... in the early "getting to know you phase". Less pressure on both parties.

Hope springs eternal you never know

If this was just a dating site, I would not have signed on. I have been single for half of my adult life, and know how to do single very well. Life is better when there is someone with whom you can share things. Given all of that, online dating is too complicated. Everyone I have dealt with by messaging or phone have been too far away. I don't have the money for long distance trial runs. I don't live in a house any longer, so I don't have a spare room where someone to stay in if they were to visit me. That drives up the cost if they visit me. That whole scenario of a visit to see how it works is really kind of scary. What if right off the bat there is no chemistry for one of you or both of you. Talk about awkward. I do enjoy this site for the most part and I will leave my status as is, because you never know what might happen.

Dude: you're far from alone. This world is so disconnected; so impersonal. Every day can be a mission to find purpose, amusement or simple distraction from longings and the feeling of being lost. We just have to embrace the challenge of finding each.

I did meet someone on here and it is difficult, one reason being the distance. There are other reasons as well, but what I found interesting about meeting someone on line who is far away is that you have the ability to have a lot of conversation before you meet in person. We had daily conversations and texts for over three months before we could meet. So we knew we would be friends at the least if there was no physical chemistry. In terms of meeting someone locally, I had a friend who did 30 dates in 30 days. The pros, by the 4th date on the 4th day she was no longer nervous meeting a new person. The cons, there were not really any other it was exhausting. And 14 dates in she met someone she dated for over a year. Just my random thoughts

This kinda resonates

DITTO

Distance is the biggest obstacle here. Middle of nowhere among religious nuts, trumps supporters and idiots. So they are all the same rolled into one

I think there are still some real-world opportunities to meet people, without the pressure to date unless there's a connection. For instance, college courses (e.g., a creative writing class), business training seminars (e.g., leadership in the workplace or Excel), hobby/crafting classes (e.g., painting or pottery), volunteer organizations (e.g., Habitat for Humanity or Rotary Club), book clubs (usually well-attended by women), business networking events (e.g., chamber of commerce), niche interest events (e.g., car shows), coaching children's sports (opportunities to meet the single mothers), and the old standbys (e.g., walk your dog at the park, meet people at the store, hang out at better-than-average nightclubs). Even if you don't meet someone right away, you'll have some interesting experiences along the way.

It's been 87, 000 + hours since I've been intimate with a woman so sex isn't an issue. I recently discovered that having something in common isn't the master of compatibility and it didn't work out beyond conversation. I'm an introvert and don't like going out ala the dating protocol. I'm happy with my life and I'm not trying too hard to find anyone but miss occasional intimacy. Wouldn't that be nice? Phone conversations have sufficed over the years but once in awhile human touch would be appreciated. I know that I'm my worst enemy but I am very protective of my solitude. We as humans spend too much time listing things that bend people to our desires when we should just flow and notice when the right things are on the table.

I dropped all dating websites. Too many scammers and very few people there tell the truth anyway! I am going to start looking for rings... On fingers.... At the grocery store!

No ring on your finger and you look interesting... I may just bump into you on accident or ask your favorite recipe for chicken...

I am in the same boat and same as you, I don't really mind being alone but would enjoy meeting someone should the opportunity arise. Good luck to you in your endeavors. Oh as someone below said - great photos - that is my biggest pet-peeve - people who will not post photos of themselves but want to meet. I think not...