So have you tried Hinge? I'll tell you a little about my experience and you can decide for yourself if it is something for you. Don't worry, I have some stories for you too!
My experience
I would say that Hinge isn't too much different from a dating site. The biggest differences is that it is all through your phone and you know very little about the person before deciding if you are interested. I was very unsure about that at first as I like to try to size up someone a bit more before contacting them. I eventually got over it as you can't move forward to the next person until you either approve (heart) or eliminate (X) the last one.
Of course this leads into a negative that it shares with dating sites but is magnified. You will match with tons of people you will never talk to. Neither side may reach out, you might receive an email and realize they aren't for you and vice versa. I don't find that I am meeting more or less people this way so it's pretty much a wash. Will I keep trying it? Sure, when I have some free time, want to play on my phone, and have caught up on my Facebook feed. It is a good distraction while waiting in line!
Now for my stories!
The Good....
I think that "good" should probably be in quote marks based on the result. Connected with an interesting guy the first of the year. We had a great phone conversation and I was actually looking forward to our date (if you know me, this is very rare). When we met up we had a really nice time and a rather long first date - probably five hours and multiple locations. My date was very affectionate - putting his arm around me, taking my hand when we were walking, etc. Not typical first date behavior but I thought we were hitting it off so I went with it. During our date he told me about another woman he had gone out with that thought he came on too strong. Should have been my red flag. We texted that night after our date and when texting about setting up another date he told me that he didn't feel enough chemistry with me. Okay, I might not have been his cup of tea, he might be dating lots of girls, etc but at LEAST come up with a better excuse than THAT! You don't spend that much time and show that much affection if you don't feel any chemistry. Hell, I've felt ZERO chemistry and gone out with guys again to see if after the awkwardness of the first date cleared if something might develop. Once it did so I always try to keep an open mind. Clearly there was something fishy going on with him and I'm pretty sure I dodged a bullet here.
The Bad....
The first guy I went out with on Hinge seemed like he had a good head on his shoulders. We made plans and talked about meeting up in the Miracle Mile area - at least that's what I thought. As I was trying to make my way home in horrible traffic from a meeting in Santa Monica, we chatted about where we were going to meet that night. He acted like I had suggested Mars when I brought up Miracle Mile and then suggested Santa Monica. Are you kidding me? I just told you how I'm driving home from there now. Do you think I am going to turn around and drive right back? I tried to put that past me and we met in Beverly Hills instead. Nice enough guy, we shared some food, had some drinks and then he told me about his MOTHER ISSUES. Including all of his therapy that has helped him deal with them. Really? On a first date? I probably would have given him another chance (see above) but when my friend called and asked if I wanted to go to Yogurtland on the way home I realized I was about 1000% more excited about that. Neither of us called each other which I chalk up to a Hinge win!
The Ugly....
This guy was another early match on Hinge. Like many of these guys, he was a little lazy and would only respond to my emails but not start a conversation. I should have walked away then since later I couldn't silence him. We decided to move our communication off of Hinge and started texting. I was at the eye doctor with dilated eyes and told him we could just talk via phone that night. He still kept texting and suggested that while my vision was impaired was a great time for us to meet up. When I spoke with him that night, I got the impression that we just weren't likely to be all that compatible based on the things he was saying and how he was saying them. Both via email and on our call he was really pushing to get together that Saturday. I was already committed to something all day and into the evening but suggested we reconnect on Sunday to figure out when we could meet up. He texted me FOUR times on Saturday. Twice in the afternoon that said "Bungalow" (a bar in Santa Monica) and "Come Here". Then twice that night asking me how my night was including one at 2.30am.
After that I decided that my instincts were correct and this guy was not for me. When I didn't hear from him for a week or so I figured he got the hint. How wrong I was.... Over the course of the next two months, he friended me on Facebook twice (declined the first, blocked the second), emailed me through the app (blocked), and texted a few times including another 2.30am one that said "Come visit". Keep in mind I NEVER MET THIS GUY. Finally when he texted to wish me a "Happy New Year" I finally told him to stop texting me. Which he did - after he sent a few more texts to apologize and let me know he deleted my number. Not totally a stalker but what did this guy think he was going to accomplish? I hadn't responded to him in months!
So those are my stories. Everything else Hinge has been boring. Have you tried it out? What are your experiences?
