Finding guys online for relationship

[ellentonboy]

It's a shame, because the situation has gotten worse over the years. When someone asks within the first several messages if I could help with gas money, I shut it down. I would never ask a stranger for anything like that.  It's an immediate red flag.  I do think these guys are somewhat professional, they think they're smarter than someone in their 40s or 50s (or older) which is usually not the case.

I hate to be cynical, but I find it surprising that someone who claims to be about 2 miles from my place would need gas money.  When they become frustrated after I say  "Well I can come pick you up, I can be there in 10 minutes" you know they probably aren't even in your state.

I just move along, I have been pleasantly surprised, but I was not anywhere near as skeptical as I am today, say ten years ago.  I'm willing to give a guy a chance - but only just so much.   When the conversation becomes financial in nature, I say "no thanks" and that's it.

It's really sad that it has come to this....
 

[norefusal]

spam and scammers are annoying but i find them relatively easy to spot and avoid. 

im more triggered by how unapologetically rude some regular folk are. there will be guys who are openly racist, ageist, body shammers, etc and then try to hide behind the excuse of "it's how all gays are, you should be used to it" 

um, no. it's just how YOU are. 

in a lot of ways, going online helped exposed the hidden ugly underbelly of the community - grindr is like a 60 Minutes  expose 😜