Soundtrack: Clown music.
I don’t know if you can recall, but back at the beginning of 2025, freshly out of a mad faux-relationship-that-wasn’t, I decided to set myself a challenge: dating without dating apps or sites for one whole year. We are now at the end of that year (where the hell has the time gone?) and it’s time for me to present you with the results of my scientific experiment.
Why don’t we start right at the very beginning?
One Year of Dating Without Dating Apps: The Data
I made conscious choices to say yes to things and people that I might not have previously said yes to. Why? Well, why not? I keep choosing men that want too much and do too little. Perhaps it’s about time that I stopped going for those medium-ugly, arrogant, aloof types? It’s hardly working for me, is it?
Maybe this year – the year of dating without dating apps – would work?
There was only one way to find out.
Ms. London
This little hottie (a friend-of-a-friend) happened within a few weeks of my situationship ending, and I wasn’t really looking to date anyone at all. Life has a habit of throwing these weird curveballs at you, though, so I figured I’d just go with the flow. I also had somewhat of an epiphany: I can fuck this person now if I want to.
I didn’t fuck her. The date was… interesting. Oh, and boozy. Just what my I-hate-alcohol ass needed.
HOWEVER, Ms. London did inspire me to go full bisexual, full time, on the dating apps, once the experiment was over. Everything works out alright in the end, I suppose.
Pizza Guy
I had a date that might not have been a date, with Pizza Guy, who I’d known since school. It was actually the least interesting date of my life. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t good, either. What it was, was lacking in chemistry.
Next.
Quantum
This one was a fuckboi from Twitter with uber intelligence. Beautiful man, amazing brain, questionable morals, but decent enough in the end. Ish. We’re ‘friends’ now, flirt occasionally, but keep each other at arm’s length.
Next.
The Neighbour
I moved house and met a bunch of new people, including this chap. The Neighbour asked me for a date that might not have a been a date, which I then declined because he does things that I can’t get onboard with.
Nope. That one felt like a life ruiner, and he wasn’t cute enough for that.
Next.
Mister Five AM
I had an amazing night of long-distance chat with this Twitter fella, who then didn’t message me again for weeks. He’d hurt my feelings a bit, which I told him, and he essentially told me that he flirts for a hobby. Very annoying as I thought we’d clicked a bit.
“I don’t read the blog,” he also said.
Bruh.
Next.
Rimmer
This guy was super interesting and I’d had a respect-based crush on him for a while. Disappointingly, flirted like a dog. Literally. Butt sniffing and everythaaaang.
I am not a dog, but I was ovulating. It got much flirtier, much sooner than I’d planned. My bad.
Fun fact: this chap inspired my voice reveal on Instagram.
Next.
Dating Without Dating Apps: Summary
Being a sex (and dating) blogger, it’s hardly surprising that most of my potential dates came from the Twitter and Instagram accounts associated with said blog, is it?
Here’s a quick summary of where I met people without using those dating apps:
- Friends of friends
- Old school friend
- My neighbour
I should probably try and get out more. In my defence, that situationship royally fucked me up for more than a while, but that’s another story for another day.
Dating Without Dating Apps: Conclusion
I lasted 349 out of 365 days with my dating without dating apps quest. That year was just enough of a reminder that the dating pool is pure trash, and I have absolutely no hope of finding love ever again. Yes, I’m being dramatic for no reason again. Sue me.
I got bored towards the end, and a chat with a friend inspired my first ever Hinge journey. (Mostly to avoid texting the ex that I later text anyway.) You can read all about those happenings right here.
Thanks so much for reading my blog today! 🖤
You can read all about my disastrous dating history, right from the beginning, right here: Table of Dating Contents.
Alternatively, why not have a little peek around here:
