Society is probably deciding who you date

Society has its constraints, some of which are more blatant than others, like the clothes we’re supposed to wear or the characteristics we must adopt at a certain age or as a certain class, these are so obvious that even the most oblivious amongst us manage to notice them. However, its the constraints that are perhaps more invasive which have an affect on our personal lives, or the lives of those close and around us.

We now live in a global village and by that I mean a planet which has a population that’s been pulled together by the rapid development of social media, with sites like Facebook and Twitter bringing people across the globe closer to each-other through instant contact. This must span into our dating lives, surely? It must breach our pursuit of those we see suitable as partners. I’m writing this article with a mixed point, on one hand it’s disturbing how society often controls who we should or could introduce ourselves to, for instance in most situations, it’s not cool to introduce yourself to a complete stranger but without this action how are we supposed to meet anybody outside our accepted circles. This is also an opportunity for me to, pretentiously yes, highlight how we have the tools to expand our social circles and explore a healthier portion of the population.

My point is, if you think about it, how many people do you know that you really could ‘date’? Or ‘see’? or ‘go out with’? It could potentially be a lot, or very little, depending on how many people you’ve pissed off but at some point there will be a cap on who is socially accessible to you. Yes, picking up people in bars will always be a thing but honestly, how different are those people to yourself? Is it so impossible to suggest that there has been a limit to who you can meet and that limit will always be there? With this in mind, is it really possible to confirm you’ve found ‘the one’?

I’m now going to mention Tinder in this paragraph and before you decide to swipe down/turn off your computer/un-match me on said app (fuck you Candice, 32 from Camden), hear me out. Tinder is shit, yes and for many it’s the disturbing peak of social media, where users swipe ‘right or left’ on profile to profile, trudging through a littered path of singletons or those just miserably married. All that aside, it’s a platform for those lacking the bravado to approach males/females in bar or restaurant, it’s provided a doorway for the young and old to meet whomever they deem fit, literally. That’s the biggest problem though, Tinder is so superficial it’s painful, but it’s a start, it seems we have a good chance of getting to know each-other after all.

Yes, use Tinder but don’t blame me if Jack, 20 from London, turns out to be Jeff, 62, from Carlisle. There’s still plenty of work to be done.