I am 44, and this has been my experience
Best
1.) Your Social Circle---In a survey done in 2015, 39% of couples met this way. It also doesn't mean most people ended up meeting their best friend's cousin or sister and started dating. Usually, it's more tenuous than that. E.g. Years back, I met a gal who was a friend of a friend's girlfriends--friend. Tenuous, but still part of the social circle. I also think women tend to trust and feel the most comfortable around the men they meet in this setting. This would explain why you see quite a few mismatched couples when out in public (E.g. the female is a couple notches more attractive than the male)
2.) Work--I know they say "don't **** where you eat, but the odds are still way better than the bars/clubs and Online Dating. I don't advise dating a woman who works in the same department, but there is nothing wrong with dating a woman who works for the same company (albeit a different floor or building)
3.) Classes-A college class (if you are still in college), a continuing education class (e.g. cooking, Spanish) or gym class. You get to see the woman over and over again and you will have similar interests.
Worst
Bars/Clubs: I have been in the bar scene for 23 years and it generally does not work. You might get a hook up or one night stand and have a slim possibility of meeting a woman who is gf material. However, the odds are stacked against you since there are usually more men at these venues than females. The setting is also usually very loud and most women go there to look nice (to show off for other women) and go there to have fun (not to meet men). Women don't want to tell their friends/relatives they met the love of their life at a bar/club.
Online Dating/Speed dating/Singles Events The competition is brutal and a good chunk of the women are average and below average in looks (especially on match.com) It is not uncommon to be talking to an attractive woman online only to have her ghost you two to three messages in. Is it because you did something wrong? No, she is probably getting messages from 7 other guys at the same time and liked somebody else better.
I have not done too many singles events and accidentally showed up a couple of times at one of those "Lock and Key" events and it wasn't pretty.
I still think there is a stigma to paying a service to meet somebody.
The Gym Floor- I go to a LA Fitness. For every attractive woman out on the gym floor, there are about 5 dudes who are just as in good shape as you or better. They are also noticing the same women that you are noticing. These women will also be wearing earbuds/headphones 90% of the time)
Supermarket- I know others have said this is a decent spot, but it still seems very awkward. Let's say you are walking down the aisle and you briefly lock eyes and exchange smiles with an attractive woman. It's would be kind of awkward if you do an about face and follow her. Your only chance would be to get in the same checkout lane as her.
Running Races (5K's, etc.)--I have ran about 25 of these over the years and never had any luck other than some flirting with one woman at the starting line (never saw her again after that). Most people tend to run these races with their own clique of friends and don't socialize with anybody else.
Church- Never tried this route so maybe I shouldn't knock it. Where I live, most church goes are middle aged or seniors.
Best
1.) Your Social Circle---In a survey done in 2015, 39% of couples met this way. It also doesn't mean most people ended up meeting their best friend's cousin or sister and started dating. Usually, it's more tenuous than that. E.g. Years back, I met a gal who was a friend of a friend's girlfriends--friend. Tenuous, but still part of the social circle. I also think women tend to trust and feel the most comfortable around the men they meet in this setting. This would explain why you see quite a few mismatched couples when out in public (E.g. the female is a couple notches more attractive than the male)
2.) Work--I know they say "don't **** where you eat, but the odds are still way better than the bars/clubs and Online Dating. I don't advise dating a woman who works in the same department, but there is nothing wrong with dating a woman who works for the same company (albeit a different floor or building)
3.) Classes-A college class (if you are still in college), a continuing education class (e.g. cooking, Spanish) or gym class. You get to see the woman over and over again and you will have similar interests.
Worst
Bars/Clubs: I have been in the bar scene for 23 years and it generally does not work. You might get a hook up or one night stand and have a slim possibility of meeting a woman who is gf material. However, the odds are stacked against you since there are usually more men at these venues than females. The setting is also usually very loud and most women go there to look nice (to show off for other women) and go there to have fun (not to meet men). Women don't want to tell their friends/relatives they met the love of their life at a bar/club.
Online Dating/Speed dating/Singles Events The competition is brutal and a good chunk of the women are average and below average in looks (especially on match.com) It is not uncommon to be talking to an attractive woman online only to have her ghost you two to three messages in. Is it because you did something wrong? No, she is probably getting messages from 7 other guys at the same time and liked somebody else better.
I have not done too many singles events and accidentally showed up a couple of times at one of those "Lock and Key" events and it wasn't pretty.
I still think there is a stigma to paying a service to meet somebody.
The Gym Floor- I go to a LA Fitness. For every attractive woman out on the gym floor, there are about 5 dudes who are just as in good shape as you or better. They are also noticing the same women that you are noticing. These women will also be wearing earbuds/headphones 90% of the time)
Supermarket- I know others have said this is a decent spot, but it still seems very awkward. Let's say you are walking down the aisle and you briefly lock eyes and exchange smiles with an attractive woman. It's would be kind of awkward if you do an about face and follow her. Your only chance would be to get in the same checkout lane as her.
Running Races (5K's, etc.)--I have ran about 25 of these over the years and never had any luck other than some flirting with one woman at the starting line (never saw her again after that). Most people tend to run these races with their own clique of friends and don't socialize with anybody else.
Church- Never tried this route so maybe I shouldn't knock it. Where I live, most church goes are middle aged or seniors.
Last edited: